Fairy tales combine elements of witchcraft, magic, the supernatural, and other cultural influences to create enchanting stories. Cinderella has been reimagined in different cultures over various eras, reflecting unique values and traditions. In her book, Fairy Tales: A New History, Ruth B. Bottigheimer explores how fairy tales, like Cinderella, evolve and are shaped by the societies in which they are told. By comparing different cultural versions of Cinderella, we can see how society influences the story and its characters.

Charles Perrault’s 1697 Cendrillon, a reimagined version of Cinderella reinforces traditional gender roles, with Cinderella being rescued by a prince and living happily ever after. This version of the story reflects the values of 17th century French society, where women were expected to be submissive and dependent on men for their happiness. Perrault debuts the fairy godmother character, who helps Cinderella achieve her happy ending. “This godmother of hers, who was a fairy” (Perrault), uses a magic wand to transform objects and creatures into things that will be useful in granting Cinderella’s wish. She prepares Cinderella for the ball using an incantation that expires at midnight, which alludes to witchcraft. 

This is not surprising, considering stories about fairies were “built on a strong Celtic underlay onto which English, German, French, and Italian authors grafted large amounts of indigenous fairy belief” (Bottigheimer 15). Additionally, accusations of witchcraft were prevalent in the 17th century, with women being put on trial for witchcraft all over France. However, in this narrative, the fairy godmother’s presence offers a positive perspective on what one might call witchcraft. Walt Disney inadvertently reinforced the fairy godmother’s association with witchcraft by giving her a magic word to activate her spell. A wave of a magic wand, and the utterance of the charm (Cushman, et al. 224) or enchantment phrase “Bippity boppity boo” (Cinderella) gets the job done every time.

The presence of the glass slipper, a symbol of fragility and rarity, is an element that reflects the societal values of the era. In the context of 17th century Europe, glass was considered a luxury item (Athanassiadis), reserved for royalty and the elite. The glass slipper therefore represents the unattainable and precious nature of Cinderella’s position in society, contrasting with her humble origins. Including these unattainable items into fairytales is an expression of [a] “utopian longing for something that was missing in […] society” (Salmi-Niklander). In the Grimm Brothers 1812 version of Cinderella, the slippers were golden (Grimm, J., et al.), indicating that they were made of gold, which would also make Grimm’s slippers a luxury item.

In contrast, the Chinese version of Cinderella, Ye Xian, and the Native American version, The Rough-Faced Girl, offer unique perspectives on the narrative. Ye Xian features a more active and independent heroine, reflecting the values of Chinese culture, while The Rough-Faced Girl emphasizes inner beauty and resilience, mirroring Native American values. These variations show how cultural beliefs shape fairy tales, providing valuable insight into the societies from which they originate.

The fusion of witchcraft, supernatural elements, and cultural influences is a reflection of the society and cultures of those eras. Authors like Charles Perrault and the Grimm Brothers beautifully weave these elements together to enchant readers of all ages. The various cultural interpretations of Cinderella illustrate how society shapes storytelling, from Perrault’s passive heroine to the independent Ye Xian in the Chinese version. Exploring these diverse adaptations offers insights into how fairy tales reflect the values and traditions of their origins, and paints a picture of what life may have been like during that time.