Editing Cinderella (section)

===''Cendrillon ou la petite pantoufle de verre'', by Perrault===
[[File:Jean-Antoine Laurent - Cinderella, a perfect match.jpg|thumb|''Cinderella: a perfect match'', an 1818 painting by {{ill|Jean-Antoine Laurent|fr}}]]
One of the most popular versions of Cinderella was written in French by [[Charles Perrault]] in 1697, under the name ''Cendrillon ou la petite pantoufle de verre''. The popularity of his tale was due to his additions to the story, including the pumpkin, the fairy-godmother and the introduction of "glass" slippers.<ref>A modern edition of the original French text by Perrault is found in Charles Perrault, ''Contes'', ed. Marc Soriano (Paris: Flammarion, 1989), pp. 274–79.</ref>

'''Plot:'''
A wealthy widower marries a proud and haughty woman as his second wife. She has two [[false hero|daughters]], who are equally vain and selfish. But the man also has a beautiful young daughter from his first wife, a girl of unparalleled kindness and sweet temper. The stepmother, jealous of the young girl because her good graces show up her own two daughters' faults, forces her into servitude, where the girl is made to work day and night doing menial chores. After her chores are done for the day, she curls up near the fireplace in an effort to stay warm. She often arises covered in ashes, giving rise to the mocking nickname "Cendrillon" (Cinderella) by her stepsisters. Cinderella bears the abuse patiently and does not tell her father, who would have scolded her.

One day, the prince invites all the people in the land to a [[ball (dance)|royal ball]]. The two [[Ugly sisters|stepsisters]] gleefully plan their wardrobes for the ball, and taunt Cinderella by telling her that maids are not invited to the ball.

As the two stepsisters and the stepmother depart to the ball, Cinderella cries in despair. Her [[fairy godmother]] magically appears and immediately begins to transform Cinderella from house servant to the young lady she was by birth, all in the effort to get Cinderella to the ball. She turns a pumpkin into a golden [[carriage]], [[Mouse|mice]] into horses, a rat into a [[coachman]], and lizards into [[footman|footmen]]. She then turns Cinderella's rags into a beautiful jeweled gown, complete with a delicate pair of glass slippers. The Fairy Godmother tells her to enjoy the ball, but warns her that she must return before midnight, when the [[magic (paranormal)|spells]] will be broken.

At the ball, the entire [[noble court|court]] is entranced by Cinderella, especially the Prince. At this first ball, Cinderella remembers to leave before midnight. Back home, Cinderella graciously thanks her Fairy Godmother. She then innocently greets the two stepsisters, who had not recognized her earlier, and talk of nothing but the beautiful girl at the ball.

Another ball is held the next evening, and Cinderella again attends with her Fairy Godmother's help. The prince has become even more infatuated with the mysterious woman at the ball, and Cinderella in turn becomes so enchanted by him she loses track of time and leaves only at the final stroke of midnight, losing one of her glass slippers on the steps of the palace in her haste. The Prince chases her, but outside the palace, the guards see only a simple country girl leave. The prince pockets the slipper and vows to find and marry the girl to whom it belongs. Meanwhile, Cinderella keeps the other slipper, which does not disappear when the spell is broken.

The prince's herald tries the slipper on all the women in the kingdom. When the herald arrives at Cinderella's home, the two stepsisters try in vain to win him over. Cinderella asks if she may try, but the two stepsisters taunt her. Naturally, the slipper fits perfectly, and Cinderella produces the other slipper for good measure. Cinderella's stepfamily pleads for forgiveness, and Cinderella agrees. Cinderella had hoped her step-family would love her always. Cinderella marries the prince and forgives her two stepsisters, then marrying them off to two wealthy noblemen of the court. They all lived happily ever after.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The annotated classic fairy tales|date=2002|publisher=Norton|editor=Tatar, Maria |isbn=0-393-05163-3 |location=New York|oclc=49894271}}</ref>

The first moral of the story is that beauty is a treasure, but graciousness is priceless. Without it, nothing is possible; with it, one can do anything.<ref name="pitt.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/perrault06.html |title=Perrault: Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper |publisher=Pitt.edu |date=8 October 2003 |access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref>

However, the second moral of the story mitigates the first one and reveals the criticism that Perrault is aiming at: That "without doubt it is a great advantage to have intelligence, courage, good breeding, and common sense. These, and similar talents come only from heaven, and it is good to have them. However, even these may fail to bring you success, without the blessing of a godfather or a godmother."<ref name="pitt.edu"/>

{{gallery
|mode=packed
|height=250
|File:Cindarella illustration by Charles Robinson 1900.jpg|[[Charles Robinson (illustrator)|Charles Robinson]] illustrated ''Cinderella in the kitchen'' (1900), from ''Tales of Passed Times'' with stories by Charles Perrault
|File:Cinderella - Project Gutenberg etext 19993.jpg|[[Oliver Herford]] illustrated ''Cinderella with the Fairy Godmother'', inspired by Perrault's version
|File:Cendrillon2.JPG|[[Gustave Doré]]'s illustration for ''Cendrillon'', 1867
|File:Gustave dore cendrillon4.JPG|The fitting with the prince onlooking, illustration in ''Les Contes de Perrault'' by Gustave Doré, 1862
}}