In the fairytale of Rapunzel, the witch who imprisons the young girl in a tower has been known by different names in different versions of the story. While some versions simply refer to her as “the witch” or “the enchantress,” others have given her more specific names such as Mother Gothel, Dame Gothel, or simply Gothel.
One of the earliest versions of the Rapunzel story is the 1634 French novel “Persinette” by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force. In this version, the witch is named Zelinda, and she takes the baby Rapunzel from her parents as payment for stealing some rampion (a type of vegetable) from her garden. Zelinda raises Rapunzel as her own daughter in a tower, but she is ultimately tricked into revealing the way up to the tower by the prince who has fallen in love with Rapunzel.
In the Grimm Brothers’ version of the story, which is perhaps the most well-known, the witch is simply referred to as “the enchantress.” She, too, takes the baby Rapunzel from her parents as payment for some rampion, and she raises the girl in a tower deep in the forest. The enchantress visits Rapunzel in the tower by calling out, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair,” and Rapunzel lowers her long hair for the enchantress to climb up. When the prince discovers Rapunzel in the tower and visits her, the enchantress cuts off Rapunzel’s hair and banishes her to a far-off land.
In the Disney animated film “Tangled,” which is loosely based on the Rapunzel story, the witch is named Mother Gothel. In this version, she steals a magical flower that has the power to heal any injury or illness and uses it to keep herself young and beautiful. When the queen falls ill during pregnancy, the king sends his men to find the flower to save her life. Mother Gothel kidnaps the baby Rapunzel, who has inherited the flower’s magical powers, and raises her as her own daughter in a tower. Mother Gothel visits Rapunzel in the tower by singing, “Mother knows best,” and Rapunzel lowers her long hair for her to climb up. When the prince rescues Rapunzel and takes her away from the tower, Mother Gothel chases after them and ultimately falls to her death.
While the names and details of the witch character in the Rapunzel story may vary depending on the version, the overall narrative remains the same: a young girl is imprisoned in a tower by a powerful and often malevolent figure, and she is ultimately rescued by a prince who falls in love with her. The story has been retold and adapted countless times throughout history, and its themes of captivity, freedom, and love continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.