| Cinderella's Stepmother | |
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Real Name |
Unknown |
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First Appearance |
Unknown |
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Original Publisher |
European Folklore |
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Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Cinderella's Wicked Stepmother is the main antagonist of the fairy tale Cinderella.
In the most popular version of the tale, Cinderella's wealthy widower father married the proud and haughty woman as his second wife. She has two daughters, who are equally vain and selfish. The stepmother, jealous of her new stepdaughter because her good graces show up her own two daughters' faults, forces her into servitude, where the girl is made to work day and night doing menial chores. After the girl's chores are done for the day, Cinderella curls up near the fireplace in an effort to stay warm causing her to often arise covered in ashes, giving rise to the mocking nickname "Cendrillon" (Cinderella) by her stepsisters. Cinderella bears the abuse patiently and does not tell her father, who would have scolded her.
One day, the prince invites all the people in the land to a royal ball. The two stepsisters gleefully plan their wardrobes for the ball, and taunt Cinderella by telling her that maids are not invited to the ball.
As the two stepsisters and the stepmother depart to the ball, Cinderella cries in despair. Her fairy godmother magically appears and immediately begins to transform Cinderella from house servant to the young lady she was by birth, all in the effort to get Cinderella to the ball. She turns a pumpkin into a golden carriage, mice into horses, a rat into a coachman, and lizards into footmen. She then turns Cinderella's rags into a beautiful jeweled gown, complete with a delicate pair of glass slippers. The Fairy Godmother tells her to enjoy the ball, but warns her that she must return before midnight, when the spells will be broken. At the ball, the entire court is entranced by Cinderella, especially the Prince. At this first ball, Cinderella remembers to leave before midnight. Back home, Cinderella graciously thanks her Fairy Godmother. She then innocently greets the two stepsisters, who had not recognized her earlier, and talk of nothing but the beautiful girl at the ball.
Another ball is held the next evening, and Cinderella again attends with her Fairy Godmother's help. The prince has become even more infatuated with the mysterious woman at the ball, and Cinderella in turn becomes so enchanted by him she loses track of time and leaves only at the final stroke of midnight, losing one of her glass slippers on the steps of the palace in her haste. The Prince chases her, but outside the palace, the guards see only a simple country girl leave. The prince pockets the slipper and vows to find and marry the girl to whom it belongs. Meanwhile, Cinderella keeps the other slipper, which does not disappear when the spell is broken.
The prince's herald tries the slipper on all the women in the kingdom. When the herald arrives at Cinderella's home, the two stepsisters try in vain to win him over. Cinderella asks if she may try, but the two stepsisters taunt her. Naturally, the slipper fits perfectly, and Cinderella produces the other slipper for good measure. Cinderella's stepfamily pleads for forgiveness, and Cinderella agrees. Cinderella had hoped her step-family would love her always. Cinderella marries the prince and forgives her two stepsisters, then marrying them off to two wealthy noblemen of the court. They all lived happily ever after.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of the Cinderella's stepmother from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Some notable Appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Cendrillon; ou, La petite pantoufle de verre, by Charles Perrault (1697)
- Aschenputtel, by the Brothers Grimm (1812)
Public Domain Stage Appearances[]
- Cinderella; or, Harlequin and the Magic Pumpkin, and the Great Fairy of the Little Glass Slipper (pantomime), by the Brothers Grinn (1864)
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- Cinderella (1899) by Georges Méliès
- Cinderella (1911)
- Cinderella (1914)
- Ella Cinders (1926): a film adaptation of the contemporary comic strip adaptation of the same name
Public Domain Animated Appearances[]
- Aschenputtel (1922)
- Laugh-O-Gram - Cinderella (silent version, 1922) – first Disney adaptation
- Mel-O-Toons: Cinderella (1959)
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Ella Cinders (newspaper strip) (1925–1928)
- Mysterious Adventures #22
- The Thing #12
Notes[]
- The more popular known name of Lady Tremaine for the wicked stepmother was given to her by Disney is still under copyright.