The Many Faces of Cinderella: Examining Narrative Structure, Character, and Moral Message in Different Versions of One Fairy Tale
This 10-page postgraduate essay examines seven versions of Cinderella in terms of characterization, narrative structure, and moral message. This essay concludes that in examining seven separate versions of the Cinderella tale - including Perrault’s version, the Grimm’s version, the film Ever After, the Disney film Cinderella, a 1912 American version, an 1830 verse version, and a Russian version, “The Wonderful Birch” - in conjunction with Bruno Bettelheim’s ideas concerning punishment, sibling rivalry, guilt, comfort, Oedipal conflicts, and autonomy, one can see that the characterization and narrative structure of each version profoundly affects the ultimate message or moral of each story. Indeed, although the basic story of the Cinderella plot remains constant, subtle changes in each version create a very different tenor in each story. Hence, Perrault’s version, like the Disney version, which is, based upon it, present a feminine and passive Cinderella, a stylistic choice that creates a narrative about magic and feminine reward. A 1912 American version is similar, although it allows Cinderella more agency and action. In contrast, the Grimm version of the Cinderella tale presents a darker, slightly Gothic version of the tale, providing a backdrop for explorations of revenge, Oedipal conflict, and violence. The Russian version of Cinderella, “The Wonderful Birch” presents a similarly dark narrative, foregrounding the magic element by permitting Cinderella’s mother and stepmother to both posses’ magic powers. Interestingly, the recent film version of the fairy tale, Ever After, presents a more feminist reading of the story, permitting Cinderella to rescue herself in a story, which rejects fate as a key force of action.
Pages: 10
Bibliography: 11 source(s) listed
Filename: 20898
Price: 89.50
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