The Little Glass Slipper

The protagonist, Cinderilla, embodies purity, untouched by the wickedness and cruelty surrounding her. Perrault describes Cinderilla in contrast with the stepsisters to emphasize her lowly place within the household. She is forced to “[scour] the dishes, tables, &c, and [rub] Madam's chamber, and those of Misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry garret, upon a wretched straw-bed” (Paragraph 2). Despite the mistreatment she endures at the hands of her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderilla remains untainted by their malice. Her steadfast kindness, patience, and selflessness starkly contrast with the envy and malice of her adversaries, further emphasizing her role as the archetypal maiden.

Cinderilla's innocence and purity further exemplifies her adherence to societal norms and expected submissive nature. Perrault presents her as a dutiful daughter, fulfilling her domestic responsibilities without complaint, “[bearing] all patiently, and [daring] not [to] tell her father” (Paragraph 3). Her obedience and unwavering commitment to her family duties embody the maiden archetype, modest and self-sacrificing.

Cinderilla's virtue and beauty are celebrated throughout the story. Perrault exemplifies her appearance and “handsomeness.” Perrault directly characterizes her as “a hundred times handsomer than her sisters” (Paragraph 3). This is repeatedly conveyed by other characters, particularly in the ballroom scene when the King describes her as “so beautiful and lovely a creature” (Paragraph 30).