Cinderella and The Rough Faced Girl
The two versions of Cinderella, “Cinderella” by Charles Perrault and “Oochigeaskw – The Rough Faced Girl “, the Native American version, although from completely different cultural backgrounds are very similar in their purpose. They tell the cynical and impatient folks that being good always pays off in the end.
In Perrault’s version, Cinderella was described as kind to animals, obedient, generous and thoughtful which are the characteristics of inner beauty. “He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper….” (Perrault, 591). Cinderella’s step sisters lacked inner beauty completely for they were described as “haughty” and “proud”.
In the Native American version, the Rough Faced Girl was also described as obedient, kind and modest which were the characteristics of inner beauty. The sisters were described to have lacked it.
Interestingly, although both these stories are from completely different cultures, both of them had the same criteria for inner beauty. Both these stories give an impression that the ones with inner beauty is taken advantage of by the others. This is definitely true in our society today as we see so many naïve people being taken for a ride by the apparently smart ones. The definition of inner beauty in today’s society has definitely changed and now, speaking out against injustice, giving one’s opinions, being worldly wise and street smart is looked upon as inner beauty.
In the story “Cinderella” by Perrault, Cinderella is said to have been very beautiful even outwardly but the rags that she wore masked it. When the fairy godmother changed Cinderella’s rags to beautiful clothes, her outward beauty was remarkably unmistakable. She suddenly changed from looking like a simpleton to a magically beautiful looking girl whom the Prince fell head over heels in love with and got all the women from “good families” envious. Perrault says that...