If the shoe fits, wear it. Review on Cinderella - Ruth Sanderson

I was facing the eternal question that every mother faces after reading the story of ‘Cinderella’ to her daughter. Two big, round eyes looked at me questioningly ‘If I am Cinderella, then who is my fairy God Mother ?’ For a moment I was flummoxed. Should I let her dream on ? Or better, just let her know the reality ‘I am your fairy Godmother.’ ‘Then where is your magic wand ? And where is the carriage that will take me to the ball ?’ ‘I don’t have a magic wand – but I have a purse full of money which I have earned especially for you. That will buy you a pretty dress. And that red Santro standing outside the gate is your carriage. I am your foreman too – so tell me, Princess, where do you want to go ?’ A mixture of relief (Of course, she is Cinderella !) and disappointment (there is no magic in the air) came on her face and she settled down to stare at the pictures of Cinderella again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Cinderella is a timeless classic. A fairy tale to end all fairy tales. This is the most popular story that is told to children all over the world. Ever wondered why it’s so popular ? Simply because it is a story of rags to riches. It’s a story of finding happiness after years of trials and tribulations. It appeals to everyone, children and adults, because the message of the story is : ’’No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true ...’’ It also reinforces the subtle message that ‘If you want something badly enough, then the whole universe conspires to make it come true for you’. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- Story : (and it’s not bedtime, folks !) I will tell you the story if you promise not to go to sleep at the end of it : Once upon a time, there was a girl called Cinderella who was ill-treated by her two step-sisters and step-mother. She worked day and night, was constantly humiliated, had only one torn frock to wear….but she never stopped dreaming. About happiness and about love. When the Prince calls for a ball dance, Cinderella is left behind at home. A fairy Godmother appears (with a magic wand) and lo ! A pumpkin changes into a carriage, rats change into foremen and Cinderella’s old frock changes into a beautiful evening gown. She goes to the ball on a condition that she will return by midnight (even magic has its own limitations). She dances with the Prince (who falls in love with her) but forgets to keep her time (Love is blind and also forgetful). At the stroke of midnight, she runs off, leaving the Prince with her glass slipper to remember her, Next day, the Prince’s messenger goes to every home in the kingdom with the glass slipper and makes every lady try it on. And since that shoe fits only Cinderella, the Prince and Cinderella live in his palace happily ever after. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- What I like about Cinderella : • The Prince was truly in love with her. He was willing to look for her in the whole wide world (Though of course, he made his messenger do all the hard work. Er…no complaints) • Cinderella believed in dreaming beyond her circumstances. She did not just go with the flow – she did not just sit back. She was determined and strong willed. • Dreams do come true ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- And a little caution : •Cinderella is as cliched as it can get. It’s the mother of stereotypical stories. •Step mothers are BAD ! (Try explaining the concept of a ‘step mother’ to an alarmed toddler – and then get flooded with questions you can NEVER answer !) •Step sisters are EVIL ! •To be physically unappealing is to be evil inside too. To have a beautiful face is to be goodness incarnate. •For every girl, there is a Prince who will come and take her away to his magic castle. •You need pretty clothes and a carriage to win over love. •Love can solve all problems in life (and actually it just creates more problems !) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- Enough of cynicism. In the end, I recommend this beautiful story to everyone, the dreamers, the cynics, the young, the old, the believers, the pragmatists. Let there be some magic in your life…. And don’t forget to dream on…………. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------