I'm honestly surprised that so little people don't pick up on how she has a parallel to her dog Bruno. Note how they both were original inhabitants of the house and are thrust in the lowest condition possible. Cinderella goes from a well loved heiress to a maid in her own house, Bruno went from the pampered pup to the skinny dog forced to sleep near the oven if he wants any warmth. They both dream about escaping (or in Bruno's case attacking) and as Cinderella says to her fellow victim when Bruno admits to catching Lucifer in his dream "If you want to stay in a warm bed, you need to get rid of those dreams" which shows an acute awareness that they have nowhere to go so they must work to make the best of it. Bruno protects the chickens and guards the house; Cinderella works as a servant. They both are good to their fellow disenfranchised (the mice) despite how everyone promotes killing them as pest. And in the end they both outwit their assailant: Bruno by chasing Lucifer so inevitably has to go out the window and Cinderella by carrying the other slipper out for the Duke in case it 'accidentally' broke.
At 7:52 - Cinderella didn't suddenly know who the Fairy Godmother was. When she magically appeared, Cinderella asked who she was. The answer was "Dear, I'm your fairy godmother." While fairies were a fantasy thing, godparents were particularly important. Especially in that time period. Mothers frequently died in child birth, and fathers were often killed in war. So... Someone had to be appointed to take care of raising the child as a good Christian, and whose job was it? Their god parents. (I'm not Christian - that's how it worked.) The idea that this godmother was a magical woman (at a time when overweight meant that the person was blessed with bounty and wealth and health) was bonus for our protagonist.
The amount of hate Cinderella gets really says more about us as a society than it does the movie and character. Traits like kindness, compassion, and optimism are undervalued, as is the idea of asking for help. Quite frankly, I think we could all stand to learn something from Cinderella.
I agree 100%! I have this theory (and I know that I'm not alone in thinking this) that modern society only values the strength of female characters if she responds in more stereotypically "masculine" ways. Things like violence, aggression, brutality, herculean strength, recklessness, stoicism, and etc. seem to be praised when they're on female characters. This is definitely a problem, in my opinion. I understand that a lot society's love for those characteristics comes from seeing women portrayed as all the opposites in the past...but completely flipping the script is not healthy either. By having done that, it now demonizes important and valuable traits that were seen as traditionally "feminine" (understanding, compassion, kindness, empathy, emotional intelligence, optimism, resilence, etc.) So, in essence, femininity itself gets the shaft (unless its sexualized...which can present some problems within itself, and is a whole different conversation lol). Anyway lol, I agree that Cinderella is a good rolemodel! Thank you for participating on this video. -JoJo
Absolutely! While physical strength is undeniably both important and useful, it's often forgotten how crucial emotional strength is. A strong warrior spirit can present in more ways than just brute strength. -JoJo
My problem with calling CInderella a "bad example" is that maybe she's not even meant to be one. Maybe she's just there to be an interesting character in a story. It's not as if characters have to be good to be good characters.
Cindrella is a good example because she is kind, good, loving compassionate hardworking and pursues her dreams and does stand up for herself when she can in a way that is peaceful oh and she remains hopeful
Tbh the reason that Cinderella got all of these thing is because she is innately a good person. She is nice to everyone without judgement. Despite she is abused horrifically and assaulted many times, she remains hopeful. Hence she receive the help of her mice friends, her fairy godmother and eventually gets the love of the prince. It shows little girls that even in the darkest times be good and kind, and good things with come to you. People criticise the fact that she fell in love with him so quickly, however it makes sense. The Prince is the only human being who treats her like a human, not something he can exploit for free labour like her stepmother and step sisters.
I never knew how strong Cinderella actually was, until I became an adult. I can finally see and appreciate her truly. She is an amazing role model, cause so many girls can actually relate to her.
There is also a bit at the movie that says that she was horribly abused in that house, and so we get a clearer perspective of how she may have been violently conditioned into not actively fighting back.
anyone who says "why dont you just leave" has never been in a abusive relationship, just leaving isnt that simple. Also isnt it like 18th century france where this takes place? I'm sorry where is a non-noble single woman gonna go?
I would also like to point out that in the dress scene, when Lady Tremaine was stalking towards Cinderella you could literally feel the other shoe about to drop. You see Cinderella's lips part, her eyes widen in terror, and her body physically lean back. If you look at Tremaine's face you can see this isn't the first time they have gotten physical. She looks upon the damage with a wicked smile, very pleased, and called them off when she felt Cinderella had "learned her place" once again. It's body language that you have to look for. I would highly recommend watching the movie and watching the facial expressions and really understand the TIME PERIOD she was born in. It was the 1800's and women weren't given jobs back then. I mean unless you wanted to be a maid, seamstress, or work in a brothel. It's very rare you could get a job as a woman as women were considered homesteaders and baby makers. Trophies to hang off your arm. This is another factor into the reason she couldn't leave. She had no money, no contacts on the outside, and they had to travel to that castle by carriage. Whenever we looked outside we saw they lived in the countryside. So there were no neighbors to hear her cries or stop any of the cruelty. We also need to acknowledge she never physically asked for help until the scene with the key and Lucifer. She is being helped by people of their own volition. She was far too busy to do anything for her dress but the mice stepped up because they loved her. The Godmother is a manifestation of Cinderella's will because she said, "If you had given up hope completely I wouldn't be here." I really love you spoke out about this. It's honestly so rewarding to see someone speaking on her behalf. She gets so much unnecessary hatred. Speaking as a victim of abuse? This story hit home for me. The victim shaming I have faced is exactly like hers. It's harder to fight when you have been raised in abuse and think it's normal.
Thank you so much for watching! As soon as you mentioned some of the iconic body language moments in the film, they immediately replayed in my mind! I've seen Cinderella sooo many times...perhaps too many lol. The last time I watched it certainly wont be the last time I watch it, haha. I see that you totally understand Cinderella's predicament and how she couldn't just leave her situation. She has spent most of her life depending on Tremaine for her basic needs, while also being subjected to abusive behavior. She was groomed to be a servant in her own home. Its unrealistic to expect someone with all of that trauma to just snap out of it and leave. Abuse was her norm, and she learned to cope with it since childhood. Even IF she 'wised up', she would have nowhere to go and no one to reach out to for help (as you've stated). A lot of people overlook all of these factors and just jump on the hate bandwagon. Also, yes, she never did ask for help until she enlisted Bruno's help. You're right. One thing I don't like is how society perceives asking for help as a weakness or a sign of incompetence. That's just simply not true. We only make it harder for one another when we support this idea of having to struggle all on our own and keep quiet about it. It's such a toxic mentality, in my opinion. Her friends helped her out of love, and if anything, that's a more beneficial lesson than letting others struggle for the sake of saving their ego. Lastly, I appreciate your kind words. I'm sorry to hear that you've had that kind of upbringing. I am so glad that you feel that I did the topic justice. I love Cinderella, and I wanted to help balance out the negativity towards her while having a little fun too! To do this, it required the discussion of her trauma and environment. I started the "Princess Pathologies" series to help shed light on the older princesses and help humanize them, rather than demonize them, as many people like to do in more recent times. Cinderella was the perfect starting point. - JoJo
The dress ripping scene horrified me as a kid and I could never figure out WHY. As an adult I know why: it looks like a rape scene. It has the same energy and terror as sexual violation. Disney knew EXACTLY what they were doing back then.
@@IceQueen975 That scene is definitely shocking. Admittedly, I've always found myself intrigued by it...not because she was being violated, but because of how intense Disney was with that scene. The intensifying colors of the background as the scene played out, Cinderella's facial expressions as it happened, and how their mother just sat there and let it happen. I thought it was a very bold move on the animator's part. Bold...yet safe ENOUGH for children to see. I do believe that Disney put things in their films that pushed boundaries.
@@WondrousJoJo EXACTLY! Asking for help from others isn't a bad thing. Learning to ask for help can help victims of abuse to get an outside perspective. To get away from negative or toxic influences. To this day, because of the abuse I was brought up in, I am STILL discovering new normals and the way I put myself down. Therapy has helped a lot. People who don't know what it means to go through this will always undermine the struggles. That's a very common victim shaming tactic I have face where people go, "How did you not realize 'xyz'?" Or, "Why didn't you just tell someone?" Because it was NORMAL for me. It was ingrained into me just like breathing is ingrained into yours. It was THAT normal. It's why I can relate to Cinderella so hard. People gloss over the time period, women's rights, and just how secluded she was. But even if she did have neighbors they wouldn't do anything. Because back then women were property and commonly backhanded by others. You could even see it in old media where it was common to slap women for being "hysterical" or for simply making a mistake. So people really need to think before they say and type things about Cinderella. She wasn't weak. I always looked at it like she was saying, "I am kind DESPITE you." That is super powerful.
