Cinderella Code Of Morality

Fairy tales are fantastical stories, which are preserved in original form throughout multiple cultures and generations. These immortal tales have grown to be considered as common knowledge. One can argue that the purpose of these timeless tales is to teach the audience morality. However, morality is a concept sanctioned to set the standard between right and wrongdoing. Social concepts, much like the society in which it originated from, differ between culture and generations. Morality should not differ between generations or society because there is a distinct standard of ethics and principles. Society is always within a state of flux as new beliefs and ideals arise to challenge social stigmas. However, the purpose of many fairy tales is not

In the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella, the father and stepmother are not chastised for their cruelty; whereas, the stepsisters received punishment for their “wickedness and malice with blindness” (122). Children usually learn by reciprocating the acts of their parents therefore the stepsisters were not taught to be kind nor loving. In addition, the stepmother persuaded each daughter to deceive the prince by cutting of a toe or a heel (121). Raised within a hostile environment, one could argue that the stepdaughters had no choice but to follow the orders of their mother. This reveals that the source of wickedness and malice derives from the stepmother and father. The parents however receive no punishment within the tale. The unfair punishment of the characters within this version of Cinderella diverges from any moral teachings that the tale holds. Morality is the clear divide of right and wrongdoing, when one does wrong and remains unpunished; it provides society with a margin for malice act. Thus, the tale does not teach

Their purpose is to transfer a sense of hope during adversity and provide the reader with a fantastical escape from their own reality. In the multiple versions of Cinderella, the protagonist receives aid from other worldly creatures. In Brother’s Grimm, Cinderella receives multiple dresses from the hazel tree by her dead mother’s grave (119). These dresses allow her to enter the ball and find momentary escape from the torment in her life. In Cinderella, both the reader and the protagonist receive momentary relief and a chance to escape to find happiness. In addition, since more fairy tales are for children, rereading such fairy tales allows the adult reader to be nostalgic about their simpler childhood past. This nostalgia is a form of escape from reality. Since Cinderella was able to find happiness and put an end to her torment, this encourages the audience to develop a sense of hope for a better future. Fairy tales promote a sense of hope as a tool to strengthen humanity’s resolve in