From Tumblr: Anon Ask - About the ribbon motif in A Bed of Thorns as a symbol for Belle's innocence

[nym_wibbly]

Anon Tumblr user asked if I'd considered the ribbon motif in A Bed of Thorns as a symbol of Belle's innocence.

Absolutely! That’s part of their game. Rumple pretends that he’s “taking” her innocence bit by bit while knowing full well that, abstract and dubious a concept as sexual innocence is to begin with, it’s something that’s entirely hers to dispense with as she chooses, not his to take away from her. He’s so grateful that she’s chosen to share the experience with him. Each ribbon he takes for himself, with or without her urging, is a reminder of something much deeper that she’s given to him freely out of her own sense of devotion, desire or love.

I think (and I’ve never got around to thinking this through properly because Belle never has) that they’re also a symbol for her youth. Belle stressed early in the story that she put away the ribbons she used to wear when she became Rumple’s wife. She’s expected to stop being girlish and start pushing out some bloke’s heirs at this point in her life, and to dress herself appropriately to her new role. The fact that it suits them both nicely that she go on using ribbons in her married-lady hair is significant, even if it only asserts the uniqueness of their understanding. Rumple’s baffled by the whole idea that he should get to have opinions about her wardrobe, beyond admiring the view. Besides that, Rumple doesn’t want to take her youth away from her. He wants to enjoy her enjoyment of it and feel that bit closer to truly being alive again.

Sex aside, it remains to be seen how well Belle’s innocence of spirit will stand up to being Mrs Rumple, and if there comes a point where the ribbon game no longer suits their relationship.