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What’s your favorite version of Sleeping Beauty. I used to think mine was the original Disney version. A bit scary but really good story. Then recently I saw Maleficent! FABULOUS! Now that’s a great story.

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But I’m going too fast. Sleeping beauty is the story of a jealous rage where a vengeful fairy puts a curse on a baby. Before she reaches the age of sixteen she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall asleep until Kissed by her true love. It’s a ridiculous notion that a prince, no matter how charming, can fall in love with an unconscious girl.

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In my version, the one from the book my father gave me years ago, the princess and all the servants, lords, ladies and even her little dog are put to sleep with her. The castle is grown over with trees and vines so that no one can find it. They all sleep like this for one hundred years until a prince finds them and is smitten by her beauty. No kiss in my version.

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Why I love the Maleficent version better: First the jealousy has real meat to it. And the kiss is meant to be an irony and an impossibility. Also, Maleficent is ruined by her own curse where she says that everyone who meets Aurora will love and adore her. Therefore, she too loves and adores her. Finally, the KISS. Not a lovers kiss, but the kiss from someone who truly and dearly loved Aurora, Maleficent.

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LOVE IT!

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• Side note: According to Webster’s
• Maleficent – Adj. Malicious – Baleful – The quality or state of being evil.
• Aurora – Adj. Dawn or n. A brilliant display of flashing lights visible in the night sky, chiefly in polar regions believed  to result from electrically charged particles.

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I’m pretty sure Disney is the author of the names. My ancient version has no names for anyone but the dog. 🙂