Cinderella Myths

Can you recall hearing or reading about your first fairy tale? I know that I remember from a young age being read stories of whimsical characters, and how the princess lived happily ever after. Looking back I wonder why was I read these types of short stories, and what was their importance? From as far back as the Middle Ages accounts of fairy tales began circulating the World. Authors have continued to preserve the existence of even the oldest of all fairy tales by publication, and eventually by the cinema arts. Fairy tales have been known to be about fictitious creatures or with magical fairies, however did you know that many tales have various versions, and that the interpretation of these tales can be rather dark and at times disturbing?
For instance, for those who have seen the Disney version know that Cinderella is treated as a servant by her new stepmother and two wretched step sisters. Belittled and mocked for her thinking she was worthy of accompanying them to the Prince’s ball, where he would ultimately choose his bride. Until the night of the ball a fairy godmother appeared and gave Cinderella a beautiful gown and pumpkin carriage to take her to the Prince’s ball. As the tale continues Cinderella’s beauty catches the Prince’s eye and as she tries to hurry home before the stroke of midnight which would transform her back to her servant’s clothing she leaves behind a glass slipper. As the Prince searches the village for the woman he fell in love with he comes across Cinderella’s home, and since she is a servant she was unable to be in his majesties presence. While the two stepsisters try vigorously to make the petite glass slipper fit their enlarged foot. Just as her opportunity tends to pass, Cinderella with aide of her animal friends finally escapes the confinement of her room and flawlessly dawns the glass slipper. And of course, they lived happily ever after according to the Disney
Cinderella’s stepmother does not show any affection toward her step daughter, but only orders and resentment. Cinderella has become socially isolated to the point she does not have any real friends besides the animal creatures that live in and around her home. In addition, The Grimms’ Brothers1812 version of Kinderund Hausmarchen, “Cinderella” interprets more vividly the severity of abuse Cinderella endured while living with her stepmother. The brothers version tells of how Cinderella was a nickname given to her from her stepmother and sisters because she did not have a bedroom of her own and would sleep by the hearth of ashes. Another example from the brothers that exemplifies the extent of the emotional abuse she endured is in their account of how much she cried after the loss of her birth mother. Apparently she cried so much it would have been enough to water the tree at her mother’s grave which also magically attributed to helping her get a gown appropriate to wear to the Prince’s ball. In my opinion, both versions of this tale can only lead me to conclude that Cinderella may suffer emotionally in her future due to the traumatizing environment she lived in with her step family. But how often does the reader actually go into depth with fairy tales like this one and really interpret the meaning behind what they see or read?