Rapunzel is one of the supporting characters of Into The Woods.
Background[]
Rapunzel comes from the concept of the Brother Grimm fairytale sharing her name. She is named by The Witch (Mother Gothel) after her beloved rampion – a european bellflower commonly used in salad or in German lamb's lettuce. [1] She symbolises the importance of maidenhood - feminine purity, innocence vs. desire, beauty and sexuality. The cutting of the hair by the witch represents the loss of purity.
The plot follows that of the original fairy tale - A man and his wife, in some versions struggling to have a child, living next to a witch and her garden. The wife says she must have the vegetables in that garden (namely rampion) and the man proceeds to steal it. When caught by the witch, she says he may have it as much as he wanted; on the condition that she will have the child that comes into the world, and she will care for it as a mother. In some versions it is written that the mother died at the loss of her child to the witch, and that she puts Rapunzel in the tower at seven years old, other twelve years old. The witch treasures her and does not wish to share her with anyone. Rapunzel in the original versions of the story often refers to the Prince as "young and beautiful" and that is why she likes him, much over than "old mother Gothel." The way the witch finds out about the Prince varies from discovering Rapunzel is pregnant by her clothes, a passing comment by Rapunzel, or catching him leaving too late before she arrives. It is said that the witch lashes out, cuts off her hair, banishes her to a desert, etc. and attacks Rapunzel's prince, blinding him. She bears twins in some version, a boy and a girl, and eventually meets up with him again and her tears heal his vision. <ref>
Sondheim attempts to incorporate all versions of the original fairy tale in Into The Woods, referring to the rampion, the struggle to have a child, and all versions of Rapunzel's punishment. He also focuses on Rapunzel's feelings of how she dislikes how the witch looks in the demo versions of songs and drafts, however many of it ends up cut out. See "Second Midnight (demo)" for an example. She is trapped by the witch (albeit it out of love) in a tower and wants nothing more than to see the world outside.
Due to the line "locked me in a tower for 14 years" the impression that Rapunzel is 14 is often given however following the original stories she would be around 21, though 14 is not unusual for older stories and girl's affairs and would work regardless.
Vocal score range image.
Rapunzel is completely sheltered from the outside world, desperate to see it. Utterly lonely but gentle. However, when she does finally go outside, she goes a bit 'crazy' - possibly suffering PTSD from the witch's punishment and extreme exposure. Described as "hysterical" by her prince, she becomes a screaming irrational mess by the second act leading to her death. This role is best suited for a soprano, good vocal control (that can do a scream), the highest note being A5 and lowest B3.
Appearance[]
Rapunzel doesn't change outfits during the show. Her outfit consists of a white blouse with loose sleeves just below her elbows, layered with a cobalt blue fabric top then an apron-like dress: purple with an embroidered ankle-length (traditional) dirndl skirt, a gold clasp-like belt just beneath her chest. Embroidered are flowers on the trims/lower half of her skirt, in blues and yellow. She is shoeless. Her hair is very curly and a bright yellow, kept in a plait then having little pig-tails in Act II. (Original Broadway Production)
In the 2014 film adaptation she wears an almost off the shoulder (boat neckline) white and pink drees - white lace along the neckline and puff sleeves, baby pink satin fabric layered with pink ribbon in a bind like effect across the chest and sleeves. Lighter blue-ish lace ends the cuffs on the wrists and layers the skirt to her ankles. Her hair is a more natural nearing platinum blonde, still curly and kept in a plait with a pink ribbon nearing the end and bright blue eyes. In what would be the Act II, she is seen with a light pink cape-hood with a silver-ivory trim.
Biography[]
Act I[]
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Act II[]
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Relationships[]
The Witch[]
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Rapunzel's Prince[]
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Quotes[]
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"Oh, nothing... You just, locked me in a tower without company for fourteen years, then blinded my prince and banished me to a desert where I had little to eat, and again no company and then bore twins! (sob) Because of the way you treated me, I'll never never be.. happy."
Musical Numbers[]
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Trivia[]
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- ↑ ref needed