Introduction
The
topic of this storybook is classic
fairytales that have female protagonists and heroines. I
have always loved stories that inspire females to be strong and
persevere, and I think the tales I have chosen do this very well.
The tales
that will be included in this
storybook are those of the Cinder-Maid, Beauty and the Beast, The
Unseen Bridegroom, and Snowwhite. Most of these fairytales are
familiar to people, especially after they were made into famous Disney
movies.
The Cinder Maid, more commonly known as
Cinderella, faces much adversity from her step-mother and
sisters. She is terribly mistreated but, in the end, she gets to
outshine her step-mother and sisters by winning the heart of the
prince, fair and square. I thought it was interesting that
the reader finds out that the famous glass slipper is actually a bronze
slipper in this original version.
In Beauty and the Beast, Bella is the youngest
daughter of a merchant. She is a sweet girl who cares more for
her
father than herself. After being brave, strong, and going to live
with the Beast, Bella learns the meaning of true love and is rewarded
with the prince of every girl's dreams.
Anima, the main character
in The Unseen Bridegroom, also finds the true meaning of love.
Although she breaks a promise made to her husband, she perseveres
through many tests and proves the love she has for him to her
mother-in-law. The name Anima is the Latin word that means "soul."
Snowwhite goes through many trials and
tribulations at the hand of her step-mother. However, she
survives in the end (with more than a little help from a jarring
carriage ride that dislodged the poisonous apple from her throat; much
different from the Disney version with the magical kiss from the
prince) and lives happily ever after with her prince.
I
found these stories by using the book European Folk
and Fairy Tales,
published in 1916, by Joseph Jacobs as a source. When I first
found the book, I loved the stories and all of the subtle differences
from the classic Disney versions.
I
have an affinity for fairytales where true
love prevails, and that is the case for all four of these
stories. However, if it weren't for the strength and resolve of
the female main characters, the tales would be vastly different.
What I love the most about the stories, though, is that the female
protagonists all have strong quality of character. They are
great, caring people, who do the right thing and treat people better
than they are treated. These stories need to be seen as more than
just a girl living happily ever after with the man of her dreams.
The resounding lesson that is taught by the female protagonists of
these fairytales is that good things come to those who are good and
kind themselves.
This is such a
great lesson for people young and old to
learn. In this storybook, I will focus on young girls being
taught this lesson through The New York Post's famous Page Six gossip
columns. Page
Six is one that is usually grabbed first, right along
with the sports section. It has a
devoted readership; none more so than young, teenage girls, idolizing
the
celebrities who grace the pages. Three
fairies that call New York City home have seen about enough of Paris,
Lindsay,
and Britney’s late-night, drunken antics splashed all over Page Six,
week after
week, setting a fine example for young girls everywhere.
The fairies decide to take matters into their
own hands, as they
simply alter the usual Page Six fare with modern, pop-culture versions
of The Cinder Maid, Beauty and the Beast, The Unseen Bridegroom, and
Snowwhite, setting far-better examples for young readers to follow.
