Cinderella character analysis. ...part-rant, ahem.

[Cinderella]

[Whilst this review is clean, I must warn you that this is half-fact/half-opinionated, so what I think may contrast towards your views. Please don't take it offensively, as some of this is purely what I believe, and I apologise if I do go into harsh terms in the review, but, like I said, it's what I believe and I won't go back on my word. This was also partially inspired by Nicole and Joe, so thanks!]

Cinderella: The Analysis
Hello, and welcome to the complete [or, for the majority-wise] analysis of the 1950's Disney character, Cinderella! The following will basically take a look at the character from how she's been changed over the years, from her personality, to her clothing. So, without further adieu, let's begin!

Character-wise

One of the many things that really grates on me, is how many people have such a dis-believing mis-conception of the character of Cinderella. I'll go into more detail in a moment, but I do believe that she's probably one of the most mis-judged and mistaken Disney characters, which is a shame, because I think she's a wonderful, well-rounded character that deserves more than that. This just may be my opinion of her, however, but I really do wish more people would take another look at her, before just dismissing her.

Personality

THIS is the aspect of Cinderella that so many people get wrong and/or fail to notice. Looking around on various sites, I've become increasingly worried by the number of people who seem to believe Cinderella is nothing more than a weak, helpless, and in some cases, lazy person who does nothing but let people walk all over her and is constantly apologising for herself. I've seen many, many people make her into this simpering, practically sugary type of person who is nothing more than a doormat who is wrapped up in her "dreams", with no grip whatsoever on reality.

...

..........

...........................

...What the hell?!

I really do fail to see how this is true at all, honestly, I do. Okay, as we've seen, Cinderella IS a kind and all-around polite person, but she certainly isn't a doormat, by any means! If you think this, I seriously suggest you go back and re-watch the film. No, not the sequels, those piles of thrown-up leftovers, the first, original movie. Watch how she acts. The first thing you have to do is, put yourself in her situation, and the time period. Of course, the main thing is that women weren't accepted into society by a large amount, and times were hard, especially for those who didn't have a chance in hell to speak up. Anyway, the movie. Yes, looking at it, Cinderella may be a servant to her step-family, but come on, it's a three against one battle to start with, and also, she was only a young child when her father died. Would anyone really believe that the seemingly loving, caring step-mother would ever abuse her step-daughter? I don't believe anyone in that era would believe a child over a "superior" adult, would you?

Also, she isn't some docile servant, either. The invitation to the ball is a big one for this. If it weren't for Cinderella HERSELF saying she could go to the ball, too, if she hadn't spoke up, the step-family wouldn't have thought of her going at all. When the step-sisters start teasing her, she doesn't simply stand there and take it. Instead of letting it affect her greatly, she does the logical and grown-up thing to state out her case of WHY she should go, making sure that her reasons to go are justified and that her step-mother can't say no. She stood up to her step-family and for a short time, got the better of them, leaving both of the step-sisters speechless. And when she is cleaning the floors in the hall, just before that scene, when Lucifer messes it up, she is all ready to go and hit him with the broom, before she's interrupted. Just because she's a servant, doesn't mean she's going to allow people to walk all over her and get away it.

Cinderella, unfortunately, is very mis-concepted.

The deal with dress also shows that Cinderella can do things for herself. Though she never got around to it, because of the increasing chores from her step-family, she was actually planning to make the dress herself whilst also doing her work. She never once asked for help from anyone, it was simply of out the good-will of the mice and birds, repaying the favours of her letting them live within and out of the chateau, that her dress was made by them. Also, the godmother appeared and helped Cinderella because of the girl's virtuous and good nature, not because Cinderella stood there screaming and crying for someone to come and whisk her troubles away.

