Prince Charming is a character in fairy tales, often symbolizing the ideal man for marriage. While originally not referred to as a prince, the title has been applied to male characters who possess qualities that make women fall in love with them. In Disney films, Snow White’s rescuer and Cinderella’s prince are both called Prince Charming, while Sleeping Beauty’s prince is named Philip. The concept of Prince Charming is often criticized as unrealistic and sexist, but still appeals to some. In Shrek 2, Prince Charming is portrayed as whiny and weak, a welcome twist for feminist critics.
Prince Charming is a character who appears in numerous fairy tales. He is not mentioned as a prince but as Le roi Charmant or King Charming in a fairy tale written by Madame d’Aulnoy, a 17th century French writer. He also simply refers to a Charmant, in a second fairy tale. However, stories that include this type of character predate d’Aulnoy’s work.
The title has often been applied to male characters or real men who seem to possess all the qualities that would make women fall in love with them. In Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray written in 1890, a poor but gifted actress refers to Dorian as Prince Charming. However, Wilde turns the tables when Dorian decides to abandon Sybil, proving that he is no real prince, and merely charming on the surface.
More often, Prince Charming is thought of in connection with Walt Disney’s reworking of popular fairy tales. Many call Snow White’s rescuer by this name, even though it isn’t actually used in a Disney film until Cinderella. Cinderella’s prince is really called Prince Charming. Contrary to popular belief, the prince of Sleeping Beauty is named Philip.
Symbolically, however, all the princes who save the ladies are essentially duplicates of Prince Charming. Often times, the prince needs to be royal to save the princess or maiden from horrible living conditions. Often it is not royalty but true love that allows him to free a woman from a terrible spell. This is the case with both Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. True love’s first kiss saves these bridesmaids.
Prince Charming can also be a symbol of the ideal man for a woman seeking marriage. As a reaction, many modern women say that they do not need such a man and do not need to be “rescued”. They believe that they don’t need a husband or boyfriend to live a full and happy life. Many feminist critics believe that the ideal is unrealistic and turns many women back to “bridesmaids” in need of rescuing.
Others, especially girls, may love the concept of a prince charming, appearing and adoring them. While many men may have certain charming attributes, the character in literature and film is highly idealized. When the stories end with a “happily ever after,” I’m a little disappointed. We never know if the prince can’t pick up the laundry, stares at other women, or snores so loud that a separate bedroom is needed.
This kind of realism is applied to the character in the film Shrek 2. Prince Charming turns out to be a whiny and weak character who is too late to save Princess Fiona. Fiona has already chosen Shrek as her husband and the prince acts like a spoiled child upon hearing the news. This is a welcome twist for many feminist critics, who are a little tired of the Prince Charming current that runs through many novels and fairy tales.
Indeed, more often than not, modern treatment of Prince Charming is ironic or unfavorable. While many still enjoy a good fairy tale, most modern audiences are well aware of the realities of relationships and choose to create their own happily ever afters.
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