Analysis of Cinderella
Cinderella is one of the most famous fairy tales that was first written by Brothers Grimm in 1812. Although Cinderella was made popular by the Disney company, that kid friendly version is far from the original version.
The original holds some of the same story lines, but much of the story is different. Cinderella was a young girl when her mother died and her father married a woman with two girls soon after. Her two step sisters received everything they ever wanted, while Cinderella received all of the leftover, her father even gave her gifts that were simple branches from the forest (Grimm). However, she was determined follow through with her mothers last wish and be “good and pious.” The King appointed a festival, a birthday party for the Prince, that was to last for three days. Cinderella helped her step sisters get ready for the festival, all while she wished that she could go as well. Cinderella was told she could go if she finished many impossible tasks. She called together pigeons, turtle doves, and many other birds to help her (“Brothers Grimm: Fairy Tales”). Eventually Cinderella gave up all hope of going to the festival, but then when she was weeping by her mothers grave a bird threw down a dress for Cinderella to wear to the party. When she got to the party the Prince would dance with her, and only her. When Cinderella was in a rush to leave her left slipper remained on the sticky staircase. The Prince was determined to find the girl that fit into the slipper. The eldest step sister cut off her big toe so that the slipper would fit on but the blood came through the slipper and revealed her lie. So then the youngest step sister cut off her heel to fit but the blood revealed her lie as well. Finally Cinderella tried on the slipper and it fit perfectly (“Cinderella-Brothers Grimm”).
This original version of Cinderella has no fairy godmothers and no pumpkin coaches that expire at midnight. Instead this original version is more violent, toes and heels are cut off in order to fit into the shoe (Bickel). Even though this story is different from the Cinderella many know and love, there are still many characteristics that make this story a fairy tale. The first aspect in this story is that there are fantasy characters. These characters are the birds that have been given human like qualities. These birds help Cinderella do the tasks her stepmother told her to complete and they eventually bring the Prince to Cinderella. The birds help the Prince see that he was being deceived by the step sisters. Another characteristic of a fairy tale show in this story is that there is an unusually happy ending to this horrible story. In short, the Prince finds Cinderella and they live happily ever after. The final characteristic of a fairy tale shown in this book is the audience that the book was written for. This is obviously a story that was written for adults and not children.
Cinderella is a story that reveals fairy tale characteristics and a story that has intrigued readers for centuries. Cinderella is one of the most popular fairy tales written today.
The original holds some of the same story lines, but much of the story is different. Cinderella was a young girl when her mother died and her father married a woman with two girls soon after. Her two step sisters received everything they ever wanted, while Cinderella received all of the leftover, her father even gave her gifts that were simple branches from the forest (Grimm). However, she was determined follow through with her mothers last wish and be “good and pious.” The King appointed a festival, a birthday party for the Prince, that was to last for three days. Cinderella helped her step sisters get ready for the festival, all while she wished that she could go as well. Cinderella was told she could go if she finished many impossible tasks. She called together pigeons, turtle doves, and many other birds to help her (“Brothers Grimm: Fairy Tales”). Eventually Cinderella gave up all hope of going to the festival, but then when she was weeping by her mothers grave a bird threw down a dress for Cinderella to wear to the party. When she got to the party the Prince would dance with her, and only her. When Cinderella was in a rush to leave her left slipper remained on the sticky staircase. The Prince was determined to find the girl that fit into the slipper. The eldest step sister cut off her big toe so that the slipper would fit on but the blood came through the slipper and revealed her lie. So then the youngest step sister cut off her heel to fit but the blood revealed her lie as well. Finally Cinderella tried on the slipper and it fit perfectly (“Cinderella-Brothers Grimm”).
This original version of Cinderella has no fairy godmothers and no pumpkin coaches that expire at midnight. Instead this original version is more violent, toes and heels are cut off in order to fit into the shoe (Bickel). Even though this story is different from the Cinderella many know and love, there are still many characteristics that make this story a fairy tale. The first aspect in this story is that there are fantasy characters. These characters are the birds that have been given human like qualities. These birds help Cinderella do the tasks her stepmother told her to complete and they eventually bring the Prince to Cinderella. The birds help the Prince see that he was being deceived by the step sisters. Another characteristic of a fairy tale show in this story is that there is an unusually happy ending to this horrible story. In short, the Prince finds Cinderella and they live happily ever after. The final characteristic of a fairy tale shown in this book is the audience that the book was written for. This is obviously a story that was written for adults and not children.
Cinderella is a story that reveals fairy tale characteristics and a story that has intrigued readers for centuries. Cinderella is one of the most popular fairy tales written today.
References
Bickel, Jane. "Cinderella." School Library Journal 25.7 (1979): 122. Print.
"Brothers Grimm: Fairy Tales, History, Facts, and More." Brothers Grimm: Fairy Tales, History, Facts, and More. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/index2.html>.
"Cinderella - Brothers Grimm." Cinderella - Brothers Grimm. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
<http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/grimm/bl-grimm-cinderella.htm>.
Grimm, Jacob, Wilhelm Grimm, Ronne Randall, and Anna C. Leplar. The Grimm Brothers Cinderella. Bath, UK: Parragon Pub., 2005. Print.
"Brothers Grimm: Fairy Tales, History, Facts, and More." Brothers Grimm: Fairy Tales, History, Facts, and More. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/index2.html>.
"Cinderella - Brothers Grimm." Cinderella - Brothers Grimm. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
<http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/grimm/bl-grimm-cinderella.htm>.
Grimm, Jacob, Wilhelm Grimm, Ronne Randall, and Anna C. Leplar. The Grimm Brothers Cinderella. Bath, UK: Parragon Pub., 2005. Print.