While Beauty Sleeps

An exploration of "the sleeping princess" trope in fairytales

Gentry Lee Burke's avatar
Gentry Lee Burke
Sep 27, 2025
∙ Paid

The fairy tale trope of the “sleeping princess” might be one of the most enduring images in literary history. The slumbering maiden is everywhere once you start looking. From the ancient myth of Persephone trapped in the underworld to Disney’s Aurora pricking her finger on a spinning wheel, there’s something about the beautiful woman in enchanted sleep …

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Gentry Lee Burke.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2025 Gentry Lee Burke · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture