Most people have a general knowledge of what mythology is, such as Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. However, when applied to literature, it takes on a completely different meaning. Archetypes and symbols are methods commonly used by authors to unify their stories without overtly stating the theme of the work. They drop subtle hints that lead to the universal meaning around which the work revolves to engage the reader and force them to think in a new way. In his story "Sleeping Beauty", Walt Disney uses archetypes and symbols to demonstrate the expectations of modern society and the happy ending that many people today aspire to. In "Sleeping Beauty" almost every character represents an archetype. The Queen represents a loving mother because she did her best to protect her daughter from the curse, believing that if she did, her daughter could escape it. He had only the best intentions for his daughter, yet he couldn't avoid the inevitable. And when the princess pricked her finger, the queen was “so heartbroken that she died.” The Witch, whom the Queen forgot to invite to the birth, easily fits the archetype of the evil villain. She arrives unwanted and uninvited at the baptism and immediately casts a spell on the child. This breaking in and intentionally harming an innocent child directly conforms to the behavior of a villain and causes an instant feeling of hatred towards the Witch. Then there is the caring grandmother, embodied by the good fairy. Once he discovers the spell the Witch has cast on the Princess, he quickly counteracts it to reduce the danger the Princess might encounter. The good fairy tries her best to calm the queen, but to no avail. Ultimately, respect for the fairy at the center of the card ensures that this strategy reaches into the ideas that motivate people in their daily lives and brings them into the open. This adds to the overall style of the play, which mimics many of his other works such as "Cinderella", "Snow White" and "The Little Mermaid". All these works allow people to realize their inner hopes of that happy ending, because they have the ideal plot and characters, which they can easily identify because they remain the same in every literary piece. These archetypes eventually permeate culture and become socially accepted by people around the world. Works Cited Disney, Walt. "Original story: Sleeping Beauty." Disney storybook. Frank Pilhofer, 05 December 2006. Web. 04 January 2012. .Meyer, Michael. Bedford's introduction to literature. New York: St. Martin's, 1987. Print.