In this story Panttaja says it is both mothers that are wicked. Panttaja states the real mother “plots and schemes, and she wins” (Panttaja 660) when it comes to fulfilling the wishes of Ashputtle. But actually the two mothers have the same goal in mind; to have their daughters married off and have a joyful life. To be able to do this, the real mother puts a charm on the prince to make him fall in love with Ashputtle instead of anyone else. The prince did not dance with anyone else all night and would always say “she is my partner” (Grimm 630).
His sisters, First Corinthians and Lena, whom author Toni Morrison keeps in the background of the novel’s main events, are suddenly transformed into deep, complex characters. The two sisters, who have spent their lives in Dr. Foster’s parlor making fake roses, refuse to be aristocratic sweatshop workers any longer. The fact Corinthians works as a maid even though she has acquired a college degree does not make her feel inferior but rather it liberates her socially. Furthermore, the fact that she finds true love outside of her upper class social status shows that Morrison is making an attack on class consciousness. Lena’s revolt comes out during her confrontation with Milkman.
The fact that most fail to realize, as pointed by the author, is that these two mothers want the same things: they both want the best future for their daughters, and both mothers are willing to do anything to ensure that it happens. It is, however, Cinderella’s mother who surpasses and comes in first place. Panttaja believes Cinderella succeeds in winning the prince’s hand at the ball not because of the goodness of her character, but because she was able to stay loyal to her mother. By doing this her mother rewards her by giving her the most beautiful appearance in the entire kingdom. Cinderella succeeds through her mother’s magic, deceit, lies, and disguises.
She’s just self-obsessed, and unable to judge herself and her position honestly. It seems at every chance she gets, Curley’s wife likes to talk about her lost opportunities. She speaks of a traveling actor who told her she could join their show, without gathering that this is a pretty standard pick-up line. Same with the offer to go to Hollywood: Curley’s wife has convinced herself that her mother stole the letter, rather than realize the men weren’t really interested in her for any actual talent. Curley’s wife’s obsession with herself ultimately leads to her death.
The next major change she undergoes occurs when Laila arrives. When the beautiful, energetic, young girl agrees to a marriage with Rasheed, Mariam’s initial response is anger and jealousy. This does not settle down until they find their bond over three cups of tea and a common enemy, their husband. Mariam finds a friend and someone who cares about her, both of which were something she had never experienced before. The change in Mariam was so dramatic that she ends up giving her own life for someone she cares deeply for.
Dariela Flores Paper 3 P.O.V. “The Bride,” written by Christine Granados, is a story about a Hispanic teenager whose dream wedding was interrupted by teen pregnancy. Since Rochelle was a little girl she was obsessed with having an extravagant “white wedding.” Throughout the story the younger sister Lily tries to snap Rochelle back to reality and get her to appreciate her Mexican culture. Rochelle gets married while she’s four months pregnant and although things didn’t go as she planned she was content with how she ended up. Granados implies that life won’t always go as you planned.
English Role of Women Penelope had constant pressure coming from the suitors to for her to marry them, but even with all of the pressure Penelope never loses faith in her husband. Her love for Odysseus is so unyielding, she responds to the suitor’s contestant pressure with some indecision. She never refuses to remarry outright. Instead, she puts off her decision and leads them on with promises that she will choose a new husband as soon as certain things happen. Her astute delaying tactics reveal her sly and artful side.
She is cunning, resourceful, and brave. She definitely does not fit into the passive role that has been given to the more popular heroines. As in many fairy tales, the beautiful daughter is basically given away as if she is an object to a man who wants to marry her. Of course the girl’s father approves of the suitor because he appears rich, but the girl is not as impressed. She, “did not like him as much as a bride should like her bridegroom,” (Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm).
The dentist asked her daughter if she wanted to sit in the “special princess throne.”She then goes on about other times the princess label has been put on her daughter and about her frustrations with these situations. Then, her daughter asks what’s wrong with princesses? She makes references to real life princesses, and also she talked about the princess trend that has swept across the nation. She states her strong feminist beliefs and questions “what playing Little Mermaid is teaching her [daughter] (Orenstein 671).” She then briefly acknowledges the counterargument and moves on to discussing the start and instant success of Disney’s princess products. She quotes the founder of the princess products, Andy Mooney, when he says that boys pass through phases and so will girls with the princess phase.
Growing up, I thought my mother looked just like Cinderella and had the same pretty voice. I was excited to watch this movie again, with my daughter, because I thought it would bring me back to my childhood. I must admit that while watching it for absolutely different reasons, and taking notes, it was hard to enjoy it as much. Without immediately referring to the sheer passivity of the heroine, Cinderella, I’ve found that this story not only gender-stereotypes, but sets societal norms right out there on the table for you, and agrees and supports every one of them. Cinderella is not the role model I want for my daughter.