Essay 2 by Zara Zaidi

Question

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 05:45:59 UTC

What is the significance of a happy ending in fairytales?
How do the protagonist in fairytale (the tale of the rose, shoe, and voice) use their agency to make decisions that will lead to this "happy ending"?
How do these choices impact their relationships?
Are they blinded by internal desires?

Context

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 05:46:11 UTC

describe the important symbols within the stories
expand upon their inner desires

Claim

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 05:46:21 UTC

By closely examining the character choices in Emma Donoghue's renditions of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid, I will show how themes of sacrifice apply to the complexity of human emotions and the urge to construct a perfect fairytale happy ending.

Sacrifice required to achieve love

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 15:58:05 UTC

In all of the stories, the protagonists were willing to sacrifice a significant aspect of their lives to construct an even more "perfect" life. This severely impacted their relationships with those close to them.

In Tale of the Voice, she sacrificed her voice and left her mother and father's market almost immediately without any hesitation.

Counter Argument^^^

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 16:07:54 UTC

In the "Tale of the Shoe" Cinderella was trying to fill the void of her deceased mother and didn't really sacrifice much. She just took the free hand out from the stranger.
Some could say the Beauty felt remorse for leaving her father for the Beast. She kissed him goodbye and had a good relationship with him, but she was willing to give it up to experience the Beast's life. She sacrificed herself in place of her sisters.

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 16:25:03 UTC

"This man was everything I wasn't, hadn't, couldn't. Grace was in his smooth boots, and sunlight ran along behind him.

His collar gleamed like a halo; he made me think of trumpets, and horses, and the flash of high gates. If I couldn't have him, I'd have nothing." (Tale of the Voice, 187)

Only had seen him once but was willing to do anything for him. Thought that it was "love at first sight" Held this stranger at such a high regard despite not knowing him at all.

Maybe due to the societal norms and the emphasis on women to get married in her family.

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 16:31:48 UTC

"But one night I woke to find myself sitting in front of my mirror. In its dark pool I thought I could see the castle garden, a late frost on the trees, a black shape on the grass. I found the old papery rose clenched in my fist, flaking into nothing." (Tale of the Rose, 38)

"I saw that the beast was a woman. And that she was breathing, which seemed to matter more." (Tale of the Rose, 39)

Seems as if she came to the realization that the beast had more to offer than what was on the outside. The beast turned out to be a woman, so it seems that there is some incorporation of queer undertones in the story.

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 16:40:35 UTC

zaraz2 — 2024-10-21 16:43:41 UTC