"Multiplicity" and the Epiphany of Briar Rose

The idea of multiplicity according to Calvino refers to the links that connect people to a work, and the way a particular work is inter-textually related to other literary creations. Multiplicity is the recognition of our relationship with the vast and intricate world around us; realizing we are simply only a piece of the puzzle. Multiplicity of characters in a literary work is one of the things Calvino believes should be in every story. A character should experience some sort of epiphany in the sense of knowing exactly who he or she in respect to those around him or her.

The princess in Coover’s Briar spends several spin offs begging the old crone to tell her why it she who was pick to prick her finger and sleep for a hundred years; she wonders what her role is, a mother, a wife, a mistress, a maid, a woman who is destined to be alone and asleep for the rest of her life? Beauty does not understand her relationship with the men who come to her bedside, or what she would even do with her happily ever after ending if it indeed came. All the princess dreams about is one day being awakened from her horrible slumber.

Ironically, Coover throws twists into several of the tales. Usually, the prince already has a wife and leaves Beauty to go back to his home, but returns occasionally for a good time; sometimes she has children waiting for her to care for them; other times she is awakened to an empty room and the crone telling her another “Once upon a time…” Throughout all of these disappointments, Rose still continues to believe in her “true love” prince that will rescue her from this sleep. However, in one of the final tales Rose experiences her epiphany that happily ever after does not exist for her. The crone tells a story, “Once upon a time, she says with a curling smile, her wicked side as usual taking over, there was a handsome prince and beautiful princess who lived happily ever after. But that’s terrible! Cries Rose…. I hate this story! Happily ever after… may not be worth a parched fig, my daughter, but it hides the warts, so don’t be too quick to throw it out!” (81).

Rose then continues to stab her hand with the spindle desperately trying to go back to sleep because she was devastated by her realization of her place in the world.
Coover illustrates that an epiphany is not always a positive experience. Often knowledge and truth show negativity and it changes us. Coover makes the princess and her story real for his readers in this tale. He alters the fairy tale into a realization of life.