The step-sisters ripping the dress apart is probably the rare time she didn't fight back at them, and I'm guessing because she was: one, too upset at what they'd done to do anything, two, the step-family leave straight after, and three, she was probably shocked that, despite their cruel demeanors, they would go so low. I think what people miss as well, is that the dress was her mother's, her MOTHER'S. Probably one of the last possessions she had from her parents, and for the step-sisters to do such a thing to something she cared for...well, I think a lot of people would be blinded by shock/anguish/hurt. Also, I'm not even sure if she realised that the sashes, etc. on the dress were the step-sisters, as the mice took them and put them onto the dress without her knowing.

I honestly can't see how anyone thinks she does nothing and sits back, personally. It was through her own strong and good-willed nature that she got to go to the ball at all, and her positive outlook on life, especially towards the put-down's and such she suffers doesn't mean she's weak-willed, it just means that she's the better person for not letting get her down and that's she braver, as she's capable of handling mostly well.

Dress/overall appearance of Cinderella

First, the dress. Dear god, THE DRESS. How could anyone...I don't even know how people can even think of Cinderella's dress being anything but the colour in the movie. Okay, so maybe I'm being unfair there to some extent. Perhaps children wouldn't know, or even care to notice the difference, I know I never cared much at my age. Then again, the Disney Princess Line wasn't invented when I was younger, anyhow. To everyone older who knows/loves Disney and watches the movie, should be able to tell.



Thanks to DisneyClassicsFan for making the above. The most noticeable of the dress fiasco is in the dance scene, around 1:00.

Anyway, this is dress that Cinderella goes to the ball in, and also the one she's frequently advertised wearing. In the film, when the spell is cast on our heroine, her dress is in fact a sparkling white colour, though some may prefer to have the colour called silver. At the ball, however, this is when the issue starts. Okay, so the dress DOES have a blue tint to it when the dark catches it, especially when Cinderella is dancing and in the outdoor scenes, and I'll admit, the colour is there, but it's only tinted, it just looks like blue. Plus, in the main close-ups, the white is still very prominent. The colour of blue is light, and nowhere near the colour that it is marketed as...it might as well be a different dress in some circumstances. I've heard that this is done so Cinderella isn't confused with Aurora...I ask, how would anyone be confused in the first place? Aurora is a lot taller and designed differently than Cinderella, and her dress in the movie is mainly blue, whilst Cinderella's is clearly white/silver. So it's not really much of an excuse when said character's dress wasn't even that colour to start with.

Uh...which is who again?
...
/headdeskwallroadcliff

Now, for the hair! In earlier, non-DVD versions of the movie, Cinderella's hair colour is clearly quite a dark shade, particularly if anyone has had the chance to see the earlier VHS/original cinema releases of Cinderella. In fact, I've heard that the only started promoting the blonde hair/blue dress look in the late 90's on the cases, as previous VHS covers showed Cinderella with darker hair/perhaps the silver dress combo. The colour on the restored DVD IS really vibrant in some places, though it's not near as bad as the merchandise. Even so, I've over-heard that the original colour of Cinderella's hair has been digitally painted over to create a more 'blonde' look for her, which I think is just plain wrong, considering that the colour is DIGITAL, something that wasn't invented when Cinderella was made. From looking at comparisons of restorations VHS to DVD, I can say that there IS a difference in her hair colour. Why they market her as a butter-yellow blonde however, is a mystery to me...and they can't use their former excuse, since Aurora is a blonde in her movie and in the merchandise also, though even her hair colour is debated sometimes.

Just...ugh. I'd say more, but it's not appropriate for forum viewing.
=D *eye-twitch*

Thus ends my rambling rant/half-sane analysis article. Hope it at least made some sense.

Credits to: DisneyClassics Fan for creating the video, MagicalScreenCaps/Disney site for the images.

[mooch]

I'm glad I inspired you. XD This was a very well-thought out essay. Could I link to it whenever someone somewhere inevitably goes on a Cindy-bashing spree?

