Intro
Welcome to the second Disney Princess analysis. Today we are getting into the second princess of Walt Disney, coming out almost thirty years after Snow White. Before I started this blog, I used to think the first few princesses were mostly the same. But though Cinderella has a similar background as Snow White with coming from a rich family, then losing her father and becoming a maid in her own house, I can also see a lot of differences between them now.
So, let's dive into the characteristics of Cinderella by exploring her story and see what kind of traits the movie is hiding from plain sight.
Backstory and Current situation
We get to know a bit more about her backstory than we did with Snow White. We had to assume Snow White had loving parents and a good life before the Evil Queen took over, but here we are literally told what actually happened. Cinderella's mother died at a very young age, and she lived with her father who she loved more than anything. Her father basically spoiled her rotten, giving her everything she wanted.
The fact that her father spoiled her, could have already developed a character trait as a child. I'm assuming she was sweet as a child, and not mean, but she was spoiled. Sometimes spoiled kids don't really know any better until the parent corrects them. It wouldn't make it a bad trait on her, but fun to experience with.
Writer's Note: Maybe a version of a very spoiled 'Cinderella' would actually be very fun. A gowod oportunity to see how things could be if the roles were reversed. Who knows? Maybe Cinderella's father neglected the stepsisters and just loved his own daughter more, giving her everything? You always know just one side of the story until someone writes it from a different perspective. Remember, a retelling of Cinderella is allowed if you give it your original spin. As long as you make sure it isn't exactly like the disney version with all the same names.
After a while her father got sick, and died which left Cinderella with her step family who finally showed their true colors. Since the house fell into ruin and all the money was spent on the stepmother and her daughters, she had to become a maid in her own home.Years later, she is still working as a maid, and doing everything in the house with no help from anyone. She has to take care of the animals, clean the house and make dinner.
To be honest, after years she might have gotten used to it or just doesn't know any better, but Cinderella shows a lot of patience and kindness even though she is not treated in the same way. She still does everything she is told. But she is also very dreamy. Not dreaming of finding a prince, but dreaming of getting out of that place and being free. That is at least how I see it. She doesn't specifically tell her dreams, but I don't think she is specifically looking for love or anything.
She is also an animal lover and creative, making little clothes for the mice that she finds around the house and let's stay despite the fact that her Stepmother would freak out if she'd find them. How long she has been sowing is up for debate, but the amount of tiny clothes she has tells me she has been doing it for a while.
A Strong Head On Her Shoulders
Cinderella does what she is told, but she also is not afraid to speak up. She doesn't take too much bullshit from her stepsisters mocking her and remains proud, as they do it. Just letting them mock her, while she stands tall.
She also doesn't pretend to like anyone of her family. Not even Lucifer. When he gets dirty paws all over the floor she just cleaned, she is ready to go after him with a broom. When her sisters yell for her, she calls back like: "Yeah, yeah I'm coming!!" or simply groaning: "Now what do they want?". She still hurries but doesn't remain silent.
Writer's note: Having a kind character who does what what people tell them (whether it is willingly or forced), doesn't mean they always have to take everything from others. A kind character can still talk back to others, or call them out. That doesn't make them less kind.
The Invitation For The Ball and The Ball Itself
In the scene where brings up the invitation to the music room, it really shows her pride. The moment Lady Tremaine reads the invitation, she speaks up, saying that she is allowed to go there too. As her stepsisters laugh and mock her, she stands tall, letting them have their laugh and saying that she is still part of the family, and she is eligible to go.
But, it also shows that she is a little bit naive after all. Her stepmother tells her that she is allowed to go if her chores are done and if she has something suitable to wear. Cinderella goes off excitedly and preparing for the ball. But in my eyes, she should have seen coming what happened next. After all those years, how did she not expect that her step family would find a way to keep her from going? Even the mice knew what they were doing, and Cinderella was lucky that her mice were able to make the dress for her.
Sometimes, the scene at the ball is made fun of, because the prince never asked her name, and only had her shoe to find her. But honestly, Cinderella never asked for his name either. She never even knew that he was the prince. Thinking about this situation makes me feel like maybe she is a bit socially awkward. She has been sheltered for too long and never leaving the house, only interacting with the step family. So maybe meeting someone new made her feel a little bit shy and she stayed quiet mostly. It would all have been a lot easier though if they'd talked, but hey, it is a fairy tale.
(Cinderella being socially awkward might be a stretch, but it is the way I see it. Of course this is only my opinion, people may disagree with me or not.)
The Ball Aftermath
Cinderella goes home, thanking her godmother for that one magical night she had. She was ready to go back into her regular life, just being content with the life she had... But the next day, her dreamy trait becomes a more bad trait, and also brings out her naivety. The moment she finds out that it was the prince she danced with, she shows her cards 100% and hums dreamily as she goes upstairs to get herself ready. This is the whole reason why Lady Tremaine realizes she was the girl. Cinderella gets herself locked up in her room because she doesn't even notice she is being followed.
Still, of course she comes out on top at the end, showing the Duke her other shoe. She even has had enough of Lucifer and lets the birds get the dog so he can chase him away and she can get the key. Another case that shows that kindness doesn't mean you have to let people win or walk over you all the time.
Conclusion
Now that we've gone through the movie, let's see what good, neutral and bad traits our second princess has in my eyes.
Good Traits: Kindness, Proud, Patient, Graceful, Strong head on her shoulders
Neutral traits: Animal Lover, Creative
Bad Traits: Naive, Dreamy, Socially Awkward
Some are a little bit far fetched, but that is what the analytics are all about. To see what is hiding from plain sight. Of course, these are just my takes, and you might not agree with my picks. Are there any traits you would consider her having yourself? Please let me know in the comments!
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