Cinderella's Healthy Choices Saved Her

There's a new version of Cinderalla out and it's actually a good one.  It would be nice if every time they put out a new version of an old story (and Cinderella fits that description well) they bothered to put a few new twists, changed the plot a little or even introduced a new character or two (or, possibly, just furbished them a bit).

Disney's new Cinderella accomplishes all of the above (athough not as aggressively as I might have done it, had I written the script).  Changing the story, though, to some people is like re-writing the rules of baseball or any other well-established sport.  Somehow, this new Cinderella keeps most of the traditional lore and magic intact while, at the same, experimenting a little.

Getting Rid of the Spineless Step-Dad

Incredibly, in the original story, the step-dad is smack-dab in the middle of the abuse against his daughter but, because he fears his new wife so much, he does nothing to stop it.  This new movie deals with this problem rather nicely--albeit in tear-shedding ways. 

Another innovation is the introduction of a somewhat tipsy (or would "intoxicated" be a more accurate term?) Faery Godmother.  Helena B. Carter, an English actress almost as ubiquitous as Emma Thompson in the movies, does a superb job playing this role.

How Many "Cinderellas" Are There?

Incredibly, there are over 20 versions of the story from all over the world.  The best known ones, however, are the ones by the Grimm brothers, Joseph Jacobs, and, the one closest to the Disney versions--the "The Little Glass Slipper" by Charles Perrault. There is a much older version from Egypt alluded to by Strabo, a 1st century Roman historian.

All the versions refer to a young woman who finds herself in pitiful conditions.  In spite of not being among the poorest of the poor, she is treated as such by a nasty, overbearing step-mother, as well as by her envious, petty, vindictive, treacherous, greedy, and unkind step-sisters.  

Cinderella (like most young women in the past) was slated to stay in her lugubrious condition unless she can be rescued by some well-to-do playboy (for, indeed, many males took advantage of the fact that women were dependent on such "rescues," instead of being able to fend for themselves). 

Does This New Cinderella at Last Change Things?

Although this new version still fails to emancipate women, it comes closer than other versions.  Notwithstanding Hollywood's failure to get rid of the ridiculous stereotypes that fables help to keep alive, it must nevertheless be said that, if you look closely, there is much in this story that is subtly liberating. 

To put it more bluntly, it can be cogently argued that Cinderella saves herself, as much as she is rescued by the prince.  She does this by exercising some very important "choices."

Obtaining and maintaining good health is, after all, all about choices.  Make the wrong ones (eat too much processed foods, etc.) and you may end up with cancer or some other nasty ailment; make the right ones (stick to a diet low in fat/cholesterol and high in fruits/veggies, etc.) and you will avoid many infirmities or fare better than other people if you end up with a disease clearly perpetrated by modern living.

Cinderella, by making some important choices, escapes a sadder denouement; by choosing to do the following things she, in essence, determines her own fate (or at least helps bring it about):

1. She wasn't too proud to ask or accept help from others.  It needs to be understood that this story is highly metaphorical.  The animals that help her get to the ball might as well be friends and kin.  This can be especially troubling for people who avoid the help of health professionals.
2. She honored and respected her parents.  In the original story, her father lets her down; this, however, did not impede her from still respecting him.  It was her mother's words of wisdom that helped her to persevere and to, later, make her shine (beyond her good looks) to the prince.
3. She wasn't afraid to work hard.  This decision helped her to stay strong physically and mentally.  Her face may have been marred by ashes but her being in good shape athletically made it possible for her to sprint out of the ball (no doubt setting a few Olympic records) before her secret was discovered.
4. She wasn't afraid to aspire, dream and be open to new opporturnities.  As Louis Pasteur once said "Chance favors the prepared mind."  Cinderella didn't think herself too lowly to attend the ball and, though she was not plotting to ensnare a beau, she was ready for any surprises or opportunities that might present themselves to her at such grand event.
5. She maintained a good, positive attitude.  In spite of her plight, she remained optimistic and was not too undaunted when life presented her with a great blessing.
6. She never became full of herself or over-estimated her worth, even after the prince paid her exclusive attention. In spite of her great looks, she kept both feet on the ground.  This quality would no doubt impress her subjects (after she became a queen) as much as it had no doubt impressed the prince.
7. She endured hardship and abuse without becoming vindictive and vengeful; instead, she chose to be forgiving.
8. She accepted and greatly benefitted from the help of animals.  All the versions of Cinderella put emphasis on how helpful Cinderella's animal friends turn out to be.  It would be wonderful if we all remembered how our health greatly depends on animals--whether if be because they help test new drugs which later save human lives, feed us on a global scale, help preserve the environment, or, as in the case of Cinderella, bring happiness, peace and better harmony with nature.
9. She performed good deeds, even for those who had mistreated her.  People who get abused or mistreated tend to themselves become abusers, thus creating unbroken chains of dysfunctional behavior.  Cinderella was courageous and mature enough to put a dent on that chain in her life.
10. She never prostituted herself.  In spite of the fact that prospects for young women in those days were so limited, Cinderella kept her dignity, self-respect and poise.  She didn't grovel for the prince's attention (as the step sisters did) or stab anyone in the back to assure her success.  If only young women today could aspire to be as queenly as Cinderella (even though she didn't have all the awesome opportunities women can vie for today).

Conclusion

Although Cinderella was able to find friends (animals, a faery godmother, a prince, etc.) that were willing and able to help her out of her precarious situation, she was ultimately "saved" because she made a number of crucially important choices.  Those "choices" were the keys that she needed to open doors in her path. 

She might have, for example, foregone the ball just so she didn't have to be with those hideous step-sisters.

By following her mothers's advice, though--i.e., to be kind and gracious--she developed the maturity, perseverance, sticktoitiveness, endurance, forgiveness, and benevolence--that later set her apart to the perceptive eyes of a wise young prince. 

There were probably dozens of beautiful women in the kingdom--some of them with hefty dowrys.  Any of those women might have met the required criteria, were looks or possessions all that mattered.

Cinderella, however, shone like a diamond with a beauty that went far beyond skin deep.

And, because of such, everyone lived well ever after!

Copyright, 2015.  Fred Fletcher. All rights reserved.