The abduction and captivity of a maiden is a common motif in folklore: "Beauty and the Beast," "Rapunzel," and numerous others. Sometimes she is held for ransom by thieves; sometimes incarceration is a prelude to forced marriage to a monstrous or evil lover; sometimes her plight is a test of her character. The motif apparently derives from the practice of bride-stealing in ancient civilizations where courtship or arranged marriage failed to gain a man the wife of his choice. The symbolism of the captive princess is powerful: she represents the ideal of female stature as well as the political future of the kingdom. How she withstands the rigors of captivity demonstrates the power of her gender and worthiness as a regal model. Whether she is raped, seduced, or willingly marries her abductor predicts the future decline or prosperity of the society.

The motif of the imprisoned...