Abilene Christian University Digital Commons @ ACU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 5-2017 After the Shoe Fits: A Rhetorical Analysis of Four Versions of the Cinderella Narrative Faith L. Boren Abilene Christian University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd Part of the Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, and the Rhetoric Commons Recommended Citation Boren, Faith L., "After the Shoe Fits: A Rhetorical Analysis of Four Versions of the Cinderella Narrative" (2017). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 69. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ACU. ABSTRACT Fairy tales hold the power to influence societies and to challenge societal injustices, and the story of Cinderella exemplifies both of these roles. In this study, I conduct a rhetorical analysis of four different versions of the Cinderella narrative: Charles Perrault’s “Cendrillon,” the Brothers Grimm’s “Ascenputtel,” Anne Sexton’s “Cinderella,” and Disney’s Cinderella (2015). I examine Perrault’s “Cendrillon” and the Grimms’ “Aschenputtel” using constitutive rhetoric. This theory operates around the basic premise that rhetoric holds the power to aid in the shaping of societies. While analyzing “Cendrillon” and “Aschenputtel,” I specifically look for themes of classism and nationalism, respectively. I then examine Sexton’s “Cinderella” and Disney’s Cinderella (2015) using feminist standpoint theory as my theoretical lens. Within this analysis, I particularly analyze how the two rhetors offer more nuanced views towards gender roles and stereotypes within their respective texts. Within “Cendrillon,” I found that Perrault places value on position, possessions, and peacekeeping, and within “Aschenputtel,” the Brothers Grimm seem to emphasize hostility towards the outsider, the need for order, and the potential for self-determination. While examining the two more recent Cinderella tales, I found that Sexton offers more nuanced views towards gender through her deconstruction of the Cinderella narrative and through her portrayals of both Cinderella and the Prince. Disney accordingly provides a feminist standpoint through Ella and Kit’s equality and through the portrayal of Ella’s stepsisters. Ultimately, I found that the tales of Perrault and the Brothers Grimm potentially had profound effects on their respective societies, and that the tales of Sexton and Disney offer valuable critiques of social hierarchies and the effects of those hierarchies. After the Shoe Fits: A Rhetorical Analysis of Four Versions of the Cinderella Narrative A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School Abilene Christian University In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts By Faith Lynne Boren May 2017 5-8-2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to give a special thanks to my family, particularly my parents, for supporting me through graduate school. Your love, encouragement, and chastising (when I didn’t want to work) has been instrumental in my achievements the past two years. I am also incredibly thankful for all of the home cooked meals from my mom and grandma that have sustained me. I would also like to thank my committee, Dr. Lemley, Dr. Sharp Penya, and Dr. Davis, for their continual guidance throughout my graduate school experience. You have all been incredibly influential to the progression of my thesis and to my academic achievements at ACU. Dr. Lemley has been the most dedicated and knowledgeable thesis chair I could ever hope for and overall has been a great mentor during my time at ACU. Dr. Sharp Penya and Dr. Davis have accordingly been amazing influences and have encouraged me to pursue academic success in all of my endeavors. Thank you again, to my committee, for all of your guidance and support. Not only have you helped me develop as an academician, you have continuously shown me how to be a strong woman of God. TABLE OF CONTENTS I INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 The Importance of Fairy Tales .......................................................................................2 Defining Fairy Tales ......................................................................................................5 Defining the Cinderella Narrative ......................................................................9 Evolution of the Cinderella Tale ......................................................................10 Methodology ................................................................................................................13 Selection of Perrault’s “Cendrillon” and the Grimms’ “Aschenputtel” ..........13 Selection of Sexton’s “Cinderella” and Disney’s Cinderella ..........................16 Theoretical Foundations ...................................................................................18 Constitutive Rhetoric ...........................................................................19 Standpoint Theory ................................................................................20 Research Questions ..........................................................................................21 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................22 II FAIRY TALES AS CONSTITUTIVE RHETORIC ...................................................23 Charles Perrault ............................................................................................................24 French Elements of Fairy Tales .......................................................................26 Status Quo of French Fairy Tales ....................................................................29 The Brothers Grimm ....................................................................................................31 Germanic Elements of Fairy Tales ..................................................................34 Fairy Tales’ Influence on German Identity ......................................................35 Constitutive Rhetoric ...................................................................................................38 Analysis........................................................................................................................43 Classism in Perrault’s “Cendrillon” .................................................................43 Value of Position ..................................................................................43 Value of Possessions ............................................................................47 Value of Peacekeeping .........................................................................49 Nationalism in the Brothers Grimm’s “Aschenputtel” ....................................53 Hostility Towards the Outsider ............................................................54 Desirability for Order ...........................................................................58 Possibility of Self-Determination ........................................................61 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................66 III FAIRY TALES AS RHETORIC TO CHALLENGE GENDER STEREOTYPES ....67 Anne Sexton’s “Cinderella” .........................................................................................68 Gender in the 1960s and 70s ............................................................................70 Confessional Poetry .........................................................................................73 Transformations ...............................................................................................73 Disney’s Cinderella (2015) ..........................................................................................74 Disney’s 1950 Cinderella .................................................................................74 Gender in Disney Films ...................................................................................75 Modern Adaptations of Fairy Tales .................................................................77 Standpoint Theory ........................................................................................................78 Analysis........................................................................................................................83 Gender Inequality in Sexton’s “Cinderella” ....................................................83 Deconstruction of the Cinderella Narrative .........................................84 Portrayal of Cinderella .........................................................................86 Portrayal of the Prince .........................................................................89 Gender Equality in Disney’s Cinderella ..........................................................91 Equality Between Cinderella and the Prince .......................................91 Portrayal of the Stepsisters ...................................................................95 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................98