Red Riding Hood explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Alcohol and Escapism

  The story revolves around the grandmother's need for gin as a morning remedy, highlighting alcohol's role in daily life.

• Satire of Media and Business

  The tale satirizes social norms and suburban life, including the absurdity of golf rules and the casual violence of the police dog.

Characters to notice

• Red Riding Hood

  The protagonist, sent to deliver gin to her grandmother.

Key passages

• “Well, children, here is the story of little Red Riding Hood like I tell it to my little ones when they wake up in the morning with a headache after a tough night.”

  The narrator presents a version of Red Riding Hood for children who have hangovers.

  Sets the tone of a humorous, adult-oriented fairy tale.

• “But the rumor had spread the neighborhood that she was a perfectly nice gal, so she had to walk.”

  Because she had a good reputation, she couldn't get a ride from strangers.

  Satirizes the double-edged nature of a good reputation.

• “So Red starts out with a quart under her arm but had not went far when she met a police dog.”

  Red sets off with a bottle of gin and soon encounters a police dog.

  Introduces the antagonist.

• “Well the old lady heard him knock at the door and told him to come in, as she thought he must either be Red or a bootlegger.”

  The grandmother assumes the knock is either Red or a bootlegger, so she lets the dog in.

  Shows the casual acceptance of bootlegging during Prohibition.

• ““I will Firpo you in a minute,” says the dog.”

  The dog threatens to punch Red like the boxer Luis Firpo.

  A humorous reference to a famous boxer of the era.

• ““Listen,” says the dog, “if you had of had ½ of what I had last night you would of been stone blind.””

  The dog claims that if Red had drunk half as much as he did, she'd be blind.

  Continues the alcohol theme.