Sandy and her beautiful sisters

Sandy and her beautiful sisters – analyses
“Sandy and her beautiful sisters” is a short story written by Antonia Fraser. It is a rewriting of the classic fairy tale Cinderella. The story tells me, that being beautiful isn’t equal to being happy or to have a good life. The protagonist Sandy is a character with depth. She is, unlike her two beautiful sisters described as “plump” with long curly hair.
Because of her lack in beauty Sandy has grown up being the unnoticed sister, which has resulted in her being more comfortable alone then with people. She has also gotten used to service her two elderly sisters, by doing all the housework. By doing the housework she has learned to cook like a goddess, and she also works as a caterer. This again shows us, that she doesn’t like much contact with people, and that she feels secure helping people. She tries to become thin to be more like her sisters, but the attempt fails and she stays plump.
During the story evolves, and in the end of the story, she ends up being satisfied with being able to earn her own living and giving her baby a place to grow. The story takes place in Fulham, London, where the two elderly sisters live in two big intercommunicating rooms at the front of their house, while Sandy lives in a small room at the back, with a view over the garden. The rooms reflect the relationship between the sisters. The two beautiful sisters have the two best rooms suggesting that they are the best, while Sandy has the little one in the back. But like the two sisters, the rooms are empty shells, they might be big and beautiful, but that’s all. Meanwhile Sandy´s little room has a view over the garden (which she tends). The garden symbolises hope, and a new beginning. It also should remind her of the things she can do while all her sisters can do are to be pretty. In the end Sandy moves away into a flat in Sam Prince´s house where she can live with her baby. The story reminds me of Cinderella, who also cooks and cleans for her two older sisters, and in the end of the story, she moves away and gets the “prince” while leaving the two sisters behind.
I think the story is inspired by the old fairy tale, but the message has been modified. The author tries to tell us that looks are too overrated in today’s society. She also tries to tell that having a family or being able to earn your living, matters much more than beauty. In my analyses I have come to conclude, that although Sandy isn’t as beautiful as her sisters, it ends with her being happier than them. Sandy’s cooking skills earns her a nice place to live and the possibility to fulfil a dream - to publish a cooking book. So although Sandy isn’t beautiful she ends up living in a great flat with her own little baby, while the sisters are left helplessly behind. She ends up being the direct opposite of her sisters, despite her previous attempt to become more like them.