28 pages • 56 minutes read
Charles PerraultThe Little Glass Slipper
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1697A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Glass Slippers
The glass slipper is the most iconic symbol in the story. It represents fragility and the delicate, graceful nature of Cinderilla’s character and her circumstances while attending the ball under pretense. Cinderilla is described throughout the story as kind and demure. Her shoe can only be worn by someone who embodies delicacy, one who dances ever so lightly while never breaking the façade.
The slipper also serves as a symbol of transformation and the prospect of a better life. It perfectly fits Cinderilla, symbolizing her unique attributes and how she is destined to rise above her current circumstances. Without the slipper, “which the Prince took up most carefully” ( Paragraph 41), she would never have been identified as the princess who captivated everyone at the ball and married the prince, elevating her to noble status.
Fairy Godmother/Magic
The word “magic” is never mentioned in Perrault's version of Cinderilla, but it is implied. The “godmother only just touched her with her wand,” instantly transforming animals and objects (Paragraph 21). The fairy godmother and her magical enchantments represent hope and how a higher power can help one gain recognition or reward.
In an aristocratic or noble society, social mobility could not be achieved without patronage, prestige, or power granted by marriage. Perrault's salon audience included artists who required support from upper-class or titled patrons to perform or create. The fairy godmother represents such patronage to a ragged girl, helping her to rise above her station.
The fairy godmother's warning—that her magic will end at midnight—symbolizes the fleeting nature of time and the impermanence of social circumstances. It serves as a reminder that Cinderilla's enchanted experience at the ball is temporary and that she must return to her ordinary life.
The Ball
The royal ball symbolizes a world of glamour, social hierarchy, and opportunity. It represents Cinderilla's chance to escape her current circumstances and enter a world of possibility, for only at the ball is she seen as precious and unique— “[t]he King's son conducted her to the most honourable seat, and afterwards took her out to dance with him: she danced so very gracefully, that they all more and more admired her” (Paragraph 31). The ball also symbolizes the attendees’ desire for recognition and acceptance.
The ball scene highlights illusion and disguise. Cinderilla's transformed appearance, brought about by her attire and attendants, allows her to hide her true identity from those who mistreat her. This symbolizes the power of appearances and the ability to create a veneer that conceals one's true self. It emphasizes the contrast between Cinderilla's inner beauty and the superficiality of society.
The Gown(s)
The ball gowns symbolize beauty and elegance. Each gown described in the story is depicted as magnificent, adorned with precious materials such as gold, silver, and jewels. These symbols of luxury and refinement reflect Cinderilla's external transformation from a humble servant into a stunning princess-like figure. The gowns emphasize her newfound radiance and serve as a visual representation of her enhanced appearance and station.
The ball gowns are symbolic armor shielding Cinderilla from daily cruelty and mistreatment. When dressed in her exquisite gowns, Cinderilla gains confidence and stands out from the crowd, and she can hide her status as a servant from those who know her. The gowns provide her with a sense of protection and empower her to navigate the social expectations of the ball. She even tests her disguise by offering her stepsisters oranges gifted to her by the prince between dances (Paragraph 31). The gowns serve as a visual representation of her resilience and ability to rise above her circumstances.
The changing ball gowns reflect the fleeting nature of Cinderilla's transformation. In Perrault’s story, Cinderilla wears different gowns on each consecutive night of the royal ball. This illustrates the ephemeral nature of her enchanted state and highlights the temporary escape from her ordinary life. The gowns illustrate that her newfound beauty and status are transient, and underscore the impermanence of external appearances.
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