Something that someone wrote in the recent past that really hit home for me about Cinderella was how a big reason she stays is the love she has for her animal friends. They're basically family to her and she's probably hesitant to leave because she thinks 'Who'll care for them?' and also probably doesn't want everybody separated from each other. Her stepfamily aren't reliable in terms of caring for them so when the prince comes along it's ideal because not only is he wealthy, he genuinely loves her and wants to do what makes her happy. They're all welcome at the palace once she and the prince are married :) This revelation nearly made me cry and I feel so bad there's been times I judged her because she's not as 'obviously strong' as some of the other princesses like Merida or Mulan. She's also actually quite assertive if you watch the movie, she just does it in a classy, subtle and smart way because that's her personality, plus she's trying to survive, I think. She kind of needs her stepmother to an extent and also wants to try and honor her dad's memory as best she can. He chose Lady Tremaine and Cinderella wants to make her comfortable and hope for family connection, even if she's aware of how her stepfamily can be. It takes enormous courage to be that nice and patient in the face of adversity and in unhealthy circumstances, you definately need help like you say. She's also a lady of a different time and realistically, most wouldn't have fought in a physical manner but rather found other ways to fight back and survive, again like how you've pointed out :) Thank you for ur video :)
That is so beautiful! I never thought about that! Cinderella is so strong and so caring. It irritates me so much how people disregard all of her both subtle and overt strengths just because she doesn't respond or behave in a more "masculine" way. While she may not be Mulan, she's still a protector in her own right. While she may not be Jasmine, she still speaks her mind. While she isn't Merida, she's still very brave. I don't want people to be unable to recognize different forms of strength, bravery, and courage. I feel like that is where we are as a society, and it scares me. You're most welcome for the video! Thanks for joining the discussion. :) -JoJo
Cinderella is one of the strongest disney princesses. Not only did she lose both parents at a young age, she was straddled with a horrifying living situation, imprisoned in her OWN family house by a woman who married her father, bullied every day non stop, subject to emotional, psychological and physical abuse (watch how Cinderella recoils when her stepmother becomes angry) and made to work until she couldn't have any energy to fight back.). Still, after all that, she remained kind, hopeful and faced each new day with pride. How many people would be broken by the same situation and not be able to be more than a shell of themselves? Not only that, as soon as Cinderella was given a chance to leave, she took it immediately, acting upon it without hesitation. How many people who after years of abuse and loss would be able to do such? Many would just recoil in their cocoon, give in to their fate. Also, people forget, Cinderella is a young girl living in different times.... Even if she left the house, what would she do? A young girl with no family, money or possessions... In those times she would either starve or be subject to harsh work (not much different from what she was already doing) or be arrested into unwanted work (like prostitution). It was not like she had many choices ... During those times, most women's opportunity of a better life was through marriage, that's why her stepmother was so obsessed with finding good husbands for her own two daughters. So Cinderella basically had no options... She did her best within what she had be given (plus what you said about growing up in an abusive household and grief and how that models one's psyche).
Lady Tremaine didn't just realise Cinderella was an "eligible maiden". No. She realised Cinderella was the girl at the ball. She realised why the girl at the ball seemed "familiar". Because she did recognise her at the ball, and tried to get closer to her to see for sure. If she had had the moment like in the original fairytale where she shared fruit with her stepfamily, Lady Tremaine would have known who she was. If Cinderella had carried on as normal and hadn't hummed a song she should not know, I don't think Cinderella would have been locked in her room. She would have been kept very busy instead. Lady Tremaine turned Cinderella's happiness against her. Lady Tremaine is just like the other villainess who shares her voice, Maleficent. She is a deep, complex, evil villain. She always knows what is going on and is the smartest character in the movie. Cinderella is a victim of abuse. While not my favourite movie, she is my favourite princess. She's strong, confident, optimistic, kind, bold, and polite. I do want to contest the idea she is not the type to be physical. She was fully ready to beat Lucifer with a broom until the page interrupted. "Lucifer! You mean old thing! I'm just going to have to teach you a lesson!" she says as she grabs the broom and chases after Lucifer. It's why she's holding it when she takes the letter lmao. She DOES stand up for herself when it's safe for her to do so (against Lucifer and at the end of the movie). I find it genuinely saddening her prince is the only one without any kind of name. Snow White has Florian, Aurora has Philip. Cinderella has... Prince Charming. She also gets shafted in the merch with yellow hair, blue eyes, and a blue dress when originally she has strawberry blonde hair, teal eyes, and a silver dress.
