Fairy Tale Analysis of Cinderella

For this fairy tale analysis I chose two Cinderella stories. The familiar tale I chose is entitled Cinderella, translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown. The parody version is Cinder Edna, written by Ellen Jackson and illustrated by Kevin O’Malley. Marcia Brown’s version is translated from Charles Perrault’s Cinderella or The Little Glass Slipper. It is considered to be an excellent example of the true Cinderella tale because it follows the well known story line closely. Cinder Edna was interesting because the book mirrored two versions, the familiar tale and the parody. The parody, Cinder Edna is a humorous immitation of the original tale.

Like many fairy tales, Cinderella takes place "once upon a time." The book does not explicitly state the country in which she lives, but the reader can assume that the setting is a far away kingdom. Both the text and the illustrations give a sense of great distance. Cinder Edna is similar in that the period is "once upon a time." However, location is different. Judging from illustrations of houses, busses, and references to public transportation, I think the setting is urban or suburban. Although it is not stated, after examining illustrations of hairstyles, outrageous eyeshadow, and penny loafers, I believe this parody to take place in the 1960’s.

The illustrations used in both versions were excellent in their own way. I believe the medium Marcia Brown used when illustrating Cinderella was colored chalk. The drawings are soft, delicate, and depict mostly calm or pale colors. In regards to Cinderella herself, Brown chose to use pale, gentle colors like pink, yellow, or blue. This use of color further illustrates Cinderella’s gentle and good disposition. When characters such as the stepsisters enter the scene, the color scheme changes. It becomes more brazen and bold. These colors are not aesthetically pleasing and help characterize the stepsister’s harsh personalities. Cinderella’s and the fairy godmother’s features are soft and rounded while other characters show sharp, jagged features. This artistic element is another way Brown contrasts the "good" characters from the "wicked" characters. The chalk-like drawings make for thin, sometimes non-existant lines in this book. When outlines are present, they closely resemble pen or ink lines. In many cases the colored portion of the drawing extends outside the lines. For example, Cinderella’s dress had a few lines cascading downward to illustrate folds, but the color faded into the white space of the page. This made for a soft, angelic look. It is understandable why Marcia Brown won the Caldecott Award for her illustration of this book in 1955.

Kevin O’Malley’s illustrations in Cinder Edna where different from Browns, but contained some similar elements. In most cases, O’Malley chose bright, vivid colors, especially in regard to Cinder Edna herself. Her party dress is an electric purple, while Cinderella’s is a very pale blue. These colors do not compliment each other and contrast the meek and mild personality of Cinderella with the vivacious personality of Cinder Edna. O’Malley also does an excellent job of using color to contrast the two brothers. Randolph not only sounds prestigous, he looks it. His regal black suite and green tie overshadow Rupert’s brown suite and geeky bowtie. Cinder Edna’s plain brown loafers and down to earth ideas are a good match for Rupert’s plain brown suit and ordinary lifestyle. O’Malley uses thin lines when drawing all of the characters. However, shape changes from character to character. Cinder Edna and Rupert both have rounded features making them look pleasant and inviting. Randolph and Cinderella have very angular jaws. In Cinderella, this feature makes her look elegant and beautiful. In Randolph, this feature makes him appear hauty and pompous. Exactly what you would expect from a fairy tale couple and a common couple. O’Malley’s medium is similar to Brown’s in that they too have a chalk or pencil look and feel to them. Even though his color choices are drastically different and the impressions seem to be much deeper and darker than Brown’s, the medium is still similar, if not the same.

In Brown’s familiar version of Cinderella, the main characters are: Cinderella, originally known as Cinderseat and her two stepsisters. One stepsister is named Mademoiselle Javote, the other remains nameless throughout the story, but is referred to as "the elder." Cinderella is a genuinely good person who does what she is told without complaining because she believes it is her duty to play the hand that she has been dealt. She is generous and kind to her stepsisters even after they have treated her cruelly. She fixes their hair beautifully for the ball and even arranges for them to marry Lords the same day she marries the prince. Cinderella would probably be considered a doormat by today’s standards. The stepsisters were perfect opposites to Cinderella. They were rude, brassy, and spoiled. It was stated that for all the luxuries they were given, "Cinderella was a hundred times more beautiful" in her rags. The behavior exhibited by the stepsisters is consistant with almost all versions of the story. The stepsisters were so wrapped up in their own lives, they were oblivious when Cinderella sat with them at the ball and shared her fruit with them.

