Who's Fairy Tale?-Aaron Deck

In this week’s reading Yours, Mine, or Ours? Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and the Ownership of Fairy Tales, by Donald Haase I found some pretty though provoking information. I started off the college experience with my undergrad degree in history, so usually, I find all things historical interesting. It is also very fascinating how history plays into literature, and of course, history was a large part of this Fairy Tale course as well. With all that being said, I had no idea that the Grimm’s tales played a huge role in the nationalist movement in Germany with Hessians. I knew that some of the Prussian Army fought with Napoleon, but I’m sure that this was an occupational thing and totally against the German nationalist mindset. It was probably insulting to the Hessians as well.

Germans are typically a proud people, and this pride has traditionally been linked to strong nationalistic fervor, along with a strong military presence. I’m speaking before to and up until World War II, so it is very intriguing historically the dialogue between French and German when it comes to the nationalistic vibe of the Grimm’s fairytales. I also was not aware that as Haase stated “by the end of World War II, the German fairy tale had fallen into such disrepute that during the Allied occupation of Germany fairy tales were viewed with serious suspicion and banned from the public school curriculum” (438). And this postwar view continued almost 40 years later into the 1980s according to the essay (Haas 438). I’m not sure what childhood would have been like without some of these fairytales, I would feel differently about these fairy tales because they would be unfamiliar. Maybe this is also why Disney decided to use a Perrault version of Cinderella opposed to a typically Grimm version. There’s not much difference honestly, but it was interesting to read that essay because I’ve never thought of fairy tales being any particular nation’s property. Whether there were German elements, or French, I’ve always thought of these stories as being a shared collection of tales which do change and may be considered sacred, although I couldn’t imagine a childhood without fairy tales and the stirring of a child’s imagination.

 

Haase, Donald. “Yours, Mine, Ours? Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and the Ownership of Fairy Tales.” The Classic Fairytales, 2nd ed. Edited by Maria Tartar, W.W Norton and Company, 2017, pp. 435-446.

Review of a Modern Fairy Tale - Cinderella

  The contemporary rendition of Cinderella released in 2015 followed some of the guidelines which we have seen in previous versions by Disney. The story also stayed within the parameters of the classic tales of the Grimms and Perrault to a certain extent less the violence of course. In design, the 2015 version of Cinderella was ultimately made for children viewers, but also adds a little more interest to the adult audience than the typical cartoon version with which we all are probably familiar. The overall theme of the movie is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In the words of Cinderella, “we must have courage and be kind,” as this phrase was repeated multiple times in the movie. So generally, if you are kind unto others then that kindness, in the end, will reciprocate to good fortune upon you. There are of course other themes like living plainly and not gaudy which parallel this particular mindset, but this would seem to be the main point of the movie.

  For some reason, just like with older Disney versions of Cinderella or Snow White there are magical elements to this movie which add a little panache and help to arouse the imagination of children who watch these films. Of course, I’m talking about the Fairy Godmother in the story, but also with the enchanted like mice who act like people and seem to understand what Cinderella is telling them. It seemed as if Cinderella had a special connection with nature and her natural surroundings. This helped to empower her in the movie and especially when the prince and his entourage were searching for her.

  Just like with many versions of Cinderella the parents fell upon tragedy and the father who neglectfully traveled regularly leaves his daughter alone to be ridiculed while he is a merchant on the road. The stepmother played by Cate Blanchett in this movie in comparison to Cinderella was mean, deceitful, jealous, and cunning, almost the total opposite of her. She was the representation of what not to be, on a mission to further herself through her daughter’s happiness. This behavior is starkly juxtaposed to the actions of Cinderella. She was kind to her even after realizing that the prince had come to take her away from her attic dungeon. Cinderella told her stepmother that she forgave her for what she had done.

  Some of the striking similarities to this version compared to other older versions of Cinderella were the father’s trip. This was where he promises to bring something back for his stepdaughters and daughter. Cinderella requested for him to bring back a branch, while the stepsisters asked for a dress and some facial products. This was similar to the Grimm version. The glass slippers seem to be a central theme to Cinderella, although the fairy godmother and magic are more of a Disney addition. The stepmother did get banished although there is no comment besides her exiting the kingdom after the prince and Cinderella are married. And one interesting difference in this movie compared to other versions of the story was how the prince and Cinderella first meet. In this film, they seem to fall in love almost at first sight when they meet early on in the forest while the Prince is on the hunt. He then toys with the idea that he wants to marry a commoner, but the King wants him to marry nobility. This is one of the internal struggles of the Prince who loves his father and wants to obey his will, but his heart does not follow suit. In the end, his father saw how his son felt and how wonderful Cinderella is and gave into his previous idea about nobility versus love.

  Largely this movie was an excellent adaptation of the story of Cinderella which appeals to a family audience, adults, and children alike. Cinderella had a feel good theme and taught a good moral lesson in which good begets evil and kindness wins over wickedness. The characters were picked well and put on a heartfelt performance, which didn’t come off as corny or typical.

Works Cited

Cinderella. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, performances by Cate Blanchett, Lily James, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgard, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, and Helena Bonham Carter, Disney, 2015.