I guiltily admit to formerly being one of those people who underrated Cinderella. I didn't hate her like a lot of people seem to, but I thought she was bland. It was Frida who actually encouraged me to re-watch the movie, so I did. I saw that Cinderella was clever, and took her lot in life and tried to make the best of it (and she was willing to whack that irritating cat after he made a mess!).

If Cindy isn't being portrayed as spineless, then RPs and fanfiction turn her into a catty shrew or a snob and often set her against the more current princesses, like Belle (who's rabid fanbase* is often guilty of trashing other characters even though they like to claim that they don't). I wish we could force these critics to sit and re-watch Cinderella. But you know, the irritating thing is that half of them probably still wouldn't admit that they're wrong. It's one thing if you don't personally like Cindy, but it's another to still call her meek even when you can see in the film that she isn't. A lot of these people have massive egos, and being forced to admit that they're wrong about something would cause them to shrivel up and die.

I'd like to really ask these same people if they would prefer to have Cindy go off on Lady Tremaine (complete with finger snapping and neck-rolls), only to be thrown out in the streets for defying her and her daughters and being forced to turn to prostitution to survive (like you said Hannah, there weren't a lot of choices for lower-class women back then, she couldn't go shack up at Motel 6 ), or if Cindy should turn into some sort of assassin and kill the Tremaines. I personally blame the Cindy (and Snow White, Ariel, and Aurora) hate on the awful mutated form of feminism that's taken root in the past couple of years that says any woman who likes the color pink and doesn't act like a mannish witch is a gender traitor.

What? Me, bitter? Nah! =D

Augh, the bright blonde hair in that picture makes Cindy look like an Aurora clone (no offense, Joe)! Why homogenize her like that, Disney?

*No, not every single Belle fan or BATB fan is rabid or a character basher. But I've seen quite a few of them do it. How someone actually thinks Cindy is a worse person then Gaston is beyond me.

[San]

Well, uh... wow. If anything tells me that you're the perfect Cinderella player (besides your RP posts, that is), it's this. Not only did you nail her core character attributes when so many other roleplayers misinterpret them or just outright abandon them, you managed to write a humongous essay on this character.

Bravo, Hannah! ;D This was a fantastic read.

_{seriously, her hair is lightish brown, not bright yellow, you nitwits. lol}

[Frenchie and K. Sera]

Feb 14, 2011 4:26:22 GMT -8 San said:

_{seriously, her hair is lightish brown, not bright yellow, you nitwits. lol}

I thought it was strawberry blonde. Have my eyes been deceiving me?

[Cinderella]

Thank you, guys! I'm glad you found this good to read, and of course you can link it, Nicole. Aw, perfect Cinderella? Thanks Heffy, I'm flattered. ^^

I felt that I needed to get out how I felt about the mis-judgement of Cinderella, and I'm stoked that not only you liked it, but agree and more. So thanks very much, Nicole and Heffy!

I'll reply to both of you in more detail later, when I feel better. Not too well right now.

[Alice]

I finally got to read your essay! I didn't want to comment until I sat down and read every word at my pace. I sure as hell wasn't just gonna skim through it, so I'm sorry for the delay. It was worth the wait, though.

As Heffy said, you are the perfect Cinderella, Hannah, because you are so passionate for the character. Your love for the character you play is clear as crystal, and that's how it should be for every role-player!

I don't really have much new to say, because Nicole has said it so well. Cinderella is an example of a character who is panned unjustifiably by a modern audience. The insults the character receives, it's all hogwash. I will defend Cinderella until the end.

For example, one time I was drinking with a get-together with my siblings and a friend of my sisters. Now, despite the fact that this person and I are buddies, too, on that night of drinking, she went on to bash Cinderella. She accused her of pretty much what you argue against, Hannah. I'm a pretty mellow and easygoing drunk most of the time, but after hearing that, I argued rather vehemently with my sister's friend. Some people might ridicule us for engaging in such arguments of fire and brimstone proportions, but I don't care. Cinderella does not deserve the unjustified hatred she receives.

