Gender Stereotypes In Cinderella

In each story of cinderella you ever read there will always be an evil mother, in the three stories given, each one has an evil mother which is the step mother, she is the one who gives Ella orders and does not care a bit for her. In the movie version butterflies are constantly shown as a sign of independence and purity, while the sign in the Grimm Brother’s version was the doves which meant innocence. Then there is the fairy godmother, she plays the good mother in all Cinderella stories, she gives Ella a boost of confidence when she had reached her lowest low and makes her feel like kindness and hard work can achieve

Specifically in “Cinderella”, there are three easily identified character archetypes, which include the earth mother, star-crossed lovers, and damsel in distress. Although it is not a human character, the earth mother is recognized as “her mother's grave beneath the hazel-tree” (Hunt). Her mother’s grave is a great example of the earth mother because whenever Cinderella comes in contact or cries to the grave, it grants whatever she is in need of, which is also known as the fairy godmother in the modern version. Cinderella and the prince share a romantic relationship that is not tolerated by anyone because of the difference in their social statuses; therefore, they are seen as star-crossed lovers. When the father says, “she cannot possibly be the bride” and the step-mother says, “oh, no, she is much too dirty, she cannot show herself” it shows how cold-hearted and unaccepting of their love they are (Hunt). The most familiar archetype seen in almost all princess fairy tales, including “Cinderella”, is known as damsel in distress. After her mother’s death, Cinderella is kept by her father, step-mother, and step-sisters in their home being used as their maid. When she escapes for one night to the ball she meets the prince, but must return to her home before midnight because she can not be seen with the prince or should not even be attending the ball. Because she is being hidden from the rest of the kingdom, the prince must go looking for her, which makes her appear as the damsel in

Each quote that I mentioned in this paragraph shows the envy Catharine has and with that being said the second quote “I was meant to pick it up. That was what maids were meant to do---pick up their master 's and mistress 's things and put them back in their place (215). This quote is placed immediately after Catharina tries to destroy the painting of Griet by stabbing it with a knife. When Jan Vermeer prevents her from doing this, the knife falls on the floor. Griet knows that she is expected to pick it up. Logically, it is what she gets paid to do: part of being a maid is to take care of menial and unpleasant tasks so that her master and mistress do not have to be troubled with doing it. As the quotation reveals, there is also a symbolism,

In her article, “What’s Wrong With Cinderella?” in the New York Times, Peggy Orenstein expresses her concern over the effect of princess figures like Cinderella on young girls ' perceptions of themselves and how they should behave (“What’s Wrong With Cinderella?”). However, the later Disney films have gradually attempted to break away from this stereotype resulting in stronger female characters like Ariel, Mulan, and Elsa among others.

After hearing about the ball being held at the king’s home, Cinderella is insistent on going: “However, because Cinderella kept asking, the stepmother finally said, ‘I have scattered a bowl of lentils into the ashes for you. If you can pick them out again in two hours, then you may go with us’” (Grimm 2). Cinderella is so determined to attend the ball that she is willing to do whatever it takes. When the author says, “Cinderella kept asking,” it proves that she continues to ask her stepmother until she gets an answer she will accept. Cinderella’s stepmother constantly gives her stepdaughter hard work to do, but Cinderella perseveres, which fuels her determination to attend the ball and become the prince’s bride. Although the task is unreasonable, for Cinderella’s embarrassment and suffering only, Cinderella does not give up. Her menial task only pushes Cinderella to want her opportunity to be with the prince more, proving her determination and the benefit of being allowed to go with her stepsisters, shown by, “Then you may go with us”. Cinderella is tired of the life she lives and desperately wants a new one. This is why the benefit of being able to attend the festival makes Cinderella determined to clean up her stepmother’s

Grimm uses the characters of Cinderella and Snow White to perpetuate the idea that women should lead quietly domestic lives. In Cinderella, Cinderella spent most of her time in a kitchen. She truly embodied a woman of the early 1900’s. She wasn’t allowed to do or go as she wanted to, like her step sisters but was forced to work. For Example, “There she had to do hard work from morning till night, got up before day break, carry water, light fires, cook and wash” (121). The ideal housewife of this time earned her training within homes centered around the principles preparing the woman to take her of the household. Cinderella was isolated from

Similarly, Disney’s Cinderella presents a cruel and ambitious stepmother who attempts to arrange marriages for her ugly, foolish, and somewhat comical daughters. In the film, we see their miserable attempt to sing opera, (supposedly in order to appear more feminine) as the mother proudly oversees. In one of the last scenes, she desperately urges them to make the glass slipper fit, and while she doesn’t downright tell them to cut off their toes or heels as in the original (Grimm 119), the comic scene in itself seems to have a subtle layer of tragedy. While these examples prove that female ugliness in fairy tales and their adaptations corresponds to wickedness, and the latter is equivalent to ill-temper, the question of female independence still

