We were tasked again by our Literature professor to create a paper about one of our readings. This time, we used the Feminist Literary Criticism as our guide. And the story to be critiqued? James Finn Garners politically correct version of Cinderella. Have fun reading my paper!
Lot's of Love,
J<3
“And they lived happily ever after.” These six
magical words have been said and heard ever since fairytales were told as we
know them today. I have fond memories as a child of lying in my bed listening
to my mom read me “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, “Snow White”, “Little
Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Hansel and Gretel”, “Rapunzel”, and
“Cinderella” right before I sleep. I’ve had dreams of being a princess in my
own kingdom and having my own adventures that the protagonists in these stories
have. But in my mind, I did the heroic stuff. I saved people instead of sitting
scared in a palace waiting for my prince to come.
In
Cinderella’s politically correct version, I was surprised by how the story
went. It isn’t the usual plot in the Cinderella I have grown up watching and
reading. First of all, a male fairygod
person? But I think I liked the ending better. I’m glad that James Finn
Garner was able to add a nice spin to the traditional
pretty-girl-saved-by-prince-charming fairytale. The women, or if i may say
womyn, ended up kind of saving the world, or maybe the future comfort of all
the other womyn.
The women, represented by
Cinderella’s character, were made into heroines, although it was just by the
end of the story. She may have started trying to conform with the cruelty of
reality and society, but when her mask was lifted, she stood her ground. And
with the other women seeing how good it must feel to finally be free of their
breath-taking-feet-reddening wardrobe, they followed suit.
The men were presented in a different light as
well. Instead of being good looking knights in shining armours riding a white
horse, they were presented as hormone-driven hungry lions fighting over Cinderella
as if she was meat. The prince and his cronies didn’t respect Cinderella when
she went in. Although her clothing might have been the catalyst to their
reaction, she and the other girls were treated without respect. They didn’t
seem to care about who she is. All they cared for was that she was wearing a
skimpy dress and they wanted to get her.
Aside
from this, I think women still weren’t given equal stature. Firstly, Cinderella
was a servant in their house, just like what is present in society today.
Secondly, the way the men reacted over her, even ending up killing each other
is disrespectful. But I think the ending evened it all out. When all the women
united when they created Cinder-wear is what I think was the turning point for
everything.
Cinderella might not have taken home
a prince, but she still lived happily ever after – and more comfortable than
ever.
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