Cinderella Film Analysis

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The 1950’s Cinderella created by world-renown Disney director, Clyde Geronimi, has been established as the most renown and generic story out of all. In comparison to Charles Perrault’s “Cinderella”, the standard storyline, both have the same concepts. Similarities such as the abuse, the magic, and the happily ever after is present in both exactly. Although, there are also horrifying aspects to discuss about Cinderella and their other versions. Certain acts such as the abuse and mutilation are considered to be unjust and not right, no matter the situation; but perhaps Cinderella was not as virtuous and kind as portrayed in the 1950’s film. If we closely examine each individual action in the film, some may find that certain questions arose. …show more content…

In her article, Panttaja discusses how Cinderella succeeds against all odds. Panttaja states, “Cinderella succeeds not because she is more patient or virtuous than her stepfamily but because she is craftier, willing to employ powerful magic to defeat the forces arrayed against her.” In the Grimms’ version, on Cinderella’s mother's’ deathbed, she gives advice and says, “ Dear child, be good and pious. Then the dear Lord shall always assist you, and I shall look down from heaven and take care of you.” This already seems like a very doubtful promise, although it is good advice. The mother/daughter theme of Cinderella stories are a key part of the storyline, but at every turn, the mother is there with her magical power, waiting. Cinderella’s loyalty to her mother does not fade, but her mother's magical influence has been an ever so growing part of her life. Despite her mother's death, she reigns supreme. Her mother claims revenge on her daughter's enemies, no matter how violent the act is. Thus bringing the question, is Cinderella's mother a good person, and if she isn’t why give such good advice to your own …show more content…

If Cinderella were to act like the perfect housewife, she’ll have a chance at being royalty. Her mother, although dead, strives to do anything she can for Cinderella to win the battle. As Panttaja mentions, “ Cinderella’s triumph at the ball has less to do with her innate goodness and more to do with her loyalty to the dead mother and a string of subversive acts: she disobeys the stepmother, enlists forbidden helpers, uses magic powers, lies, hides, dissembles, disguises herself, and evades pursuit.” This is surely not being good or pious. In the end, Cinderella’s mother has formed Cinderella into a bad person just to marry the prince. The prince claims to not want to marry someone he does not love, but was it truly love between him and Cinderella? The prince is “enchanted by the sight of her in her magical clothes”(Panttaja 288), but who provided that clothing is her mother; once again. Possibly using magic to create fake love is a severe invasion of not only privacy but also character. Panttaja mentions that her mother's magic brings the desired outcome, which is obviously true; but it may have also been possible that the prince was under her spell of some sorts. The prince had a very obsessive behavior towards tracking down his bride, and in Grimms’ version, the prince is found repeating, “she’s my partner”, three times. This shows with further evidence that magic, not love, is at work

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