Hi, Ellie! Yeah, Lady Tremaine is awful...cunning too, but just plain awful and wicked. And yet, somehow, I appreciate her villainy at the same time. To my understanding, I think she gave Cinderella the famous glare (the part of the movie where Cinderella is daydreaming and humming) because she realized that Cinderella was a threat to her selfish priorities of her stepdaughters. The thought of Cinderella even having a CHANCE at happiness was a huge no-no to her. Not only that, if Cinderella were to be discovered, Tremaine knows that there is a chance that Cinderella could cut her and her daughters off and leave behind the misery of that chateau (which I believe Cinderella would never do because she's too kindhearted to leave "family" to suffer...even if they are her abusers. But hey, in the mind of wrongdoers, they always fear the worst case scenario because they know they've done evil, and ultimately fear retribution). From what I recall, I think the moment where Tremaine knew for sure that Cinderella was that girl from the ball who mesmerized the prince was the moment when Cinderella revealed that she had the other slipper (and Tremaine's mouth was so far agape lol). To your point about Cinderella only being physical when it's safe, yes, I agree. I actually do wish she got her hands (or broom in this case, haha) to make contact with Lucifer. I agree that Lucifer would be a safer time to retaliate because Lucifer doesn't ultimately control her livelihood like Tremaine (and her daughters, by extension). After all, she wouldn't dare bite the hand that feeds her. As far as the prince goes...yeah, him not having a name is disappointing. If they can go back and give Florian his name, and even go back and officially name Belle's prince....then there's no reason why Charming couldn't get an official name as well. And lastly, I AGREE! I am not a fan of Cinderella's rebranding over the decades, either. I personally love her original design and color palette, and that is why I picked it for the thumbnail. That is also why I made a reference to her dress color in one of the skits. Hey, I had to express my grievances somehow, right? Haha. I love Cinderella as a character, and to this day she's still inspiring to me. The movie itself is charming, but not my favorite Disney princess film. Cinderella is my 2nd favorite princess. She's the whole reason I started this series. Take care! -JoJo
Tremaine may be very smart but it is also her downfall. She underestimated Cinderella who had the other slipper but also for having the guts to come down.
@@WondrousJoJo I think her shock was less "oh SHE'S the girl" and more shock tha Cinderella had the other slipper, meaning Cinderella won in the end, she outwitted Lady Tremaine. I think her breaking the shoe is proof she knew the slipper belonged to Cinderella. There was a high chance it wouldn't fit her, as it had fit no other maiden at that point. The duke had looked all night, and like you said, they live far outside the kingdom. So it's likely they were some of the last ones to be able to try it on. While that certainly narrowed it down to less people, it also would mean the girl was perhaps not even from the kingdom. I mean, if she didn't know, that dark glare while Cinderella is humming a song played at the ball wouldn't like... make any sense? I mean she demanded her daughters be quiet just so she could hear and they deliberately darkened the area round her. Plus they had her say "Yes, there is something familiar about her". I think if she only thought "wait Cinderella is still an eligible maid" then we wouldn't've gotten such a hefty focus on her realizing it. Everything else about that was really subtle. From being aware Cinderella could attend- "Yes, so it does... Well, I see no reason why you can't go... if you get all your work done." to destroying the dress- "After all, we did make a bargain. Didn't we, Cinderella? And I never go back on my word... These beads, they give it just the right touch, don't you think so, Drizella?" But when she's trying to dismiss Cinderella, there's panic in her voice- "Yes, just an imaginative child". Every other point in the movie she's cool as a cucumber as she dismisses Cinderella. That last one is also the only time she agrees with her daughters, not the other way around, as she's responding to Anastasia saying "It's ONLY Cinderella". I think she had to know. S'only way her actions made sense. I think they included Cinderella humming and dancing for that reason. That all said I love seeing videos talking about how wonderful Cinderella is. Drastically misunderstood character by most. Thank you
Also to blame Cinderella for not physically fighting back is buying into toxic masculinity and misogyny. Praising another woman by tearing down or insulting another woman is also an example of mistreating women. Being able to ask for help and support is a skill that is hard to learn and escaping abusive situations takes a network of friends and family to rely upon.
Hi! Yes, having variety doesn't take anything away from the value of the older options. We can have chocolate, mint, and strawberry ice creams...but that doesn't make vanilla any less enjoyable or valuable. I see Cinderella as the vanilla ice cream in this analogy. Yes, there are other princesses (flavors) to enjoy, but Cinderella still stands strong on her own for what she brings to the table. I also agree that physically fighting doesn't make a character more superior than a character that uses other means to come through tough times. And yes, though I do encourage people to escape from abusive situations asap, it's definitely far easier said than done. It takes a reliable support system to get out, and Cinderella just didn't have it. Thank you for your subscription! -JoJo
@@IceQueen975 I only said toxic masculinity because people usually praise newer character who showcase more traditionally masculine attributes like physical strength or combat by tearing down those who show more traditionally feminine attributes like dreamers or kindness. Buying into a more masculine dominated viewpoint.
