Cinderella and the Virtue of Fairy Tales

I must say I didn’t plan to start out this blog by writing about fairy tales, but quite by chance I found myself watching the 2015 live action Disney adaptation of Cinderella while visiting my family, and lo and behold here we are.

To understand why this topic is the first I am writing about, allow me to first explain why I named this Substack Transcendentally Ordinary. Basically, I wanted a place to discuss a wide range of social and cultural topics that we encounter in everyday life, but not ones that dominate the headlines of the 24 hour news cycle. What I wanted was a place to talk primarily about the basic cultural expressions that convey to each of us a vision of the transcendent: That which is true, that which is good, and that which is beautiful.

Which brings us back to fairy tales and Cinderella.

At the time of its release seven years ago, the Kenneth Branagh-directed retelling of the classic tale stood apart from the trend of new fairy tale adaptations to adopt more progressive retellings by maintaining a near-perfect faithfulness to the original source material. From the scene stealing performance of Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother to the dainty yet graceful and elegant portrayal of Cinderella by Lily James, the film stayed true to the centuries old fable of romance and magic, even as adaptations like Maleficent attempted to offer a new, more morally ambiguous spin on classic tales.

What made the fairy tales of Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty endure the test of time from their earliest tellings hundreds or even thousands of years ago is that at their heart, they convey upon the reader, listener, or viewer, an uplifting image of goodness informed by the basic truth that we, as human beings, seek happiness in our lives on a daily basis, whether we are able to achieve that or not. We are all seeking that “happily ever after.” In the words of Helena Bonham Carter’s quirky and witty fairy godmother, the persevering and kind-hearted “Ella” sees the world “not as it is, but as it could be.”

This innocent and aspirational sentiment may sound corny and childish, but is all the more compelling when juxtaposed to the beautifully virtuous promise by Cinderella to her mother to “have courage and be kind,” long before the cruel and abusive stepmother emerges on the scene. But it is that promise which allows her to so gracefully endure the extensive physical and emotional abuse she suffers at the hands of her stepmother and stepsisters. And it is how she lives out that promise in the face of such treatment that make her worthy of the affections of Prince Charming.

Seeing the world “as it could be” while embracing a life of courage and kindness even in the face of unceasing tragedy and cruelty, like Cinderella is a nearly impossible standard for most of us. At some point we reach our breaking point, even Cinderella comes close as she sobs in the fountain after her self-sewn gown is torn to rags by her cruel guardian and her self-conceited offspring.

But nevertheless this purity of heart is what makes the heroes and heroines of fairy tales like Cinderella the aspirational role models that they are. Many a little girl has dreamed of being magically swept off her feet by a dashing prince to be his devoted bride and become a princess, just as many a young boy has dreamed of vanquishing a dragon that endangered those he loves like the prince in the Sleeping Beauty. 

These aspirations are ordinary expressions of the good human desires for justice and to be loved. We want Cinderella to marry Prince Charming because it is just. She who has endured so much pain despite her ever-enduring virtue is owed a happily ever after. 

In this way, Cinderella’s story is one that encapsulates the tragedies of life, but also provides a shining example of how to weather those trials and tribulations by embracing the good even in the face of hardship, ultimately preparing oneself for the happiest ending of all: eternity in the beatific vision. Living each day in such a way as to love and serve God in the face of our own hardships is our own Cinderella story, with our own happily ever after waiting at the end. 

So to that end, have courage and be kind. And welcome to Transcendentally Ordinary.