Cinderella is a famous folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world. Recent years, the pop culture is getting retro, that people look back to these classic literatures and review them with modern topics. The most original and popular version is Perrault’s “Cinderella: or the little glass slipper.” Some people think in this version, Cinderella is an anti-feminist story, some people think Cinderella is a Mary sue story, which just focus on the love story between the prince and cinderella. However, from my perspective, Cinderella is neither an anti-feminist work, nor a completely love story. From the retelling version Lee’s “when the clock strikes” and Joseph’s “Cap O’ rushes”, Cinderella is a independent and smart girl, who uses own power and reaches the goal. 

 

If it’s not an anti-feminist literature, What’s the feminist factor in this story? If Cinderella doesn’t only focus on love story, what are other topics we can discuss? What’s the function of the dropped shoe? As time goes by, what’s change the topic of Cinderella from a Mary Sue story to a critical story that reminds people rethink the character of Cinderella?

 

As the victim from the bully, Cinderella doesn’t just wait for her Mr. Right comes to rescue her. Conversely, she not only endures the harsh violence and survive in the situation, but also keeps her kindness and good virtues. Specifically, in Lee’s retelling version, It gives Cinderella a dark background so that her power can be shown as much as possible. In Joseph's version, Cinderella is a girl with her own opinions and ideas. She tells her father and prince that she can choose her own life with her female power. As for the shoe’s function, it can be explained in many ways, such as sexual innuendo, or female chastity, and the dark side of the female heart, and so on.