A Cinderella Story

The Grimm version of the Cinderella story is the original of the story that is well-known and loved by many. After the death of her mother, the title character is forced to live with a step-mother and two step-sisters who have evil hearts. However, in this version, the step-sisters are beautiful, even if they are not pure in their intentions. This is shown when the tale states, "They were beautiful, with fair faces, but evil and dark hearts." Before long, they begin to treat Cinderella very poorly. "They took her beautiful clothes away from her, dressed her in an old gray smock, and gave her wooden shoes. "Just look at the proud princess! How decked out she is!" they shouted and laughed as they led her into the kitchen." As time progresses, the mistreatment continues, and even worsens. As the king announces a three-day celebration, the step-sisters and their mother forbid Cinderella from attending the events. Through the help of some lovely pigeons and the magic of her mother's grave, Cinderella manages to attend all three nights of the king's celebration where she dances with the prince and wins his heart. To find his true love, the prince goes on a hunt for his love who left behind a gold slipper. When he reaches the house with Cinderella and her step-sisters, each of the sisters cut their feet in order to fit the slipper.

"The girl cut off her toe, forced her foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the prince. " The other step-sister also cuts herself. "The girl cut a piece off her heel, forced her foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the prince." However, their bleeding feet, and tweeting pigeons, alerted the prince that he had chosen the wrong girl. When the prince finally chooses Cinderella, the step-sisters were still unable to put aside their ill feelings. "The stepmother and the two sisters were horrified and turned pale with anger." Even though the step-sisters are beautiful on the outside, their evil hearts remain unchanged throughout the tale.

One major similarity between the step-sisters in the Grimm version and the Disney version of Cinderella is their treatment of Cinderella. "Her two step-sisters, Drizella and Anastasia, and her stepmother, were very cruel. In fact, they were as cruel as Cinderella was good."

One difference between these versions is that the girls do not cut themselves in order to fit the small slipper.

Again, in this version, a similarity with the original Grimm version would be the poor treatment of Cinderella by the step-sisters. "Ok, even a monkey could do it--but we need the money, Ella." Here is an example of the sisters bullying Ella into giving them what they want.

A difference between the sisters in this version and the original is that even though the sisters profess their love for him, the prince does not fall for their advances.

This clip from Mean Girls illustrates the same characteristics shown by the step-sisters. Like the title suggests, the girls' treatment of one wearing sweatpants is very mean, much like the step-sisters treat Cinderella