ipl-logo

Ruth Panttaja Cinderella Not So Morally Superior Analysis

922 Words4 Pages

Conner Brosmer
ACP Comp.
Mr. Albonetti
02/21/18
“Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior” Critique Essay Fairy tales indicate to entertain as well as provide an underlying moral lesson to its’ readers. In the tale of Cinderella, the lesson is that if you keep a positive attitude you can overcome any obstacles and achieve your dreams. Elisabeth Panttaja uses her article, “Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior,” in order to demonstrate that Cinderella is not the moral hero she is made out to be in modern versions of the ancient fairy tale. She accredits the majority of Cinderella’s triumphs to her recently dead mother in the form of supernatural gifts and assistance rather than Cinderella’s perseverance against a cruel step-family showing how she is craftier, willing to employ powerful magic to defeat the forces arrayed against her. Her argument is somewhat successful in dismantling the moral high ground built around modern day Cinderella, but Panttaja tends to interpret information to only support her argument and does not add in any …show more content…

Thereafter, Panttaja explains in-depth about how Cinderella is not truly motherless, while describing what in the fairy tale represents Cinderella’s mother. Shortly after, Panttaja compares the mother and the stepmother of Cinderella, believing that both of the mothers have the same attitude to help their daughters achieve their goals (288). Next, Panttaja questions the morals of Cinderella by explaining magic being the theme of the fairy tale instead of the “alleged theme of romance.” In conclusion, Panttaja used multiple examples, including fairy tales and mythology, to explain how the main character, in this case Cinderella, uses power and manipulation to succeed in the goals they’re for

Show More
Related

  • Gender Lens In Walt Disney's Fairytales

    331 Words  | 2 Pages

    The author, the assistant professor at the University of Oradea, uses what she coins a “gender lens” to peer into the gender and behavioral effects that fairytales have on children. She dives into the idea of how the fairytales were constructed with her data she reconstructs the writing process that the writers of that exact time would've preformed to recreate the mind behind the tale. She especially evaluates the old fairytales and how they have evolved into Walt Disney's fairytales. Snow white was a great representation of a fairytale that the gender lens peered right into, showing the monolithic stereotype of a women and how she seeks a man for finical and physical security. The author finds that even with young children playing with these

    Read More

  • The Role Of The Oppression Of Women In Fairy Tales

    103 Words  | 1 Pages

    Cinderella: The Oppression of Women People view Cinderella as a role model, when in reality we let children be exposed to these wrong ideals of what a women role is throughout Fairy Tales. Often fairy tales tend to demonstrate the way that society strive to oppress women by teaching them that passivity is a women’s duty. Reinforcing the ideals that women should be wives, mothers and submissive. This idea is demonstrated throughout the Tale Ash Girl by the Grimm Brothers and The Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perreault viewing admirable women in stories are to be silent passive, beautiful, and eager to marry.

    Read More

  • Feminine Beauty Ideal In Children's Fairy Tales

    1392 Words  | 6 Pages

    This source centers on the feminine beauty ideal in fairy tales and how it has survived through time. According to this source, beauty has tremendous influence over women and usually, the more beautiful in the end is compensated and seen as more likable. This takes the power of women and can lead to risks, because of envy and conflict. The source is effective in getting it points across by using significant examples from fairy-tales such as Cinderella, Snow-White, and Sleeping Beauty, and comparing them to other

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Cinderella By Anne Sexton

    566 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout generations, fairy tales have become a main influence in fantasies occurring in children and adults. It begins as a tragedy that ends with riches and happily ever after. In “Cinderella,” Anne Sexton mocks the happiness and perfection brought within the stories. She gives a whole new perspective of the famous happily ever after ending. Most of the characters in these stories are not doing so well

    Read More

  • The Role Of Gender Stereotypes In Fairy Tales

    1702 Words  | 7 Pages

    A kiss from her true love could bring a beautiful princess back to life. A scullery maid aided by a tad of magic could attend a lavish ball and meet the man of her dreams. A mermaid could magically grow a pair of legs, so that she could be with her human lover. These ‘once upon a time’ stories for young children with the ‘happily ever after’ ending were the perfect getaway to a fantasy world.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Culture And Generational Views Of Fairy Tales

    928 Words  | 4 Pages

    Thompson argues that themes remain the same as time and place changes, while Cullen believes that different themes and ideas cater to generations. Throughout both articles, the authors describe the impact of culture and generational views on the versions of fairy tales that rise in popularity by using concrete examples. Cullen’s article describes how and why Perrault’s Cinderella was well received and became the most popular version of the story. One example she uses is Madame d’Aulnoy’s version.

