We are fed children’s stories as if they
are as soft as clouds, but in reality, these stories are much darker than we’d
expect. They were told to children to prepare them for the darker things in
life, a warning of the stalker next door, the pedophile who could steal us from
our homes, the creatures in the dark woods and much more, but we are no longer
warned with such tales.
are as soft as clouds, but in reality, these stories are much darker than we’d
expect. They were told to children to prepare them for the darker things in
life, a warning of the stalker next door, the pedophile who could steal us from
our homes, the creatures in the dark woods and much more, but we are no longer
warned with such tales.
So today we will be learning about the
true little Cinder girl, her life full of murder and torture that stretches out
for thousands of years.
true little Cinder girl, her life full of murder and torture that stretches out
for thousands of years.
Not
so Disney:
so Disney:
If you didn’t already know, the real
Cinderella wasn’t created by Disney at all but instead was borrowed from the
1634 story from “The Pentamerone” by Giambattista Basile – who in turn borrowed
it from another story teller.
Cinderella wasn’t created by Disney at all but instead was borrowed from the
1634 story from “The Pentamerone” by Giambattista Basile – who in turn borrowed
it from another story teller.
But the first telling of Cinderella goes
back centuries, and even so, hasn’t changed too much but enough to see a
valuable difference.
back centuries, and even so, hasn’t changed too much but enough to see a
valuable difference.
1st
century, Ancient Egypt:
century, Ancient Egypt:
Rhodopis was a greek girl who was sold
into slavery in Egypt. The other slaves would bully her for looking different;
her eyes blue and skin white, was an oddity amongst them. One day when she was
taking a bath, an eagle swooped in and stole one of her sandals, and flew off.
The eagle went to Memphis, Egypt, where the Pharaoh was holding court. The eagle
dropped the sandal down onto the Pharaoh’s lap; and immediately the Pharaoh
thought this must be a sign from the gods. He sent his slaves all over Egypt to
look for the owner of the sandal, and when they found Rhodopis in Naucratis,
they brought her to the Pharaoh where she became his wife.
into slavery in Egypt. The other slaves would bully her for looking different;
her eyes blue and skin white, was an oddity amongst them. One day when she was
taking a bath, an eagle swooped in and stole one of her sandals, and flew off.
The eagle went to Memphis, Egypt, where the Pharaoh was holding court. The eagle
dropped the sandal down onto the Pharaoh’s lap; and immediately the Pharaoh
thought this must be a sign from the gods. He sent his slaves all over Egypt to
look for the owner of the sandal, and when they found Rhodopis in Naucratis,
they brought her to the Pharaoh where she became his wife.
500 B.C/300 BC, India:
The story starts off much different than
all the other Cinder stories, with an unfortunate mother having to abandon her
baby, Shakuntala, in the forest. There she was brought up by birds, whom
brought her into an Ashram – like a monastery – in the Himalaya mountains.
One-day King Dushyanta was hunting when he shot a deer. He rode up and found
Shakuntala crying over it, learning that the deer must have been her pet. The
king fell in love with her at first sight.
He begged her forgiveness for the loss of the deer and they married.
all the other Cinder stories, with an unfortunate mother having to abandon her
baby, Shakuntala, in the forest. There she was brought up by birds, whom
brought her into an Ashram – like a monastery – in the Himalaya mountains.
One-day King Dushyanta was hunting when he shot a deer. He rode up and found
Shakuntala crying over it, learning that the deer must have been her pet. The
king fell in love with her at first sight.
He begged her forgiveness for the loss of the deer and they married.
The king had to go back to the city,
leaving behind his wife with his ring. While she waited and daydreamed of his
return, she accidently she failed to greet a magician. Angered, the magician
cursed her, claiming that the person she dreamt about would forget her
altogether. As he was leaving, one of Shakuntala’s friends explained to him the
reasoning for her distraction, and the magician realized his wrath was exaggerated.
He changed the curse so that the person who’d forget Shakuntala would remember
her if showed a personal token of his.
leaving behind his wife with his ring. While she waited and daydreamed of his
return, she accidently she failed to greet a magician. Angered, the magician
cursed her, claiming that the person she dreamt about would forget her
altogether. As he was leaving, one of Shakuntala’s friends explained to him the
reasoning for her distraction, and the magician realized his wrath was exaggerated.
He changed the curse so that the person who’d forget Shakuntala would remember
her if showed a personal token of his.
Time passed and Dushyanta did not return.
Worried, Shakuntala set out to the capital city with her foster father, on the
way, they crossed a river by a canoe, where Shakuntala ran her fingers through
the water. Dushyanta’s ring slipped off her finger without her realizing it.
Worried, Shakuntala set out to the capital city with her foster father, on the
way, they crossed a river by a canoe, where Shakuntala ran her fingers through
the water. Dushyanta’s ring slipped off her finger without her realizing it.
Arriving at Dushyanta’s court, Shakuntala
was hurt when her husband did not recognize her. She tried to remind him that
she was his wife but still, nothing. Humiliated, she returned to the forest
with her son, whom was also the king’s, and spent days while her son grew
older. Her son grew to be strong and made a sport of opening the mouths of
tigers and lions to count their teeth.
was hurt when her husband did not recognize her. She tried to remind him that
she was his wife but still, nothing. Humiliated, she returned to the forest
with her son, whom was also the king’s, and spent days while her son grew
older. Her son grew to be strong and made a sport of opening the mouths of
tigers and lions to count their teeth.
Meanwhile, a fisherman was surprised to
find a royal ring in the belly of a fish he had caught. Recognizing the royal
seal, he took the ring to the palace and upon seeing the ring, the king
remembered his bride. He immediately set out to find her, and arriving at the
ashram, discovered that she was no longer there. He went searching for her,
upon where he came to see a young boy prying open the mouth of a lion. The king
greeted the boy, and asked for his name – when the boy answered, he realized
that this boy was his son. The boy took him to Shakuntala, and thus, the family
was reunited.
find a royal ring in the belly of a fish he had caught. Recognizing the royal
seal, he took the ring to the palace and upon seeing the ring, the king
remembered his bride. He immediately set out to find her, and arriving at the
ashram, discovered that she was no longer there. He went searching for her,
upon where he came to see a young boy prying open the mouth of a lion. The king
greeted the boy, and asked for his name – when the boy answered, he realized
that this boy was his son. The boy took him to Shakuntala, and thus, the family
was reunited.
221-206 BC/206-220 AD, China:
Ye Xian was the name of the Chinese Cinderella.
This story is much like the Disney version with a few tweaked differences. She
was forced into servitude by her stepmother, she did have animal friends and a
fairy godmother but with those similarities with differences.
This story is much like the Disney version with a few tweaked differences. She
was forced into servitude by her stepmother, she did have animal friends and a
fairy godmother but with those similarities with differences.
The differences are that her godmother,
was actually the spirit of one of her ancestors, and her animals friend was a
large fish that her stepmother killed and fed to her own daughter.
was actually the spirit of one of her ancestors, and her animals friend was a
large fish that her stepmother killed and fed to her own daughter.
The spirit of her ancestor informs Ye
Xian that the bones of her fish friend will give her power as one would a
genie. One night the king had thrown a festival and Ye Xian wanted to go. She
wished to her friend’s bones to be well dressed, and went to the festival in a
feathered silk dress and a pair of golden slippers. At the festival, she was
praised for her beauty but upon seeing her step-family at the party, she ran in
fear they may recognize her, accidently leaving behind one of her golden shoes.
Xian that the bones of her fish friend will give her power as one would a
genie. One night the king had thrown a festival and Ye Xian wanted to go. She
wished to her friend’s bones to be well dressed, and went to the festival in a
feathered silk dress and a pair of golden slippers. At the festival, she was
praised for her beauty but upon seeing her step-family at the party, she ran in
fear they may recognize her, accidently leaving behind one of her golden shoes.
The shoe was brought to the king, whom
had never met the girl, even at the party. He was intrigued by how small her
feet were, which was considered a sign of ideal female beauty back then. He
demands that they find the shoe’s owner. However, it was Ye Xian who went to
where the shoe was being held and explained to the king of her life – on which
he fell for her and made her his wife and queen.
had never met the girl, even at the party. He was intrigued by how small her
feet were, which was considered a sign of ideal female beauty back then. He
demands that they find the shoe’s owner. However, it was Ye Xian who went to
where the shoe was being held and explained to the king of her life – on which
he fell for her and made her his wife and queen.