In Ellen Jackson’s Cinder Edna, the main characters are: Cinder Edna, Cinderella, Rupert, and Randolph. The character of Cinder Edna is realistic, fun, and down-to-earth. She has no illusions about a perfect prince or a perfect life. Cinderella on the other hand does a fine job of playing the damsel in distress. She is helpless without her fairy godmother’s gifts and she needs Prince Randolph to rescue her out of the pumpkin patch once he identifies her. Rupert is a perfect match for Cinder Edna. He is the dorky younger brother of the prince who is not at all concerned with appearances. His simple lifestyle suited Cinder Edna just fine. Randolph is the dashing prince with the snobbish aura about him. He is personified as a stereotypical head of state. Handsome, charismatic, busy and very important.

As one would imagine, the plot of the two versions differed dramatically. In Brown’s translation of Cinderella, the story begins with a narrative about Cinderella’s home life. She lives with her father, new stepmother, and two new stepsisters. Her father is a silent figure in her life which is completely controlled by her stepfamily. Cinderella is severely disliked by her stepfamily and is given horrible chores. She is denied simple and basic luxuries, but never complains. When word comes of the prince’s ball, Cinderella doesn’t even assume she can go, she tends to her stepsisters and sees to it that they look their best for the party. Cinderella’s godmother finds her in despair and transforms her into a princess so she may attend the party. Once there, Cinderella’s beauty dazzles everyone. After the party, Cinderella returns home and hears all about the beautiful princess from her stepsisters. The next night she returns for a second ball. At midnight, she loses her glass slipper as she runs out of the palace. The prince retrieves it and sends his herald to try it on all ladies in the land. Eventually, Cinderella is reunited with her slipper. In the end, she arranges for her stepsisters to marry Lords while she marries the prince. And of course, they live happily ever after.

The story of Cinder Edna is a little different. Cinder Edna lives next door to Cinderella. The two girls have a great deal in common because they both live with an evil stepmother and stepsisters, and they are forced to do chores all day. Cinderella displays a "poor pitiful me" outlook on her situation, while Cinder Edna tries to make the most of hers. When news of the king’s ball came, both sets of stepsisters forced Cinderella and Cinder Edna to help them get ready. When all was done, Cinderella’s fairy godmother transformed her into ball attire while Cinder Edna used bird cage cleaning money to buy herself a party dress. Cinder Edna did not believe in fairy godmothers. She rode the bus to the ball while Cinderella took her carriage. At the ball, Cinderella fell head over heels for Randolph, the prince. Cinder Edna on the other hand was more interested in his younger brother Rupert. As the girls left the palace, they each lost a shoe – one glass slipper, one brown loafer. Randolph proposes that the two brothers try the shoes on all the girls in town. Rupert has his own ideas about how to find his girl. He will ask all girls named Edna how many different kinds of tuna casserole they can name. Cinder Edna could name 16. After a long search, the brothers are reunited with their loves and the couples marry in a double ceremony. Cinderella and Randolph are bound to royal duties while Cinder Edna and Rupert enjoy a relationship full of laughter. There is not question as to which couple will live happily ever after.

After reading these delightfully different versions of the Cinderella tale I have a new appreciation for both classic fairy tales and parodies. Marcia Brown’s translation was true to the storyline I grew up with. Her illustrations added an appropriate softness to the tale. The talent Ellen Jackson and Kevin O’Malley displayed with there parody was immense. I especially enjoyed the "side-by-side" comparison of Cinder Edna’s life to Cinderella’s life. O’Malley’s character illustrations were believable and really brought each one to life. The parallels found between the parody and familiar tale were amusing and fun to spot.

Tina Woodward

Fairy Tale Analysis of Cinderella

April 16, 2005

LS 560