Most of us have grown up watching Disney films but never really thought of what they exactly mean to us. Our understanding of what it means to be a Disney princess is probably one of the reasons to what made us subject to the regulation of cultural values. Cinderella and other similar Disney princesses may be recognised as a part of an individual’s childhood but the values and ideas it conveyed can still be reflected in our decisions and behaviour as adults. Many young girls perceive Cinderella as a role model and create expectations and beliefs based on what is portrayed through her unfortunately these expectations are not fulfilled and ends in dissatisfaction. The research paper begins with a brief introduction to Psychoanalytic theory followed by an analysis of the Disney film “Cinderella” which will enable the reader to understand and relate to how the film influences and

Cinderella uses various fairy tale conventions, mainly relating to Cinderella and her home life. These include a conventional 19th century house maiden who has suffered, a handsome prince and a wicked stepmother. The traditional Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella was written during the early 1800s where women primarily worked in domestic jobs as housewives, while

Since younger age, we are introduced to the very first kind of entertainment called ‘cartoon’. It is presented both as comic books and television shows. As a child, people tend to prefer an animated cartoon or animation. Animation cartoon in various types is widespread and famous all around the world as it does not only entertain people, but many of cartoons and animation cartoons give readers and audiences good moral for the living. It can be said that this kind of entertainment is a good source of communication because it is mostly reflected from real situation of people. The audience can relate to the films and consider about specific contents that are being presented.

It is nearly impossible for a tale to be passed down generations and still stay the same. The fairy tale “Cinderella” told by the Grimm brothers is almost 206 years old, and differences can be seen between the modern “Cinderella” story and the original. In “Cinderella,” by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, a young girl named Cinderella is treated like a servant by her family. Luckily she is gifted with beautiful clothing, enabling her to attend a festival, meeting her one true love. Cinderella gets married to the prince, and the step-sisters are punished by getting pecked in the eyes by birds. Similarly, in Walt Disney’s “Cinderella,” she is also treated horribly, and awarded a beautiful outfit by her fairy godmother, letting her attend a ball, encountering her true love. Cinderella gets married to the prince, however, the step-sisters are forgiven and live with Cinderella at the castle unlike the original story. Both stories have many similarities, especially in the climax. However, the

This dark version of the many original Cinderella stories is by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, better known as the Grimm brothers. Cinderella is about a young girl who sadly loses her mother due to some kind of sickness, her father marries a woman who has two daughters, shortly after her mother’s death. The daughters are referred to as Cinderella’s “false sisters” due to their evil and wicked tactics during the story and also because they are not related to her by blood. Her father gets completely brainwashed by the stepmother and begins to treat his own daughter the same way they do, like a pest. The stepmother and her daughters use Cinderella’s father for his riches and make her

Maia’s astounding ability to be self reliant and independent in the face of tough challenges defines her as a free thinking young woman, but Cinderella’s meek attitude confines her and drags her down when she is challenged. The ideal of independence is vital to a meaningful life, as illustrated by both young women in similar circumstances. When a baby robin hatches from a pale blue egg, they are completely dependent on their mother for food, water, and protection. Eventually, the baby bird leaps out of the nest, earns independence, and starts their own life. Humans must also leap out of their nest into a scary world filled with the unknown. However perilous it may be, independence is a necessity for an original life.

From Disney’s Cinderella (blueberryeminem13, 2013), Cinderella lost her mother at a young age. Few years later, her father remarried Lady Tremaine. Lady Tremaine had two daughters, Anastasia and Drizella, who were around the same age as Cinderella. Cinderella was loved by all her animals especially the mice, Gus and Jaq. Her step-sisters were very different from her. They were materialistic and did not like Cinderella. As time passed, Cinderella’s Father also passed away. At that moment, Lady Tremaine began to portray her hatred and jealousy for Cinderella’s beauty. She moved Cinderella to the attic, turned her into a slave when her daughters had drained the family of its wealth. Cinderella worked all day doing all the house chores and bathing Lady Tremaine’s cat, Lucifer. One day, the King’s messenger arrived with a special invitation which ordered all young maidens ready for marriage to attend a royal

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away from many towns, villages and other kingdoms, a beautiful baby girl was born into a wealthy family. Her name was Cinderella and she had beautiful, luscious hair, and a smile that could make any gloomy day sunny again. She was loved endlessly by all creatures, big and small. Her life was literally the definition of perfection. She received everything she desired in life, whether or not her parents approved of it or how expensive it was.