1634, Italy Giambattista Basile:
In the “Pentamerone,” Basile wrote the
story of Cat Cinderella.
story of Cat Cinderella.
In this version, Cinderella’s father was
a prince, whose wife passed away, and he remarried. This step mother was mean,
and often Cinderella would cry to her governess, who cared for her. The
governess convinced the cinder girl to kill her step mother by snapping her
neck with the lid of a dressing trunk. Before continuing, I read the English
version of this tale and didn’t see this detail in the pages but it could have
just been that particular translation that lacked this information. Anyhow,
after her first step-mother’s death, the governess became the new step mother
and it didn’t take long before Cinderella was banished to the kitchen. Instead
of two stepsisters, Cinderella had six, and they became more important to her
father than even herself. And soon, she was neglected even by him.
a prince, whose wife passed away, and he remarried. This step mother was mean,
and often Cinderella would cry to her governess, who cared for her. The
governess convinced the cinder girl to kill her step mother by snapping her
neck with the lid of a dressing trunk. Before continuing, I read the English
version of this tale and didn’t see this detail in the pages but it could have
just been that particular translation that lacked this information. Anyhow,
after her first step-mother’s death, the governess became the new step mother
and it didn’t take long before Cinderella was banished to the kitchen. Instead
of two stepsisters, Cinderella had six, and they became more important to her
father than even herself. And soon, she was neglected even by him.
In this version, her father left and
asked each girl what they wanted as a gift when he returned. As they asked for
materialistic items, Cinderella asked for guidance by the faeries. He was able
to get this when he was trying to return home and was stopped by a faerie, whom
told him to visit a cave where he was given a seed. He gave the seed to
Cinderella and it grew into a tree almost instantly. The tree was also a faerie
sort, and would grant her wishes.
asked each girl what they wanted as a gift when he returned. As they asked for
materialistic items, Cinderella asked for guidance by the faeries. He was able
to get this when he was trying to return home and was stopped by a faerie, whom
told him to visit a cave where he was given a seed. He gave the seed to
Cinderella and it grew into a tree almost instantly. The tree was also a faerie
sort, and would grant her wishes.
One night the King of the land had a
feast. At the feast he fell in love with Cinderella from afar, whom had gotten
there due to her wishes. In order to find her, he had another feast, and
another, on the fourth feast, Cinderella lost her shoe and during the fifth
feast, the King ordered that all the girls, servant or naught, has to come to
this feast. Cinderella arrived, but as her normal self, and yet the king was
able to recognize her. He had her try on the shoe she’d lost and as it fit, she
was crowned queen right in front of everyone.
feast. At the feast he fell in love with Cinderella from afar, whom had gotten
there due to her wishes. In order to find her, he had another feast, and
another, on the fourth feast, Cinderella lost her shoe and during the fifth
feast, the King ordered that all the girls, servant or naught, has to come to
this feast. Cinderella arrived, but as her normal self, and yet the king was
able to recognize her. He had her try on the shoe she’d lost and as it fit, she
was crowned queen right in front of everyone.
18th Century Grimm Brothers:
In
the Grimm brother’s version, the details of Cinderella’s mother’s death were
more detailed, she died from the plague and was buried in the graveyard.
Cinderella’s father did not die either, he did remarry, and her new family was
cruel. She did become much like a servant. Her stepsisters stole Cinderella’s
fine clothes and jewels, they bullied and made her life hard. They nicknamed
her “Ashcenputtel,” which means, Ashfool.
the Grimm brother’s version, the details of Cinderella’s mother’s death were
more detailed, she died from the plague and was buried in the graveyard.
Cinderella’s father did not die either, he did remarry, and her new family was
cruel. She did become much like a servant. Her stepsisters stole Cinderella’s
fine clothes and jewels, they bullied and made her life hard. They nicknamed
her “Ashcenputtel,” which means, Ashfool.
One day her father went to a fair, he
asked his daughters what they wanted, and all Cinderella asked for was the twig
that would knock his hat off. He brought back a hazel twig, and she plants the
twig over her mother’s grave. She wants it with her tears and over the years,
it grows into a glowing hazel tree.
asked his daughters what they wanted, and all Cinderella asked for was the twig
that would knock his hat off. He brought back a hazel twig, and she plants the
twig over her mother’s grave. She wants it with her tears and over the years,
it grows into a glowing hazel tree.
