Cinderella Analysis Analysis Essay Example

people who make it known that they dislike her. Because of this home environment, it would be more appropriate to make a situational attribution about Cinderella's behavior (Myers, 2008). Taking Cinderella's situation into perspective, it is very probable that Cinderella's home life has a great impact on her behavior and why she appears so willing to do everything she is told. Since Cinderella has been living this lifestyle for some time, it is also possible that she is experiencing learned helplessness (Myers, 2008).

Cinderella has been forbidden from many activities for so long that she may no longer even attempt to escape her prison like home filled with housework. She accepts her role in the household and may assume that she has no other option. Luckily, for Cinderella, her fairy godmother shows up to show her that she can live a different life. The fairy godmother helps Cinderella prepare for a very important ball that she has not been allowed to go to. This is the same ball that Cinderella's step-sisters have been excitedly preparing for. This grand ball is where Cinderella has the opportunity to be a beautiful young lady instead of a house maid.

Because of this experience, Cinderella meets her Prince Charming and eventually goes on to live happily ever after. Cinderella and Prince Charming both exhibit what our society considers traditional male and female gender roles (Myers, 2008). Cinderella's chores are those that our society would consider female. Cinderella's time is spent sweeping, mopping, cooking, and taking care of her step-mother and step-sisters. These are all tasks that are characteristically female. The Fairy Godmother comes to Cinderella's aid and helps her get to

the ball.

To get Cinderella to the ball, the Fairy Godmother magically changes Cinderella's appearance by adjusting her hair, makeup, and apparel to look more feminine. Ultimately, Prince Charming rescues Cinderella and her new look from her dire home situation. Prince Charming acts in a traditional male role by saving Cinderella and protecting her from the cruelty she experienced at home, while Cinderella lives up to our society's expectations of a female. It is interesting that the Fairy Godmother had to change Cinderella's appearance in order for Prince Charming to notice her and be attracted to her.

Without the appropriate look, Cinderella was not worthy of Prince Charming's attention. The failure of Prince Charming to notice Cinderella prior to her makeover also has to do with his culture and social status (Myers. 2008). Prince Charming comes from a very successful, royal family, and his clothing and appearance reflect his social role. Cinderella's appearance showed that she was lower on the social hierarchy than Prince Charming. Appearance and clothing are easily recognizable indicators of social status. Prince Charming's higher social status may have prohibited him from socializing ith Cinderella prior to her makeover.

What was it that attracted Cinderella to Prince Charming, and vice versa? There are a variety of possibilities. One possible explanation could be the Reward Theory of Attraction (Myers, 2008). Prince Charming offered something to Cinderella. He offered her a new life away from her evil step-mother and step-sisters. That alone was reward enough for Cinderella to be attracted to Prince Charming. Prince Charming was one of the few people in Cinderella's life to show her kindness, which probably made her feel happy and, therefore, associate

positive feelings with Prince Charming.

Undoubtedly, Prince Charming saw a beautiful young lady in Cinderella. Hopefully the two had more that attracted them and were able to live up to the Disney expectation of living happily ever after. Cinderella is a cartoon fairy tale, but she is a complex one. She is more than a simple house maid. Cinderella is like most people. She has a diverse set of behaviors that help explain her true personality, and this behavior analysis shows that there is more to Cinderella than meets the eye.