Cinderella
Well...when I started this dissertation, I hadn't intended to write a new version, but I get carried away. Surely you must have noticed how the article changed flavor as it progressed. I have a hard time sticking to the point which is that our heroine had to take control of her own life and make a conscious effort to not only escape from the abuse of her step-mother, but also to heal from it. She made the first several steps. The godmother encouraged her and gave her the props, but she took the risks. The step-mother didn't notice anything until Cinderella's efforts to obtain her independence began to interfere with her own efforts to obtain high social standing (and wealth) for her children. Then she started making an effort to stop her. It was a desperate attempt and subtlety was thrown to the wind. It was also too late.
Cinderella had taken control of her life, but she had not yet learned how to trust people again. I think the final, dramatic "rescue" scene where the prince goes looking for her illustrates that last big hurtle to emotional healing: trusting other people enough to admit to yourself that you are still vulnerable and that it’s not really a bad thing.
Enter the Prince. So little is said about him in most versions, that it is hard for me to see his point of view. He saw her at the costume party his parents were throwing. She was pretty so he asked her to dance. They talked, but he didn’t learn much about her. There was such an air of mystery about her that it intrigued him. He wanted to know more, but he was unable to find out. She left early, before the unmasking at midnight, so he didn‘t even get to see her face. He had seen her speaking with one of the other guests, but all that he could ascertain was that her name was Elaine and that she was a friend of Lady Katherine.
The Prince knew Lady Katherine. She was an eccentric person who always treated him with an amused indulgence that made him feel as if he were an errant six-year-old. She was one of those rare people who saw him as a person instead of as a prince. When he thought about that, he realized with amazement that the girl he had danced with also spoke to him as a fellow human being. He smiled as he thought how refreshing it had been in the midst of all of these others trying so hard to impress him with their affectations. She may not have removed the mask that hid her face, but the others wore masks over their personalities. At least she didn’t do that.
[Okay, I’m getting caught up again. I guess I’d better give everybody names and do this properly. Cinderella is Elaine. The godmother is Lady Katherine (of course). The step-sisters will be Abigail and Beatrice. This is why Elaine had to have a name that started with “C” back when they still called her “sister”. The step-mother will be given the misnomer Lady Honoria because she cares more about her reputation than her character. The guest with whom Elaine had spoken is Sir James, a distracted, elderly gentleman who often lapses into memories of long ago. - I just made that up for fun. He will not appear often in this story, and is of little significance when he does. I like him already. ((Shouldn’t I be working on Rou and Ivy?)) Lady Katherine's maid is Holly, and Lady Honoria's tea guest is a wealthy, influential woman named Countess Judith Mallowfield. Lady Honoria doesn't like her, but she is an important rung on her social ladder.
Now the prince. His name will take some thought. When I was in school, I had three stock heroes for my stories:
Christopher, the nobleman. Tall, blond curly hair, blue or green eyes. Always the perfect gentleman. Always noble, with a deep compassion for the people he was responsible for.
Jonathan was slender with dark, straight hair, his eyes were blue or brown. He was more versatile than Christopher. Jonathan could be a nobleman, his compassion and sense of responsibility were just as deeply rooted as Christopher’s, but he wasn’t above a little harmless mischief. He could also be a merchant or even a servant. Regardless of socio-economic circumstances, Jonathan’s character and personality fit right in.
Then there was Peter, my favorite. His laughing eyes looking out from under the brown, windblown waves that framed his broad, friendly face hinted at dreams of a wider world. Peter was unacquainted with politics. He had never seen a palace or manor house except as a visitor. Yet his character and honor were in no way weaker than his wealthier, more powerful counterparts.
Our Prince Charming looks like Jonathan, but is more like Christopher in temperament. That still leaves him without a name. How about Nathaniel? No, that's too bookish. I think I'll call him Frederick.]
Cinderella had taken control of her life, but she had not yet learned how to trust people again. I think the final, dramatic "rescue" scene where the prince goes looking for her illustrates that last big hurtle to emotional healing: trusting other people enough to admit to yourself that you are still vulnerable and that it’s not really a bad thing.
Enter the Prince. So little is said about him in most versions, that it is hard for me to see his point of view. He saw her at the costume party his parents were throwing. She was pretty so he asked her to dance. They talked, but he didn’t learn much about her. There was such an air of mystery about her that it intrigued him. He wanted to know more, but he was unable to find out. She left early, before the unmasking at midnight, so he didn‘t even get to see her face. He had seen her speaking with one of the other guests, but all that he could ascertain was that her name was Elaine and that she was a friend of Lady Katherine.
The Prince knew Lady Katherine. She was an eccentric person who always treated him with an amused indulgence that made him feel as if he were an errant six-year-old. She was one of those rare people who saw him as a person instead of as a prince. When he thought about that, he realized with amazement that the girl he had danced with also spoke to him as a fellow human being. He smiled as he thought how refreshing it had been in the midst of all of these others trying so hard to impress him with their affectations. She may not have removed the mask that hid her face, but the others wore masks over their personalities. At least she didn’t do that.
[Okay, I’m getting caught up again. I guess I’d better give everybody names and do this properly. Cinderella is Elaine. The godmother is Lady Katherine (of course). The step-sisters will be Abigail and Beatrice. This is why Elaine had to have a name that started with “C” back when they still called her “sister”. The step-mother will be given the misnomer Lady Honoria because she cares more about her reputation than her character. The guest with whom Elaine had spoken is Sir James, a distracted, elderly gentleman who often lapses into memories of long ago. - I just made that up for fun. He will not appear often in this story, and is of little significance when he does. I like him already. ((Shouldn’t I be working on Rou and Ivy?)) Lady Katherine's maid is Holly, and Lady Honoria's tea guest is a wealthy, influential woman named Countess Judith Mallowfield. Lady Honoria doesn't like her, but she is an important rung on her social ladder.
Now the prince. His name will take some thought. When I was in school, I had three stock heroes for my stories:
Christopher, the nobleman. Tall, blond curly hair, blue or green eyes. Always the perfect gentleman. Always noble, with a deep compassion for the people he was responsible for.
Jonathan was slender with dark, straight hair, his eyes were blue or brown. He was more versatile than Christopher. Jonathan could be a nobleman, his compassion and sense of responsibility were just as deeply rooted as Christopher’s, but he wasn’t above a little harmless mischief. He could also be a merchant or even a servant. Regardless of socio-economic circumstances, Jonathan’s character and personality fit right in.
Then there was Peter, my favorite. His laughing eyes looking out from under the brown, windblown waves that framed his broad, friendly face hinted at dreams of a wider world. Peter was unacquainted with politics. He had never seen a palace or manor house except as a visitor. Yet his character and honor were in no way weaker than his wealthier, more powerful counterparts.
Our Prince Charming looks like Jonathan, but is more like Christopher in temperament. That still leaves him without a name. How about Nathaniel? No, that's too bookish. I think I'll call him Frederick.]