Table of contentsExamination of various adaptations of the Cinderella storySupporting evidenceComplicated evidence №1Complicated evidence №2Complicated evidence №3So what? A ConclusionWhen we first think of Cinderella and what she is trying to teach us, kindness, gentleness, and humility are often common starting points. However, these morals, or lessons that the story wants to convey to us, are transformed through different adaptations, sometimes into an unrecognizable lesson or representation of the Cinderella story. In this summary essay, we will explore how each adaptation puts its own spin on the morals of Cinderella and will lead the reader to question why these morals change across adaptations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the Original EssayReview of Various Adaptations of the Cinderella StoryOne of the most familiar adaptations to us is Perrault's Cinderella; or The Glass Slipper, in which Cinderella is portrayed as a kind, compassionate, and loving character who emulates inner beauty; the morality we usually think of, as she is kind to those who have hurt her. However, the moral given focuses more on the Fairy Godmother's help to Cinderella than on what should be the important lesson, her inner beauty. Other familiar versions include Grimm's Cinderella and Disney's Cinderella, both of which are quite similar except for a few parts. In these versions, Cinderella is once again depicted as kind, loving, and compassionate, especially toward those who made her life miserable, such as her stepmother and stepsisters. There are no stated morals in either, so the reader or viewer is left with their own impressions of the moral or lesson, one which usually consists of Cinderella's inner beauty. A perhaps less familiar version is Basile's Cat Cinderella, an earlier version of Cinderella in which the main character's name is Zezolla. Zezolla was a cruel, revenge-seeking version of Cinderella, as she killed her own stepmother and plotted to make her stepsisters jealous when she appeared at the ball. The moral of this story has to do with fate, and it makes the reader wonder how different versions of such a similar story could be so contrasting in the lessons they provide. Many morals of very similar stories are different, and did not include those of Cinderella's kindness or inner beauty. I wanted to examine each story more closely and see if that classic moral was still there, if it was obvious or not. So after examining these adaptations and their morals, I wondered if the common lesson of inner beauty and kindness even appeared in some versions of Cinderella. How much do the lessons and morals we learn from Cinderella, particularly those of inner beauty and kindness, change with each story or adaptation over time? Many of the lessons and morals we learn from Cinderella, especially those regarding her gentleness and kindness, morph into a different moral or don't appear at all with each adaptation. Supporting Evidence Basile's cat Cinderella is a slightly different and darker version of Cinderella whose moral is: "You have to be crazy to go against the stars." This means that what will happen will happen and there's really nothing you can do about it. This morality has nothing to do with the character of Cinderella. It is true, however, that inthis particular version of Cinderella, Zezolla's character is nothing to be desired. She killed her stepmother and made her stepsisters envious during the festival as revenge for how they had treated her before. Zezolla was a playful and mischievous version of Cinderella; she does not emulate the kindness and gentleness of the Cinderella we know, and so the moral changed to be applicable to the story, instead writing about fate rather than her character. Cinderella by Perrault; or The Glass Slipper came after the Basile version and is closer to the version we know today. However, the moral is a little different, focusing less on Cinderella's sweet character and more on her struggles and difficulties. “The beauty of woman is a treasure that we never cease to admire, but a sweet disposition surpasses all measure and is dearer than the fire of a precious stone. According to the story, the fairy's gift to Cinderella was what she taught the girl about love and glory, and she did it so well that Cinderella became queen. Beautiful ladies, it is kindness more than dress that can win a man's heart more successfully. In short, if you want to be blessed, the true gift of fairies is kindness. Another moral: It is undoubtedly a great advantage to have wit and a lot of courage, or if you are born with common sense and other valuable talents, the sky can drop. But all of this may turn out to be useless and you may need more if you think you can succeed without godparents.” The first part of this moral mentions the importance of inner beauty, but considers the effect of the Fairy Godmother's help on Cinderella's soul. character, who helped her become queen. Although inner beauty and kindness are mentioned briefly, they are not considered the main moral simply because of the amount of writing about them. However, the second part of the morality