The Glass Shoe Concept
When you say Cinderella, everyone has their own portrayal that they see. From the Blonde haired beauty who reminds children that “The dreams that you wish, will come true.”, To the exotic, earliest versions of a women clad in a cloak of feathers. Each one is special in it's own way. Many would believe that these tales are nothing more than just a silly children's story, however if you dive deep into the cultures and time periods of those, fairytales you can see the influences and lessons the fable would show young folk, what a women should be and act like.
With every great story there is an origin from which it came. Our first glimpse and progression of the Cinderella tale we know today can be found all the way back to the first century, In ancient Egypt. Compared to many countries of this time, Ancient Egypt was one of the most well developed and cutting edge of its time. Although men did rule, women still held a firm standing within its country. “Egypt treated its women better than any of the other major civilizations of the ancient world. The Egyptians believed that joy and happiness were legitimate goals of life and regarded home and family as a major source of delight.” (Women in Ancient Egypt). The first record of our beginnings of our Cinderella story was by a Greek geographer named Strabo. Being that the original tale was an Egyptian, and not Greek we can assume that our author may have included a Greek slave to cater to his people. The tale in which I am speaking Is Rhodopis, A young hard-working Greek slave who is given  golden sandals, by her master. In which the god Horus, then stole and gave to the pharaoh. Compared to most of the Cinderella stories this version is quite short. Through my studies and comparing both ancient Egypt in ancient Greek Customs on how they treated their women we can presume that this story was very much influenced by the greek. After all the story does mainly focus on the hard work of our heroine and the possibility of her marrying or becoming a concubine of the pharaoh. In Greek history Women were given little to no control over to over their own lives,Husbands, fathers, and MastersAll who were menControlled every part of a woman's life with in Greek culture. “The most important duties for a city dwelling women were to bear children-- Preferably male-- and to run the household. Duties of the rural woman include some of the agricultural work: Harvesting olives and fruit was their responsibility, as may have been The gathering of vegetables.” (The Ancient Greeks World). By creating a Story of a slave girl that has to overcome a horrible situation through hard work and kindness shows the reader – Preferably young girls--  that they will be rewarded in a way that would give honor to their families and be profitable for them as well. Women in Greek culture we're basically slaves in their own homes, giving them hope to live luxuriously might make them work harder with in their homes or for their masters. You may ask,What about true love? Isn't Cinderella supposed to be about finding your true love? The important truth of this, is that that is not the case whatsoever. Although Ancient Egypt had many cases of men and women coming together for the love most of cases across the world from Ancient Greece To Ancient China All the way to France and England , The girls would never marry for love; She would marry so she could make children for her husband; Preferably male heirs.
So the story about a Greek slave marrying a pharaoh due to losing her Rose-gold sandal seems to be the very beginning Of our Cinderella that we know today. Which then takes us to Ancient China. When I first started looking into the Cinderella tail I had thought that the Chinese version was the very first version available, Due to the importance of the shoe and foot size. Through my research of course, It was in fact the second version. Although my assumptions were slightly correct, it is a interesting new tale that takes us deeper in to the history of Cinderella and how she was formed. Shoe size was the biggest part of this new addition, From everything we know from Cinderella was that she had tiny, delicate feet. This was why no one was able to put her shoe on when it was taken across the land. In Ancient China, Foot binding was something that was slowly becoming popular among women. “A small foot in China, no different from a tiny waste in Victorian England, represented the The height of some female refinement. For Families with marriageable daughters, that size translated into its own form of currency and a means of achieving upward mobility.” (Why foot binding persisted in China for millennium.) This idea of the delicate small hundred foot,In the magnificent shoe became a staple within Cinderella. Having such a small foot in ancient China was Seem to be the most desirable, There were three forms of this foot binding, The iron lotus - Which was 5 feet inches or more,A Silver Lotus - which was a respectable 4 inches, and lastly The Golden Lotus- Was an mere 3 inch foot. We can assume that our Cinderella has a 3 inch foot considering it was the most desirable, she wore a gold slipper Made a fish scales,And no other woman was able to fit in such a shoe. This form of beauty has since died out,The last known foot binding practicer died in 2015. Although the Chinese version Seem to have stamped the idea of the delicate foot size. That was not the only thing that China seemed to have Influenced in all of the Cinderella stories.
When someone thinks of Cinderella they don't only think of her attire, they also think of her temperament, How hard she worked,And her faith in that something good was coming along for her. These three things are very common throughout all Cinderella stories starting Beginning with the Ancient Chinese version, Ye Xian. Which makes sense , due to the fact That Chinese women in society  We're bound to uphold three important virtues,Humility, Hard work, and upholding religious traditions in the household. Young girls in Ancient China were supposed to be yielding and act respectful at all times, & Putting others first before themselves. If a woman word to say something, about how 'good' she was being, She would be scolded for such an act for her pride. Women were to only be seen never to be heard. If someone were to speak or do evil things to her she would have to endure it and carry on as if nothing had happened. Ye Xian, the Chinese version of the fable Was known to be very kind and courteous and known to take the horrible things that her stepmother would do to her in stride. For example, Ye Xian was forced to do all the work for the house hold. Since her father had died and her mother was no longer part of her life, Ye Xian was basically the responsibility and under the authority of her step-mother, So regardless of how she felt she had to give her the upmost respect. Upholding the three virtues Ye Xian was given a chance To go to the Feast.
