Examples Of Perseverance In Cinderella

Cinderella: The Tale that Teaches of Goodness

Historically, the tale of Cinderella has been passed down from generation to generation in various cultures. While each tale is altered depending on the traditions that encompass the culture that tells it, the tale of Cinderella passes down positive values such as perseverance and generosity.

The Cinderella story carries with it the value of perseverance throughout cultures, this quality is seen in both the Japanese rendition, “Benizara & Kakezara,” and the Irish interpretation, “Cinderlad”. The quality of perseverance is seen in our Cinderella character in “Benizara & Kakezara”, Benizara. She is sent out to collect chestnuts but is purposefully sabotaged by her stepmother and unable to complete

She ventures into the forest and encounters an elder lady who provides her with a bag of chestnuts alongside safe travel back home. Benizara’s choice to not return home until she had completed her chore, demonstrates her dedication and perseverance through struggle. The ability to continue in the face of a challenge is a strength that people will need as they go through life. Instilling this value early through the use of Cinderella stories shows children that this quality is necessary and admirable. In Ireland, the tale of “Cinderlad” tells of the same quality. Cinderlad, or Becan, stands up for the young princess and aims to save her from the dragon that has come to take her, “By afternoon, Becan was so tired, he could hardly lift the blade…With a sizzle, the monster sank beneath the waves…” Becan ultimately saves the princess from the dragon in the afternoon. His battle with the dragon impresses the princess and leads to their eventual marriage. Once again the battle with the dragon for hours is representative of strength and willpower to achieve success. Not only did Becan do the noble thing by saving the princess, he is rewarded for it by his

In the Russian Cinderella fable, “The Baba Yaga”, generosity is depicted in the Cinderella character as she is running from the Baba Yaga. She takes care of varying pets, people, and objects and they stand up to the Baba Yaga to let the girl escape, “‘Long as we've served you, you've never so much as pitched us a burnt crust; but she gave us rolls to eat.’ … ‘Long as we've served you, you've never poured even a drop of water on our hinges; but she poured oil on us.’ … ‘Long as I've served you, you've never tied a single thread around me; but she fastened a ribbon around me.’ … ‘Long as I've served you, you've never given me so much as a rag; but she gave me a handkerchief.’” The girl is only able to escape her plotted death and the Baba Yaga by treating everything with generosity. Her intentions when committing these acts of kindness were not for her personal gain, but rather her partaking in prosocial behavior. Promoting generosity and selflessness among children is an attempt to instill the importance of helping others without seeking validation. It also emphasizes the importance of being good to the things and people you care about. The Baba Yaga’s neglect of her home, pets, and maids is what leads to their change of heart and support of the girl. From this tale, children learn the significance of being generous and giving. Not only is generosity a