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FYS – Fairy Tales
September 16, 2013
To The Top
Or, The Definition of a “Cinderella tale” and What its Parts Really Contribute to the Story of a Girl Becoming Nobility

What is a fairy tale, or, more specifically, what is a Cinderella story? How does one know that the tale is part of the plethora of Cinderella tales? Is it because they have a young girl under her stepmother’s controlling thumb? No, that cannot be all… There is no evil stepmother in “Suit of Leather” or “Donkeyskin.” If a young girl basically forced into slavery is not it, then what makes a Cinderella story just that? Through careful consideration, four elements have stood out in each tale. All of the tales have a heroine (or hero), a prince/rescuer on a search, a dysfunctional family and a “fairy godmother.” To be a Cinderella tale, each story must have some form of the above elements that, when put together in just such a way it stands out from other stories with the same elements. Of course, the main element of the story is Cinderella – the underdog heroine. She is seen in most stories as the nicest, happiest person, always in a cheerful mood despite her position in the “family.” Shown in most stories as a young girl who is extremely dirty and unkempt, it is her soul that captures the reader – it is as pure as snow. In the story “Suit of Leather,” the prince sees her as the beautiful princess, but that is not why he wants her; no, it is her heart that he is after. Through her pure heart Cinderella is always able to rise above her past and get on with her future. In many of the stories she has help in the form of some animal; doves, a cow, a fish, all serve to help Cinderella out of her present situation. The dysfunctional family, the second most important aspect to the Cinderella tale – with which, the protagonist has reason to ‘rebel’ and go to the ball with the help of her fairy god mother. With the cruelty of the stepmother, Cinderella is not at the ball with the rest of the family which gives her the freedom to dress differently and be noticed by the prince (“Cinderella”). With an absent father, Cinderella is under the care of her stepmother who is a very cruel and evil being. She does not allow Cinderella to be the nobility she was born to be, but rather forces her to be a slave in her own home while the stepmothers’ daughters get whatever they want. The stepsisters themselves are very selfish and vain, always wanting to look the best and attract the attention of the prince in any way possible. (What’s a toe or a heel to the future Queen?) They too are very cruel and rude to Cinderella. The stepmother sets Cinderella impossible tasks, but does not uphold her promise when Cinderella is able to complete them, usually with the help of an animal, forcing Cinderella to find her own way to the ball/fair/other event: her fairy godmother. Though she takes many different forms, a cow, turtle doves, fish bones and an actual fairy, there is definitely some magical being involved in the tale. This being is usually the voice of reason to Cinderella, the sense of justice for the wrongs committed against her and the righter of said wrongs. The fairy godmother gives Cinderella the means to be recognized for who she is inside with the beautiful dresses. She then makes it possible for Cinderella to have a happy ending by leaving behind something the Prince will use to find his “perfect girl” with – a shoe, a ring. For justice, the fairy godmother sees to it that the stepmother and stepsisters get their just rewards, such as when the doves peck out the stepsisters’ eyes. Critical to the Cinderella tale, it is the fairy godmother who puts Cinderella on the path to her destiny, to her prince. The Prince is the final element to the Cinderella tale, the searcher and the rescuer – desiring the perfect princess. In most of the tales it is not only Cinderella’s outer beauty that captures his attention, but her inner beauty as well. In “Suit of Leather” and “Donkey Skin,” in his search for his perfect princess he tries everyone from nobility to servant, looking for that special one who will “fit” into the identity. Through use of the slipper or ring then, Cinderella has to prove who she is, her identity. Without the Prince, the tale is just a lovely girl turned servant to her evil stepfamily with no hope of betterment. These four elements all combine to create the Cinderella tale, the underdog heroine who escapes from her cruel and evil stepmother with the help of some magical being, fairy godmother, a cow, doves, and is the “perfect fit” for the Prince. While many of these elements are present in other fairy tales, put together in just this way, they create the basic Cinderella tale.