    Read More

  • How Can Little Red Riding Hood Create A Change In Society And Culture Change

    1718 Words  | 7 Pages

    Fairytales have long been modified, changed, and reconditioned, and likewise acquire a history covering hundreds of years. Fairytales have focused on cultural properties of human life from their very creation in verbal form to their documentation as written stories in more modern times. In particular, “Little Red Riding Hood” has been exposed to many revisions over time. These alterations reflect both changes in projected audience and social and cultural concepts of its certain era. “The Story of Grandmother” effectively teaches the dangers of strangers through sexuality, violence, and gender; however, “Little Red Cap”, “Little Red Riding Hood,” and “Lon Po Po” lack essential qualities to demonstrate the lesson.

    Read More

  • Amy Steedman's Cinderella In Nursery Tales

    1226 Words  | 5 Pages

    The literary world is constructed of many facets and dimensions, spanning from occurrences in the real world to the deepest recesses of the human mind and imagination. Though nothing is written without a purpose and that can be seen in all genres of literature, especially fairy tales. The idea behind fairy tales is to teach lessons to young children in a way that they can comprehend and learn from and the story of Cinderella is no different. Through symbolism in not only the text itself but illustrations capturing moments in the tale, writers all reference a specific lesson. The purpose of Cinderella is to give hope or suggest possibilities of a better life.

    Read More

  • Cinderella Research Paper

    409 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cinderella remains a hero for those who seek to do the inconceivable. After the untimely death of her mother, and enduring the unnecessarily harsh treatment from her other family members, Cinderella retains a positive outlook on life and perseveres through her work. Masterfully, the Aschenputtel story captures the essence of karma. In fact, the

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Fairy Tales

    1511 Words  | 7 Pages

    Fairy Tales are stories that are told to one another or is read to someone about various made up creative imaginative characters. They are used to entertain the children and to develop their imagination. When fairy tale stories are told the children’s moral education is enhanced, it builds their imagination and it helps entertain them. Stories told of fairy tales has been a worldwide culture of children stories for many years and decades. It is one of the genres that has captured the imagination of not only children but adults also throughout the world.

    Read More

  • Women In Fairy Tales

    1351 Words  | 6 Pages

    Using these words, the authors draw the line of distinction between the roles of “the saint” and “the whore” (200). Secondly, independent women in fairy tales were often associated with the concept of evil because they menaced the patriarchal order itself (203). No longer relying on men for emotional or economic support, these women were harder to control (203). However, back in the days when these tales were crafted, “most women had not been by tradition so fortunate as to enjoy the economic independence that would enable them to run their lives as wished” (203). As a result, their roles in society were entirely defined by their relationships with men (207).

    Read More

  • Cinder Edna Compare And Contrast

    632 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cinderella is one of the most popular fairytales of our time because it is a beloved rags-to-riches story that can be inspiring to children. However, it gives them this idea that you must be dependent on others to grant you the things that you want in order to have a happy life. Ellen Jackson wrote a modern version of the fairytale by creating Cinder Edna to show that you don’t have to depend on a fairy godmother or marry a prince to live happily ever after. Therefore, the author displays many differences between them which gives a new and different idea to readers that having a good, strong character will get you through anything in life. The only similarity that Cinder Edna & Cinderella share is that they both live with a wicked step family and are forced to work as servants for them.

    Read More

  • Submissive Roles In Fairy Tales

    1375 Words  | 6 Pages

    Submissive Roles in Fairy Tales Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1812) “Cinderella” and “Snow White”, and Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales (1837) “The Little Mermaid”, shows an existence of gender stereotypes occurring in a children’s story. Although fairy tales are an important part of children’s literature, in what way do they influence them? The debate is endless; however, people think the bad influence is mainly on the women because of the way they are stereotyped. The female’s roles in fairy tales characterize women not having their own independence, power, and voice to represent them.

    Read More

  • What Are Gender Stereotypes In Fairy Tales

    1372 Words  | 6 Pages

    Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1812) “Cinderella” and “Snow White”, and Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales (1837) “The Little Mermaid”, shows an existence of gender stereotypes occurring in a children’s story. Although fairy tales are an important part of children’s literature, in what way do they influence them? The debate is endless; however, people think the bad influence is mainly on the women because of the way they are stereotyped. The female’s roles in fairy tales characterize women not having their own independence, power, and voice to represent them.

    Read More

  • Van De Water: The Story Of Cinderella

    1465 Words  | 6 Pages

    The plot of Cinderella displays the incredibly conservative nature of this text. This plotline allows the interpellation of traditional beliefs concerning femininity and encourages the blind acceptance of these beliefs, such as the idea that all one has to be is “as kind and sweet as she” (Perrault, 77) to capture the prince’s heart. The role of females and the importance of femininity in finding a husband are also important messages in Cinderella. For example, Cinderella is described as being of an “exceptionally sweet and gentle nature. She got this from her mother, who had been the nicest person in the world. . .

    Read More

More about Ruth Panttaja Cinderella Not So Morally Superior Analysis

Open Document