Literary Tool Kit: Traditional | Lyly Lieu
Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci
Summary: Told through the perspective of her godmother, the washerwoman, Cendrillon is the story of the Caribbean Cinderella. Cendrillon is a beautiful little girl who has a voice of gold. Cendrillon’s mother fell ill and passed away. Her father later on marries a very vain and entitled woman. Madame Prosperine. Madame Prosperine and Cenrillon’s father later on have a daughter together named Vitaline. Cendrillon’s father is afraid of his wife and allows her to work Cendrillon like a maid. Later on, all of the townspeople heart that Monsieur Thibault’s prince-like yet nice son, Paul, is holding a ball. Cendrillon desperately wants to go but she is told that she has to work that night. Her godmother, though, assures her that she will make sure that Cendrillon will make it to the ball. Her godmother was given a wand when she was a child, and decides that this will be the first time that she will use it, for her Cendrillon. She helps Cendrillon get dressed up, and transforms various objects and animals into a beautiful carriage, horses, and carriage driver. Cendrillon makes it to the ball, but her godmother warns that she only has until midnight. The magic later on wears off and she has to rush out of the ball, leaving behind her pink slipper. The following day, Paul goes around the entire town and asks for every unmarried woman to try on the pink slipper that was left behind by the beautiful girl he danced and fell in love with. At last, he finds Cendrillon and the slipper fits her perfectly. They marry and live happily ever after.
OWL – Link: This version of Cinderella follows the well-known French version almost exactly. However, this story was told through the perspective of the godmother and even gave the reader insight on how she gets her magic. And some small differences include: the father is still alive, and Cendrillon has a half sister who her stepmother favors (rather than stepsisters). And of course the pink sandals. This story also incorporates beautiful French Creole words and phrases into the storyline.
Lyly Lieu | TEDU 386 | Spring 2016