Cinderella, or the little glass slipper by Charles
Perrault
& Aschenputtel by the Brothers Grimm
*I
read these classic fairy tales in the Classics
of Children’s Literature (6th Edition) by John W. Griffith and
Charles H. Frey. Published by Pearson in Upper Saddle River, NJ in 2005.
Perrault’s version: Cinderella’s mother is not given much thought but her father
takes a second wife and soon Cinderella falls victim to the nasty behavior of a
stepmother and two stepsisters. They take her belongings and leave her with
nothing but the cinders near the chimney. The King holds a ball and while she
is forbidden to go, Cinderella must help her stepsister get ready for the grand
event. Cinderella is incredibly kind to her stepsisters despite their mocking
and teasing. Once, the stepsisters have left for the ball, Cinderella begins to
cry but soon after her fairy godmother appears and turns ordinary objects and
creatures into a grand coach and horses and provides her with a beautiful gown,
so that she may go to the ball. Cinderella is the most beautiful lady at the
ball and wins the attention of the Prince but she must rush off before
midnight. Similar events take place on the second night of the ball, only
Cinderella leaves behind one glass slipper. The Prince sets out to find the
lady whose feet fit into this elegant glass slipper. The two stepsisters try
and fail and everyone is quite shocked when Cinderella fits the slipper. She marries
the Prince and forgives her stepsisters for their unkind behavior.
Reaction: Perrault focuses
heavily on the fashion and external beauty in his version. Cinderella seems to
overcome her had life because she is made beautiful not necessarily from her
good nature. I prefer the Grimms’ version.
The Grimms’ version: Aschenputtel’s mother dies and Aschenputtel is heartbroken but
does her best to be pious and good so that her mother and God will always be
watching over her. Her father remarries shortly after the death and the
stepmother and two stepsisters are relentlessly evil, abusive, and nasty to
Aschenputtel…the father fails to notice any of the ill behavior. The father
goes to a fair and brings back requested items for his daughters. The
stepsisters wanted fine clothes and jewels and Aschenputtel requested the first
twig that struck her father’s hat. The hazel twig the father brings for
Aschenputtel is planted at her mother’s grave and as she weeps for her mother,
the twig grows into a magical tree that produces wish-granting birds.
Aschenputtel calls on the birds’ help when her evil stepmother and stepsisters
throw lentils into the fire so that Aschenputtel will not have time to go to
the ball. However, she does complete the task and has time to go but her
stepmother lies and forbids her to go. The birds bring Aschenputtel a beautiful
dress of gold and silver and she attends the ball for three nights…each time
escaping at midnight and hiding from the Prince to keep her identity hidden.
The father cuts down Aschenputtel’s hiding places in an attempt to find the
girl the Prince seeks but she always manages to flee and the father cannot
believe his dirty daughter would be the one. On the third night, the Prince
leaves pitch on the steps and one her golden shoes is left behind. The Prince
seeks to marry the lady whose foot fits in the shoe, so the evil stepsisters
cut their foot to cram it inside. The birds give away their dishonesty and
eventually Ashenputtel tries on the gold shoe and produces the matching shoe
and marries the Prince. The evil stepsisters have their eyes pecked out at
Aschenputtel’s wedding as a punishment for the ill behavior.
Reaction: While some might
say that this version is too harsh or graphic for children, I believe
otherwise. Children are very well aware of the injustices and cruel nature of
the world and the Brothers Grimm should be admired for not sugar coating life
in their tales. The stepsisters were relentlessly cruel and there are consequences
for committing evil behavior. I am also appalled that the father did not stick
up for his daughter but I do think this is an accurate depiction of how life
was lived in the time the tale was written.
In
addition to my reaction, I will share my written response to my History of
Children’s Literature Professor’s discussion question: As thematic motifs, do you think “recognizing the loved one” and/or
“going down to get up” function in a different way in Grimms' than in
Perrault’s tale?
Fairy tales
typically highlight major themes or motifs as a means of emulating familiar
rites of personal development. Perrault’s Cinderella
and the Brothers Grimms’ Aschenputtel
are no different—motifs are in great abundance in both versions of this classic
tale.
The “recognizing
the loved one” motif is more easily identified in the Brothers Grimms’ Aschenputtel. It seems logical that the
loved one would be Aschenputtel but she receives no love or care from her living
“family” members. Instead, Aschenputtel’s deceased mother plays the role of the
loved one. Aschenputtel “went every day to her mother’s grave and wept” (p.
56). Her mother was not only caring, good but also religious. The Brothers
Grimms’, like many other classical children’s authors sought to teach children
and adult about personal development and this religious aspect sends a message
that God looks after those who are good.
Aschenputtel’s
love for her deceased mother and obedience in keeping her promise to be “pious
and good” (p. 56) was rewarded with the magic of the hazel twig. The hazel twig
not only brings a fantastical element to the tale but also provides an object
or symbol for the mother to be recognized. Aschenputtel’s fallen tears for her
mother causes the twig to blossom into a magical tree that produces wish
granting birds. More specifically, doves, which have religious significance to
further hone in on that message of being “pious”. In Perrault’s version,
religion is not intertwined in the function of this motif.
“Going down to get
up” is without a doubt my favorite of the fairy tale motifs. As much as I enjoy
Disney movies, their versions of classic fairy tales give an impression that
success is granted through beauty and love. Perrault and the Brothers Grimms clearly
establish the theme that one must first struggle before achieving success. This
message/motif not only more accurately reflects the rites of personal
development but also emphasizes a pattern of resiliency, which many children can
connect with or at least be empathic to. For example, in Perrault’s version,
Cinderella sleeps in the “garret” (p. 17) on top of all her other duties and
chores. According to The Free Dictionary
[Online], a garret is a cramped, possibly unfinished attic with a pitched roof.
Clearly, this is a poor location for a girl to sleep and a symbol of
Cinderella’s lowly position in her family. “Going down” is again emphasized, as
she must help her stepsisters prepare for the ball she cannot attend. However,
because Cinderella stayed true to her “rare goodness and sweetness of temper”
(p.17) throughout the downs, she was able to go “up” with the help of her fairy
godmother. The Brothers Grimms’ version reiterates the same functionality of
the “going down to get up” motif as Perrault. Case in point, Aschenputtel is
held “down” by her grief, the relentless demands and abuse from her stepmother
and stepsisters, and the cluelessness of her father before she is able to “get
up” and win the love of the Prince.
*Picture citation: https://www.google.com/search?q=cinderella+charles+perrault&client=firefox-a&hs=Vwp&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ppKbUcX_BsmgqwGJl4BY&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=638#imgrc=djCz7HRIESahsM%3A%3BvqzHzijgdDIksM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcdn2.bigcommerce.com%252Fserver1600%252F5bcaa%252Fproducts%252F149065%252Fimages%252F127206%252F800036__75505.1339063479.1280.1280.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.moesbooks.com%252Fan-illustration-from-charles-perraults-ceudrillon-cinderella-by-gustave-dore-charles-perrault-gustave-dore-mb-800036%252F%3B362%3B460
