Did I Really Do It?!

Libur awal puasa yang kunanti-nanti telah tiba. However, it’s gonna come to an end. (T.T)
U know what I’ve been doing these days? Maen komp. Yupz, that’s it.
Sampe bingung mo beraksi gimana lagi sama komp tersayang. Jadi deh, aku buka2 old files. N guess what I’ve found!
Ini adalah tugas Bhs. Inggris pas kelas X dulu. Bu Guru nyuruh kita cari 1 fairytale trus kita komentarin. Nah, aku milih cerita Cinderella (Aschenputtel) dan komentarnya bisa kalian baca di bawah ini.
(I can hardly believe that I did it. I actually SUBMITTED IT!!!)


COMMENT FOR “CINDERELLA”



A. About the Story


This story is well-known. Since we were children, we've heard this fairytale for a thousand times. We are amazed by the life story of Cinderella’s. She became a member of royal-by-marriage community. And, somehow, we’re kind of hoping we’ll have such a good luck.

We have to admit that Prince Charming in Cinderella story wasn’t as dashing as other princes in other fairytales. He didn’t ride a white horse, and neither did he draw a sword nor wage war against a dragon. But, I don’t know why, we still adore this prince. At least, he saved Cinderella’s life from the evil stepsisters. We also appreciate his effort to find the girl.

If I may ask, isn’t it too rash to get married with a girl we only danced with for few hours? Especially, if we’re considered as a crown prince. Well, I think that's what most people like to hear : love at first sight.

Above all, it is a charming fairytale. It leaves a message for us that kindness will always win against the wickedness. We are expected to follow the example of Cinderella’s attitude. She’s pious, good-natured, obedient and patient. And look what she finally got! A happily-ever-after ending.

What else can I learn from Ms. Cindy? Here’s the list :
ü Be nice to animals. Maybe someday we will need their favors.
ü Train the doves you breed in order to be able to talk and to peck well.
ü She has inspired me to attend one of Buckingham royal ball by riding an extraordinary vehicle – such as a carriage of pumpkin or any other crops – in order to attract people’s attention. Who knows, a charming prince will ask me to dance with him. Then I’ll have a chance to be the next Lady Diana, of course with a different mate.
P.S. : Just ignore the last paragraph, please.


B. About the Author


This story was first written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, also known as Brothers Grimm. They are Germans. They had created many popular folktales and fairytales, such as Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and of course, Cinderella.

As told in wikipedia website, modern psychologist and cultural anthropologists theorize that Brothers Grimm’s stories are representations of emotional anger, fear of abandonment, and parental abuse. Actually, the tales that the Grimms had collected had not been considered as stories for children. For example, let's take a look at the ending of Aschenputtel. The evil stepsisters are punished for their deception by having their eyes pecked out by crows.

However, new versions of Cinderella are finally made for children. In this case, the stepsisters are forgiven. And there are some more changes, such as:
1. It mentions there is only one dance ball, not three balls as mentioned in Aschenputtel.
2. Cinderella gets the dress and shoes from her fairy godmother. They don’t come from a tree that grows over her mother’s grave.
3. The shoes are made of glass. In German version, they are gold.
4. Cinderella gets home by the midnight curfew. Grimm Brothers don’t mention this.
5. The stepsisters don’t cut their toe and heel. And there’s no magical dove who warns the prince. Cinderella arrives and proves her identity by fitting into the slippers (as in the Disney retelling, she has kept the other).
(can be found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella)
So, the story exists now predominantly as highly expurgated and saccharine versions intended for children.


C. Related to the Story


Cinderella story has inspired many people to make a creation based on it.
We have listened to many songs titled Cinderella, as sung by Britney Spears, Tata Young, and a band from Indonesia, Radja. They retold the story of Cinderella in their own version.

We've also watched Cinderella movies. Beside the cartoon versions, there are Cinderella movies played by people as well. Some movies keep the fairy godmother, but some don’t – usually the modern ones.

Let’s see a movie, "Ever After", starring Drew Barrymore. Ms. Barrymore was acting as Danielle de Barbarac in this movie. This movie claimed itself as the “real” story of Cinderella, a refreshing new take of classic fairy tale. The pattern and storyline are just the same as Cinderella, but more logical. There’s no fairy godmother or talking animals. In fact, there’s a scene in which Danielle was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. I have no idea whether the movie is based on true story or not.

Or let’s take a look at a modern Cinderella in the movie called "A Cinderella Story". Hillary Duff and Chad Michael Murray perform in this movie. They are being adored by teenagers all over the world in the present time. The movie is generally based on the classic Cinderella, but it suits the modern life. We can see it on the way they know each other via internet. And you know what? The “Cinderella” in this movie doesn’t leave her shoes, but her cellphone.

The story of Cinderella has been the basis of many other works: opera, ballet, pantomime, and musical comedy on television.
Specifically in Indonesia, there are some TV series – we call them “sinetron” – based on Cinderella story, such as "Cinderella Bukan Mimpi" and "Impian Cinderella".