The classic fairy tale character Little Red Riding Hood is
the epitome of obedience and innocence. Angela Carter replaces this
stereotypical Little Red with a wise young heroine who manages to tame the wolf
and find herself along the way. The final moments of “The Company of Wolves”
depict the young girl refusing to be afraid of the wolf and giving herself over
to him freely. This ending supports Carter’s idea that in order to survive,
women cannot succumb unwillingly to the “wolf”, but rather choose to give
themselves by being in command of themselves and their bodies.