takes a different turn and emphasizes the importance of not achieving anything without external help, which is very different from Basil's morality or the one we know today, the one that is centered around of a personality theme. and character, not that of needing help from others. It is true that the Fairy Godmother was a significant help to Cinderella in going to the ball, but it is her kind, gentle and humble nature that should be the real moral of the story. Complicating Evidence #1 The Grimm version of Cinderella is perhaps one of the most familiar versions to us, as the Disney animated film was based on it. This version does not have a stated moral at the end of the story, but rather the moral is found within. The story emphasizes the importance of kindness and gentleness towards others even after they have betrayed you, as Cinderella was compassionate towards her stepsisters even after they treated her terribly. She never fought back but instead obeyed them, even though they were extremely cruel to her. This quote describes how Cinderella's stepsisters treated her and how she remained strong through these trying experiences and did not fight her oppressors. “They expected her to work hard there from morning to night. As a result, she had to get up before dawn, carry water into the house, light the fire, cook and wash. On top of that, her sisters did everything imaginable to cause her grief and make her look ridiculous... That's why she always looked so dusty and dirty and why they called her Cinderella. » Cinderella's sisters and family focused on her outer beauty and based her worth on her worth. of this. For this reason, they expected thatthat she worked day and night and treated her as inferior to them. And when it was discovered that Cinderella was the prince's bride, the stepsisters tried to share her experience (and then gouged out each other's eyes). Cinderella did not answer them, did not question them, and did not seek revenge on them, even after the misery they had put her through. So even though there are no stated morals in the Grimm version of Cinderella, the takeaway from the story is always to treat others with kindness, because one day your inner beauty will shine through. Additionally, the Disney movie Cinderella is based on Grimm. version, hence why they are very similar. This version also has the morals of being aware of how you treat others, like the Grimm version, and also being kind because it's what's inside that really matters. The moral of the story resurfaces in different ways, and although there is more than one moral, many people walk away remembering Cinderella's sweet and kind character. This quote is from Popsugar.com, from an article in which the writer lists his biggest learnings from rewatching Cinderella (Disney) as an adult. She writes that it is Cinderella's kindness that guides her throughout the story, and it is one of the things about Cinderella that people remember most. "Others are instinctively drawn to Cinderella's kind demeanor, and that is why her fairy godmother came to her aid so quickly - and perhaps part of the reason why she and the prince fall in love so quickly and deeply. The Disney film very clearly has this moral configuration, as shown by its encounters with the Fairy Godmother, the various enchanted animals and the prince. It is true that there are other morals hidden in the film, but the most important one is that of Cinderella's kindness and inner beauty. Although many of the lessons we have learned from Cinderella change over time, there are still lessons about her inner beauty and kindness that remain a timeless representation of her character through most adaptations of the Cinderella story. Complicated Evidence №2 In Basil's Cat, Cinderella, the character of Zezolla was not very benevolent and did not represent Cinderella's true personality very well. Her arc and growth seemed to deteriorate, where an authentic Cinderella would become her kindness over the course of the story. Even though the moral of this version was about fate and played a role in this story, Zezolla's trickster nature towards her mother and sisters after they treated her badly showed that she lacked the true trait of inner beauty. At the festival, this quote was given about Zezolla's behavior: "Then she went and made her sisters' mouths water." Zezolla's goal was to make her sisters jealous of who she had become, which again is a trait a true Cinderella would not possess. Furthermore, fate is not always the first lesson we take from Cinderella, and here the options are limited for the usual lesson about humility and gentleness due to Zezolla's wicked character. Also in Basile's Cat Cinderella, Zezolla killed his own stepmother, making it even more difficult to understand how this version imitates the true morals behind Cinderella. Her character got into a lot of trouble and never forgave her stepsisters for what they did, but instead turned against them. This quote describes Zezolla's plans to kill her stepmother: "After Zezolla heard this, every hour seemed to her a thousand years, and then she carried out her teacher's plans [to kill her.