Disney And Grimm Cinderella Differences

The story of Cinderella is universal and is one of the most recognized folk tales of our time. Cinderella has come a long way from its origins as the tale of a woman named “Yeh-hsien, recorded around A.D. 850 by Tuan Ch’eng—shih” (Tatar, 28). Nowadays, the story of Cinderella has evolved into something much more magical and romantic. What exactly makes a story a Cinderella story? While there are several interpretations of Cinderella, most share a similar concept. A rag to riches story of a beautiful young girl who, through her kindness, patience, and the help of her fairy godmother (or other supernatural help), escapes the harsh realities of her life at home and becomes the vision that entrances the prince.

Charles Perrault’s version of Cinderella,

There are some notable differences between the Grimm version of the story and the Disney animated adaptation. In the Grimm version, the stepsisters are beautiful on the outside but have devilish personalities. The Grimm brothers described the stepsisters as “beautiful, with fair faces, but nasty and wicked hearts” (Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm, 79). On the other hand, in the movie it is clear they are not supposed to be pretty. They have squeaky voices and unproportionate features. Perhaps Disney was attempting to draw a parallel between ugliness and cruelty in their version of the story. In the Grimm version of the story, it is noted that Cinderella mourns for her mother. Her grieving is emphasized in the Grimm version when it is revealed that Cinderella visits her mother’s grave three times every day and would weep underneath a beautiful tree that she planted there (Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm, 80). In the Disney version, Cinderella’s mother is not mentioned and the focal point of the story is Cinderella going to the ball. Another difference between the stories in regards to the portrayal of Cinderella’s parents is that in the Disney movie there is no mention of her father. However, in the Grimm version, the father is present but neglects Cinderella, despite being fully aware that his daughter suffers harassment at the hands of her stepmother and stepsisters. It is possible that Disney

Comparatively, When the Clock Strikes and Disney’s adaptation, Cinderella (1950), are very much opposites to each other. Generally, the story of Cinderella has been of a girl who has no mother, and lives with her wicked step mother and stepsisters who constantly harass and ridicule her. In this story, a wealthy merchant with two daughters marries a woman he believes to be beautiful and lovely and they have a daughter. Unknowing to him, his wife is a worshipper of Satanas. “He never dreamed what she might be about when he was not with her. In fact, she had sworn allegiance to Satanas” (Tanith Lee). The woman even goes as far as corrupting their daughter to force her to follow in her footsteps. The roles of the daughters in Lee’s version are switched. The merchant’s daughters are nice to Cinderella, whereas the “Cinderella” character, Ashella, is villainous. Perhaps the biggest difference between Lee’s version of Cinderella and the other versions is revealed in the ending of the story. In a shocking twist, Ashella is unveiled to be death. Fairytales are often thought to be stories of happiness. Often involving a princess who is rescued by her prince charming and they live happily ever after. Tanith Lee shows us that this is not always the case. Depending on the reader’s interpretation, there is a happy ending to When the Clock Strikes. The happy ending belongs to