Cinderella's Stepfamily: Endings and Interpretations Across Versions

Introduction

While many children around the world have grown up with the classic Cinderella story, the original versions by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm offer a fascinating departure from the Disney-fied narrative we are accustomed to. In these early works, the fates of Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters play a crucial role in delivering complex moral lessons and unique endings that have captivated readers for centuries.

The Varieties of Endings

In the Brothers Grimm version, Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters face a much harsher fate, contrasting starkly with Perrault's more lenient narrative. In the Grimm's tale, the stepsisters mutilate their feet to fit into the glass slipper in an attempt to win the prince's favor. For their cruelty, birds peck out their eyes during Cinderella's wedding, leaving them blind. This ending serves to highlight the theme of retribution and the consequences of one's actions. Meanwhile, Perrault's version portrays a more forgiving approach, where the stepsisters repent and are treated kindly by Cinderella, even when attending her wedding.

Additional Insights from Various Adaptations

Other adaptations of Cinderella offer even more diverse and sometimes shocking conclusions for the stepsiblings. In the story "Phoenix and Ashes," the stepsisters' attempt to fit the glass slipper by mutilating their feet leads to their eyes being pecked out by spiteful birds. The stepmother's fate remains unclear, leaving a lingering sense of mystery and unease. One of the sisters lost her pinkie, only to be matched with a 4-fingered glove, while the other eventually battled an evil stepmother who turned them into old women. Ella Enchanted offers a somewhat more peaceful conclusion for the stepfamily, with the stepmother and stepsisters depicted as more sympathetic characters.

Contemporary Adaptations

Modern adaptations of Cinderella provide us with even more nuanced storytelling. For instance, in the film Ever After, Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters are relegated to work in the palace laundry, while in A Cinderella Story, Sam's stepfamily's lives are upended, with her stepsisters forced to work at the restaurant and sell their cars to pay for their tuition. These interpretations often aim to humanize the stepfamily and add depth to the narrative, giving readers a chance to reflect on the complexities of family dynamics and the aftermath of the original tale.

Conclusion

The endings of Cinderella vary greatly depending on the adaptation, each delivering a unique moral lesson and providing insight into the character dynamics of the story. Whether through forgiveness, retribution, or simply life's challenges, these varied conclusions offer a rich tapestry of storytelling that continues to captivate audiences and challenge our views on family and justice.