... The sequel version of Cinderella, sure. But not the original classic! Cinderella is a beautiful, unbelievably brave young woman. In fact, I probably should have taken her instead of the woefully under-utilized Aurora.

Besides, Cinderella was Walt's favorite Disney heroine. I rest my case!

Now I will take this time to reply to comments directed to me, since I care so much. D'awww.

@hannah: "This was also partially inspired by Nicole and Joe, so thanks!"

No problem, Hannah! I'm happy to have partially inspired you, though if I had known you would have written a character analysis this good, I would have given you better comments.

@nicole:

Exactly, Nicole. Nail on the head. Like Hannah, you are humorous yet informative! I, too, strongly dislike some of the arguments from extreme feminists and... masculinists? Is that even a word? Anyway, it pisses me off how anyone can accuse another of a gender traitor. And it's not just from that extreme feminism I dislike, guys are also guilty of it. I've been mocked and ridiculed my whole life for my serious love of Disney. Can't a guy just put on friggin' Mickey Mouse ears these days? Jeez.

Wow, that went off the rails for a sec! Sorry.

@nicole again: "Augh, the bright blonde hair in that picture makes Cindy look like an Aurora clone (no offense, Joe)!"

None taken. I feel the same way. Don't screw up color palettes, Disney! Come on. >=(

Edit: Frida, thank you for encouraging Nicole to re-watch Cinderella! That's what I encourage people, too.

[Scrooge McDuck]

Mar 6, 2011 23:29:50 GMT -8 Alice said:

For example, one time I was drinking with a get-together with my siblings and a friend of my sisters. Now, despite the fact that this person and I are buddies, too, on that night of drinking, she went on to bash Cinderella. She accused her of pretty much what you argue against, Hannah. I'm a pretty mellow and easygoing drunk most of the time, but after hearing that, I argued rather vehemently with my sister's friend. Some people might ridicule us for engaging in such arguments of fire and brimstone proportions, but I don't care. Cinderella does not deserve the unjustified hatred she receives.

I would've liked to have been there to have seen that argument. But pple really can't apply modern sensibilities to a story that's (1) set in an archaic period and (2) was created before the womens' lib movement. Besides, compared to other treatments of women in films and whatnot I’ve seen from that era, Cindy comes off looking a lot better, IMHO.

Mar 6, 2011 23:29:50 GMT -8 Alice said:

... The sequel version of Cinderella, sure. But not the original classic! Cinderella is a beautiful, unbelievably brave young woman. In fact, I probably should have taken her instead of the woefully under-utilized Aurora.

Aurora seems to be a surprisingly popular character on Disney RP forums (unless you're being sarcastic -- sometimes I have trouble picking up on sarcasm on the 'Net). The sequel-Cindy... now, I haven't seen "Dreams Come True", but I have seen "A Twist In Time". I can't really recall whether or not Cindy was made into an annoying character in it, but I did get the impression that Disney made her into a more action-oriented princess to appease the feminazis.

Mar 6, 2011 23:29:50 GMT -8 Alice said:

@nicole: Exactly, Nicole. Nail on the head. Like Hannah, you are humorous yet informative! I, too, strongly dislike some of the arguments from extreme feminists and... masculinists? Is that even a word? Anyway, it pisses me off how anyone can accuse another of a gender traitor. And it's not just from that extreme feminism I dislike, guys are also guilty of it. I've been mocked and ridiculed my whole life for my serious love of Disney. Can't a guy just put on friggin' Mickey Mouse ears these days? Jeez.

Wow, that went off the rails for a sec! Sorry.

Someone else and I were recently talking about how ridiculous society's standards for men and women are. Too many pple out there have this silly and backwards way of thinking. Why can't individuals just like what they want to? Is it really hurting these pple that someone else likes Disney or some Disney characters they themselves dislike?

Extreme chauvinist might be the word that can be applied here.