Cinderella - young girl of the cinders - is a fairytale told around the world. The value of the story is demonstrated by its ubiquitous appeal and reversioning based upon cultural ritual and symbols. Cinderella is a heroine quest wherein a young woman faces death, separation, loneliness, trial and terror along her journey into Womanhood. Cinderella is the stranger or outsider whose inner beauty and strength incite the jealous wicked to punishment while simultenously attracting the most magical and giving Goddess mothers, or wise crones, who help her attain the role of queen for which she is destined. The marriage to her prince is an archetypal motif symbolizing Cinderella's attainment of wholeness - the heiros gamos or union of masculine and feminine psychic halves - having mastered outrageous circumstances.
Cinderella is about the loss of innocence in all its harsh and painful reality that precedes the transformation to maidenhood. As with all stories, Cinderella is meant to help balm the hardship of maturity and provide hope and promise that wishes do come true and that prayers are answered. Perhaps most importantly is that these stories demonstrate that despite cultural stereotypes regarding outer appearance, a woman's beauty and worth shine outward from within. There is nothing simple about Cinderella stories - they are gorgeous gifts and guideposts to help young women realize who they are.
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Cinderella
by Amy Ehrlich
illustrated by Susan Jeffers
- fantastic section on Cinderella stories as transformation tales from around the world
- phenomenal discussion of story types and listing of each Brother Grimm story recorded