One day the king decides to have a
festival that will last three days. He invites all the beautiful maidens in the
land to attend so that he can select a bride for his son, the prince. Cinderella
was not allowed to go. Cinderella cries to the tree, and white bird grants her
wish, dropping down a gold and silver gown with silk shoes. And much like the
Disney version, she goes to the feast, the prince and her dance, she has to
leave. She comes back the next day to the continuous feast but appears in
grander décor, the prince falls in love with her, dances, she escapes. On the
third day, she is dressed even more grander than ever with slippers of gold.
This time the prince is determined to keep her and smeared the stairway with
pitch. When Cinderella runs away, one of her golden slippers sticks to the
pitch. She has to leave it behind.
festival that will last three days. He invites all the beautiful maidens in the
land to attend so that he can select a bride for his son, the prince. Cinderella
was not allowed to go. Cinderella cries to the tree, and white bird grants her
wish, dropping down a gold and silver gown with silk shoes. And much like the
Disney version, she goes to the feast, the prince and her dance, she has to
leave. She comes back the next day to the continuous feast but appears in
grander décor, the prince falls in love with her, dances, she escapes. On the
third day, she is dressed even more grander than ever with slippers of gold.
This time the prince is determined to keep her and smeared the stairway with
pitch. When Cinderella runs away, one of her golden slippers sticks to the
pitch. She has to leave it behind.
The prince proclaims he will marry the
maiden whose foot fits the golden slipper. Oh boy, here we go. When arriving at
Cinderella’s house, the step sisters try on the slipper and it doesn’t fit; so
one cuts off her heel and the other cuts off her big toe in order to make the
slipper fit but he spots the blood drips and is appalled by their treachery.
maiden whose foot fits the golden slipper. Oh boy, here we go. When arriving at
Cinderella’s house, the step sisters try on the slipper and it doesn’t fit; so
one cuts off her heel and the other cuts off her big toe in order to make the
slipper fit but he spots the blood drips and is appalled by their treachery.
He is alerted about Cinderella’s presence
in the house and has her put the slipper on, the prince recognizes her anyhow
and in the end, during her wedding, doves flew down to the stepsisters’ eyes
and plucked them out, leaving them blind for the rest of their lives.
in the house and has her put the slipper on, the prince recognizes her anyhow
and in the end, during her wedding, doves flew down to the stepsisters’ eyes
and plucked them out, leaving them blind for the rest of their lives.
Poor Cinder Girl:
From abandonment, neglect, to loss and
murder – each story Cinderella plays in, she suffers in some way whether it is
minor or traumatic, but each story tells of a girl who rises to power. Of
course, usually by some magical means. There are many different versions of
Cinderella in almost every country there is at least one: a few are other than
mentioned, Rushen Coatie from Scotland, Cap-O-Rushes in England, Katie
Woodencloak from Norway and The Golden Slipper in Russia. I was misplaced
myself when I said the Disney version was based on Basile’s version of
Cinderella; the 1950s film actually was based off of the French Story by
Charles Perrault’s 1697 adaptation that took out all the gruesome bits and
added the magical elements in their place.
murder – each story Cinderella plays in, she suffers in some way whether it is
minor or traumatic, but each story tells of a girl who rises to power. Of
course, usually by some magical means. There are many different versions of
Cinderella in almost every country there is at least one: a few are other than
mentioned, Rushen Coatie from Scotland, Cap-O-Rushes in England, Katie
Woodencloak from Norway and The Golden Slipper in Russia. I was misplaced
myself when I said the Disney version was based on Basile’s version of
Cinderella; the 1950s film actually was based off of the French Story by
Charles Perrault’s 1697 adaptation that took out all the gruesome bits and
added the magical elements in their place.
I hope you enjoyed. If you wish to
support me, check me out on Patreon. I create videos on cryptids, abductions,
hauntings, serious killers and more. If you can’t support me there, please
like, comment and subscribe. I’d like to thank my supporting Patron thus far.
support me, check me out on Patreon. I create videos on cryptids, abductions,
hauntings, serious killers and more. If you can’t support me there, please
like, comment and subscribe. I’d like to thank my supporting Patron thus far.
