| | |
| Table of Contents Next Article Previous Article Contributors Search |
| 1 | Many fairy tales not only provide entertainment, but provide readers with lessons of morals and values as well. For example, in the fairy tale of Cinderella, the essence of the story is a lesson of good triumphanting over evil. Two of the many versions of this fairy tale are the Brothers Grimm version, “Ashenputtel,” and the Algonquin version of “Cinderella.” These two versions share many similarities in content such as: the death of Cinderella’s mother which leaves Cinderella with her spineless father; the mistreatment and pain that Cinderella endures from her two sisters; and the goodness of Cinderella, which helps her to triumph in the end-she finds happiness and love. Another area of similarity between these two versions is the importance of beauty in helping Cinderella to achieve happiness; however, the type of beauty that is focused on in each version vastly differs. The Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella falsely conveys the importance of outer beauty in the ability to overcome adversity and achieve happiness; conversely, the Algonquin version rightly stresses the importance of inner beauty and inner strength as characteristics for overcoming the cruelty of others and finding peace. |
| 2 | In the Brothers Grimm version, the two step-sisters of Cinderella are described as beautiful and fair in appearance with hearts that are black and ugly; on the other hand, in the Algonquin version, the two sisters are only described as cruel-no physical attributes are mentioned. Though the Grimm version illustrates how outer beauty doesn’t necessarily represent what is inside a person, the Algonquin version is more successful in relating the cruelty of Cinderella’s sisters by not mentioning the sisters’ physical attributes. The Brothers Grimm try to illustrate the cruelty of the step-sisters toward Cinderella as they demean Cinderella for her lack of beauty, due to her dust and dirt and her lack of proper attire, while they demand of her to help them to enhance their own physical attributes by combing their hair, brushing their shoes and making their buckles. In contrast, though, the sisters in the Algonquin version were described as cruel, especially the elder who would burn Cinderella’s hands and feet with hot cinders. It is obvious from the Brothers Gimm version that outer beauty can be deceiving as to the goodness of a heart, but their version still focuses more on the physical beauty of the young women rather than illustrating the cruelty and consequences of a black heart. |
| 3 | The Cinderella of both versions of the fairy tale clearly understands the value of appearance, but in the Brothers Grimm version, Cinderella relies on precious materials and fictitious animals and trees to help her to achieve beauty in order to be seen by the prince. The Grimm’s Cinderella finds it necessary to ask a tree to shake down silver and gold upon her to make her beautiful for the festival, at which her family or others do not recognize her due to her interimistic beauty. Each night, for three nights, she dresses in increased amounts of splendor and every one is astonished at her beauty. Additionally, the prince is so taken by her beauty that he refuses to dance with anyone else at the festival while Cinderella is present and even desires to know where the beautiful young maiden lives. Once again, the Brothers Grimm build up outer beauty as an important attribute-no one notices Cinderella until she is adorned in fine materials, and the prince becomes enchanted by Cinderella’s mystically created beauty. In the Algonquin version, however, Cinderella tries to present herself as best as possible with what she can gather from around her; she does not rely on fine materials from fictitious creatures. Instead, the Algonquin Cinderella borrows a pair of old moccasins from her father that she must soften in water, begs her sisters for wampum shells, uses sheets of birch bark to make a dress, and makes a few other necessities to adorn herself. There is a special beauty in the simpleness of the adornments of the Algonquin Cinderella that cannot be found in fine materials of gold and silver. |
| 4 | Another kind of beauty that can only be seen in the Algonquin version is the beauty of inner strength. In the Brothers Grimm version, Cinderella is deeply lacking in inner strength: she called to the birds to pick out the lentils that her step-mother threw into the ashes instead of picking them out herself; she called to the tree to shake down silver and gold and cover her with it so that she might adorn herself with beauty instead of trying to make something for herself from materials around her; she dazzled the prince each night with her adornments then escaped from him, running away and discarding her majestic garments, only to return to the safety of her soot; and finally she waited for the prince to call her out to try on her left-behind slipper instead of standing up for herself and let it be known that she was the mysterious, beautiful woman who left everyone at the festival not knowing what to say for her wonderment. This weakness that the Brothers Grimm display in their version is not of beauty-inside or outside. This weakness means that the Brothers Grimm Cinderella, though she finally finds her prince, will probably still lack true happiness since the effort to achieve it did not come from within her-her inner strength. The Brothers Grimm Cinderella will not find the kind of happiness that the Algonquin Cinderella will find. The Algonquin Cinderella is a simple woman with great inner strength and creativity: she begs her sisters for wampum shells instead relying on birds or trees for them; she makes her own clothing from tree bark instead of asking for silver and gold; she adorns her feet with old moccasins instead of slippers embroidered with silk and silver; she faces her wicked sisters who can recognize her clearly and who shout, hoot, hiss, and yell at her instead of disguising herself in fine materials; she walks past the loafers around the village that see her as a strange little creature and call out to her “Shame!” instead of sneaking past them; and while dressed in her simple adornments she braves an attempt to see the Invisible One (the Algonquin version of the prince) instead of masking herself in fine materials that would hide who she really is-just in case she failed. |
| 5 | Fairy tales are entertaining ways by which favorable morals and values can be conveyed, but caution must also be taken as to the other messages that these tales might emphasize. Both the Brothers Grimm and the Algonquin versions of the Cinderella fairy tale convey a story of good prospering over evil; however, the emphasis on the part that physical beauty plays in achieving happiness must be analyzed. Inner beauty and the beauty found in inner strength are strong, solid foundations on which lasting happiness can be built; in contrast, outer beauty is fleeting and erodes through time-happiness built on the eroding foundation of outer beauty soon decays. |
|
Nominated by Amanda Coffey, English Department
|