These acts of virtues continue into the Italian version of the story Cenerntonla, Which was made eight centuries later. The Italian version was heavily influenced by the catholic faith thus placing a lot of emphasis on sins and virtues that a women should be aware of and display. “Women were widely viewed as emblems of Catholic morality, serving primarily as matriarchs of the domestic household.They were instructed and expected to become devoted mother, and to rear and raise their children as proper Christians.Religious and social changes gradually turn women's education into a Christian training in a obedient housewife and devote motherhood.” (Women of 16th Century Venice) This dedication can be viewed, Through Cinderella's Or in the Italian version Zezoella; Through the way that the princess carried herself around her step mother and six stepsisters. Good Christian women were to uphold six main characteristics Chastity, Silence, modesty, Reticence, Sobriety, and obedience. Hi believe that this is the first real look at how Cinderella was meant to be for her temperament. The step sisters and stepmother however, Where the epitome of the seven sins They were Greedy,Vain, Gluttonous, Envious, Prideful, Lazy And most of all Violent Towards their actions to our heroine. Please sins are also used in the Russian version,Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga, the step-sisters and the step sister are horrible creatures that embody the seven sins almost makes the Cinderella our martyr and our saving grace in almost a mystical sense.
Death, however grim is also a common theme throughout all of the Cinderella tales. This is emphasized through the Brothers Grimm version, Aschenputtel. It also emphasizes how much family is important as well. In the German tale, Our Cinderella is Is weeping her recently deceased mother. In Another figure that all children need in their livesAnd replaced with a vile creature that of her stepmother. With a stepmother in place she becomes the main footing of the household making even her father forget who she is and not give a care in the world. With grieving death Cinderella is able to conjure up a spirit that seems to watch over her, We can assume that it is either her mother has an angel, or God. “Dear child, be good and pious,And then the good God will always protect the, and I will look down on the from heaven in the near thee.” (Cinderella and other girls who lost their sippers. pg. 47)  With this promise Cinderella then continues her life In her mother's memory.Never asking for anything And doing as she was told. At the end Cinderella gets her husband,We can only assume that this was due to being watched over by an unknown force.
“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” This random cluster of words Is knowing all throughout the world do it to a simple song that Walt Disney placed with his magical fairy godmother. The idea of a magical caretaker isn't quite a new one, It started with Horus in ancient Egypt going to a fish In ancient China, Then to a Guild of fairies in the Italian version. However one of the most well known versions of CinderellaIs the French version with the glass slippers, mice turned into horses and lizards turned into coachman, And most of all the fairy godmother who bestows A beautiful gold dress to our Cinderella. The French version of the story is known to be one of the most fantastical due to its magical characters that play a very key role in the story. This is also the first time glass slipper is used In any form of writing, Which brings a fantastic and magical feel to the tail. This version of the story is later used in Walt Disney's 1950s Animated classic Cinderella.
At the end of it all, We all come to realize that Cinderella gets her prince. To the mystical versions With fairy godmother's And magical fish, To the versions in which all she wants more is toBe kind and courteous and help her fellowman. We all know how the Cinderella stories end. With a happily ever after at the end. However with most women of those time. It has become a very constant reminder. That in all of these the main idea was For young woman to ever come some horrible obstacle in her life remain Kind. We are time at very young ages as young girls To always be kind To others. The Cinderella stories give us hope But if we do stay within the lines as we are told to good things will come out us. Although times are changing,The story still holds true to this day. Men have more authority over women,Many people still believe that women are meant to Stay at home and take care of children.And that women no matter how horrible you are to them how rude or obnoxious that they must remain calm and quiet. This is not the case anymore,all of these stories were created by a men who wanting nothing more than to tell the world what they thought was ideal. Their version of the perfect Eve. As times start to change so do the tales of our beloved Cinderella, Now in 2016 we have cinderella stories that revolve around strong young women, who go out of their way to get what they desire. They do not wait for a magical fairy god mother, nor do they wait for a prince to show up. The influences society has on fairytales shows our progression as humans, we go from a slave, to a young orphan, to a princess in a manner a few decades and the story is still ever changing with what we see as right and not right.
Bibliography:
Books:
Louie , Ai-Ling. Yeh-Shen A Cinderella Story from China. New York, New York: Puffin Books, 1982.
Kleeman,Terry & Barrett,Tracy.The Ancient Chinese World. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Carruthers, Amelia. Cinderella and other girls who lost their sippers. Warwickshire, Alcester: Pook Press, 2015.
Ralston, W.R.S. Cinderella: The Ultimate Collection. Â Enchanted EBooks 2014.
Websites:
Rosenthal, Margaret . "Women of 16th Century Venice" 2013. Feb.14th 2016 <http://dornsife.usc.edu/veronica-franco/women-of-16th-century-venice/>.
