A mist. A great mist. It covered the entire kingdom. And everyone in it - the good people and the not so good, the young people and the not-so-young, and even Briar Rose's mother and father fell asleep. Everyone slept: lords and ladies, teacher and tummlers, dogs and doves, rabbits and rabbitzen and all kinds of citizens. So fast asleep they were, they were not able to wake up for a hundred years.
In Jane Yolen's "Briar Rose," a mysterious mist envelops the kingdom, casting a spell of sleep on its inhabitants. Regardless of their status or age, everyone, from nobility to commoners, is affected. The deep slumber extends even to Briar Rose’s parents, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the enchantment that affects all walks of life. The tranquility of the scene underlines a sense of inevitability that this peaceful sleep brings, as no one can escape its grasp.
This magical event results in a century of dreams for the kingdom's people, during which they are completely unaware of the passage of time. The vivid imagery of everyone, including animals, succumbing to sleep reinforces the story's theme of interconnectedness among the characters. The mist symbolizes both a barrier and a unifying force for the kingdom, as it leads to a collective fate that will eventually require awakening, renewing hope and life in the kingdom after the long slumber.