In the Defense of Cinderella

Cinderella

Whitney: I have a special place in my heart for Cinderella. I always say my favorite princess is Belle, but my secret favorite princess is probably Cinderella. When I was a kid, I would pretend to be Cinderella while I was doing my chores. So, I’m a little defensive about her. Of all the early princesses that we will discuss, I think Cinderella is probably the best role model for young girls. She lost both her parents at a young age and is left with a stepmother, who--like the Evil Queen in Snow White--abuses her emotionally and verbally and forces her to become a servant in her family’s home. But Cinderella makes the best of the situation. She gets up early and makes sure the animals are fed, that breakfast is made, the laundry done, the floors mopped, and yet through it all she keeps a sense of humor and sings and remains kind. And when it comes to the ball, she attempts to make it so she can go. I don’t think it’s because of the prince, but because who wouldn’t want to go to a party at a palace? So she gets a dress, though not as fashionable as her step sisters, and gets ready to go. When she is prevented (and her mother’s dress ruined) she finally breaks. And this is where being a good person rewards her. She gets a fairy godmother. Because she stayed good and kind through her hardships, because she worked hard and did all she could to go to the ball, she was rewarded in the end.

Becky: I always wanted that fairy godmother… And I love that Cinderella is just patient and good, despite the horrible situation she is in. I’m sure it wasn’t easy. I feel quite positive she would have liked to complain several times about her step-sisters and stepmother and having to do the tapestries in her own home… But she is making the best of a horrible situation. Where else could she go? She had no one else, and no money of her own, and opportunities were limited. I doubt she even knew what her future held for her. But she didn’t let that get her down. And the prince is a very smart guy, he likes her right away. There had to just be something special about her that he could see at once.

Whitney: And I think it’s important to note that the fairy godmother didn’t change her entire life. After midnight, everything went back to normal and Cinderella had to return home. It was because of Cinderella that the prince wanted to find her. She could have just had to live with her stepmother for the rest of her life otherwise.

Becky: I love that he searched far and wide for her. He knew that she was different, she was special, and okay, yes, we’re dealing with a very fast romantic turnaround, but let’s consider the period the story is set in, and let’s give the Prince a little credit. There was a very good chance he was never going to see her again, never even know her name. But she sparked something in him and he wanted to know more. And let’s also not forget that Cinderella’s stepmother locked her in the tower when she found out about the ball, effectively ruining Cinderella’s one chance at some form of a happy ending. That may be the only time that Cinderella fought back in any way. Because she had a chance to do something else, to be treated well, and to be happy. If she’d had that prospect before, she just might have been every bit the fiery character people wish she was.

Whitney: But I love that her strength was more that she could keep a good attitude through the awfulness of her childhood into her adulthood. That is such an underappreciated kind of strength.

Becky: Cinderella is a soft and gentle woman. Living her life with dignity and optimism despite being in rags and abused. Someone please tell me how that makes her weak in any way. Is it because she, too, needed to be rescued? Sorry, some things you just can’t do by yourself. And she wasn’t simpering around waiting to be saved. She lived her life the best way she could and would have kept on living.

Whitney: Exactly. She didn’t ask to be saved. She asked to go to the ball, to have some fun for once in her life.

Becky: Lucky for her, the Prince didn’t like his situation either. He was looking for something different. And voila! He found it! No dragons to slay in this story. Just the real and more terrifying villain of neglect, abuse, and torment. And the indescribable power of hope, goodness, and quiet strength that no one can take away.