The Paper Bag Princess Analysis Essay Example

When reading as a child, seeing the flashy characters and hearing the skewed tails stimulates our imagination and helps grow ones understanding of the world. Hearing these stories subconsciously helps children mould how they will act and connect to others. Re-reading these stories again now reveals the hidden messages one absorbs but does not understand fully as a child. Using critical analysis techniques and perspectives one has learned through life experiences helps find and understand the underlying messages in the text. A helpful theoretical lens when analysing text is the feminist lens. The children's story The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, tells the story of a princess named Elizabeth whose castle, pretty dresses and belongings are all lost in a fire, caused by the dragon. Elizabeth then comes to the realisation that to be a princess one does not need the dresses, the castle or perfect blonde hair. When looking at this story through a feminist lens, it reveals the message to young girls and all young readers that a woman can be confident in ones self, as well as can go against gender hegemony and societys standards made to define them. Therefore, this story presents a responsible and positive message to young girls to be confident in who they are, even if it differs from societal standards and constructs.

In the story Elizabeth effectively demonstrates that as a woman, one does not need a man, material things or approval from others to be confident in oneself; he portrays this message by not conforming to be a stereotypical “princess” and fighting through her own struggles, not allowing others to have influence or power over her and how she wants to live her life. In the opening of the story, Elizabeth is faced with a challenge. A dragon had wrecked her castle and burned up all of her clothes. She lost all of her dresses, her beautiful blonde hair and she was forced to dress in a paper bag. After the incident Elizabeth chased the dragon, unlike a stereotypical princess who would be in fear of it. Elizabeth knocked on the door of the dragon's den and persisted until the dragon would talk to her. After befriending the dragon, she snuck into the den and saved Ronald from the cave. Following his rescue, Ronald began to ridicule Elizabeth: “Elizabeth, you are a mess! You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you are dressed like a real princess.” (Munsch 26). Elizabeth did not cry, or feel hurt. Elizabeth was mad as she was perfectly happy with how she was dressed and replied to Robert saying “your clothes are really pretty and your hair is neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum.” (Munsch 28). Elizabeth feels confident even whilst lacking her regular princess attire and she does not allow the comments from Ronald to bring her down. This part of the story shows young readers that they should be confident in their skin, and that they should not allow others to bring them down. This story goes against the stereotypical princess story, Elizabeth breaks this “princess story” formula as she loves herself no matter what state she is in and she doesnt allow others to put her down or help her on her journey. It is important and was the effect of the dragon's actions. Without the dragon destroying Elizabeth's things she would not have learned that she can be confident without it. In the story it is also found that Elizabeth has a very independent outlook on life. She showed that she was capable of fighting her own battles and that she was not a regular damsel in distress, needing a prince to care for her. Elizabeth proves to be independent in her own story as well as the character overall creates a new category for what a princess can be in stories as a whole. When the dragon came and destroyed Elizabeth's castle, she did not run in fear nor need Robert to slay the dragon for her. Instead she fought her own battle, outsmarting the dragon, by seemingly doubting his skills: “Is it true that you are the smartest and fiercest dragon in the whole world?” (Munsch 14). Then Elizabeth continued, asking him to prove himself: “Is it true that you can burn up ten forests with your fiery breath?” (Munsch 16). Then finally, tricking the dragon: “Dragon, is it true that you can fly around the world in just ten seconds? Fantastic, do it again!” (Munsch 20). By doing this Elizabeth tired out the dragon, allowing her to sneak by and save Robert as well as setting herself apart from other princesses who would have not dared approached or tempted a dragon. After she had saved Robert and they had exchanged comments Elizabeth decided that she would be better off not marrying Robert and chose to become a single, independent woman: “They didn’t get married after all.” (Munsch 28). The idea of independence is an important one to show young readers and young girls in particular and through this story they are taught to not rely on another person and wait for their prince to come save them, but to save themselves. This teaches children to be independent and strong. In this story the dragon helps convey the idea of realisation through symbolism. Without the dragon, Elizabeth would not have realised who Ronald truly was and what his intentions were. It is refreshing to see a princess in a story taking her life into her own hands instead of another story with a repetitive narrative. It is very important to show children the idea of independence through story so they learn to not rely on others and grow on their own. In conclusion, Elizabeth is a very important and positive story book character who effectively presents the importance of girls having confidence in their own skin, no matter what other people say as well as how important it is to be independent and not allow others to control them or their life. 

In all, this story and its characters provide a responsible and positive message to young girls to be true to who they are even differs from societal standards and constructs. The story does this by the main character, Elizabeth refusing to obey the princess stereotype and being true to herself and loving herself whether wearing a pretty pink dress or a dirty paper bag. Childrens books like The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch are very important to show young female readers to teach very valuable lessons like to take agency over their own lives and to be confident and independent.