And you know what, that toxic mindset to just leave your abusers and fight them is exactly why the abused are scared to ask for help. There’s a difference between saying “I’m too weak to handle this” and saying “you know what? I’m not doing so well”. There’s no shame in needing help, it’s only human. Saying to just punch your way out or just leave is like telling someone with anxiety to just calm down or someone with depression to just cheer up. Cinderella isn’t weak for not getting out of her situation alone. She stays strong until she gets rescued. And news flash, not everybody can escape their situations. If she tried, she’d be on the streets and her situation could’ve been worse especially in that time period. There’s literally nothing she could do accept stay strong, be positive, and remain kind which ended up saving her in the end. I mean, she didn’t even know she was dancing with the prince and fell in love with him, and I think her not knowing who the prince was is what made him fall for her. Everybody wants to see the prince and marry the prince but what about the man? Cinderella fell for the man, not the title.
I wish the old Disney princesses were treated better, Cinderella acts realistically as a girl imprisoned and treated like a slave her whole life by her evil stepfamily
I wish they were treated better as well! I can be fair and admit that the older princesses may have been lacking a bit in the motivation department. Yes, Cinderella believed in her dreams....but....what were her actual dreams, if you think about it? We could ASSUME she was dreaming about a happier life, free from abuse---but she never specifically stated that. Thankfully, her desire to go to the ball and have a good time, along with her finally fighting for her freedom near the end of the movie, saved her from being entirely one-dimensional. I agree with you, she behaved very realistically. She feared her stepmother/abuser, yet she learned to cope with that life and make the most of what she did have.
Thanks for the insightful review! It's becoming a big issue in our society that women feel like they need to essentially become men in order to be strong. It takes a lot of self-discipline, patience, and goodness to be kind to people who mistreat you. The fact that Cinderella faithfully took care of her step-family even when they were horrible to her just emphasizes her strength. (Not to mention the enormous physical strength that she must have to do so many household chores by herself!) Despite what modern media would have us believe, assertiveness, aggression, and ego are not virtues. I wish more girls would take Cinderella's example.
Thank you! I’ve been hating how people have been putting Cinderella down. Another Disney princess that people seem to miss understand is Ariel. They say that she gave up her legs for a man, but she was already in love with the surface and Eric was just the straw that broke the camels back. It didn’t help her father DESTROYED her collection that she worked so hard on, leaving her vulnerable for Ursula to take advantage of.
You're most welcome! I don't appreciate how popular it is to hate on Cinderella either. I wanted to defend her while also having fun with the concept! As for Ariel...I have so much to say on her! But instead of making a super long response, I will eventually do a Princess Pathology video for her as well. I already bought some props for the video, but I still have to write the script. Hope to see you there! -JoJo
Cinderella spoke to the women of the era.They had just experienced war time and knew how hard it can be to just keep going, and to believe for a better tomorrow. People critisizing this are just entitled, never been in such a situation.
Wow, I think that's a great point, and I don't think I considered that! Of course I knew she came from a different decade, but I didn't think to ever connect her spirit and struggles to what women were experiencing at that time! Thank you so much for contributing to the conversation! -JoJo
I never understood the hate Cinderella even though she was never my favorite Disney princess. I consider her one of the strongest for still retaining kindness after all she been through.
You know: Cinderella could have conjured the fairy godmother herself, when she hit her lowest point she tapped into her greatest power, like any hero does at their lowest moment, it’s just that this was to satisfy her greatest wish which in the moment was just to go to the ball. To have magical night where she could feel beautiful, and go to an other worldly location, and dance the night away. I dunno if I can explain the slippers, maybe that was just how strong she was able to make the godmother. Maybe the slippers were just supposed to be something nice for her to keep so that she could look back and remember that night.
I actually love your interpretation of Cinderella tapping into her greatest power when her back is against the wall! Cinderella's manifestation of her inner power is shown in a way that is very creative and unlike the typical moments we see in cinema, which is like some power upgrade or new hidden/latent physical ability. Cinderella doesn't use physical prowess to overcome. Cinderella uses more spiritual means. Thank you for pointing that out! I love it! 😊 -JoJo
@@WondrousJoJoYeah, I dunno if you’ve seen Avatar: Legend of Korra, but there is a great line spoken by the character Avatar Aang to Korra “When we hit our lowest point, we are open the greatest change” and I think that philosophy definitely applied here.
I love this! The skits of "Cinderella" calling out the rest of us for hating on her story with your more serious and thoughtful analysis following them was just golden. I really like you structured this video essay, and I can't wait to see what you do for the other princesses. I really respect what you are doing here - giving these so-called "problematic" princesses the respect and spotlight that they deserve. I will definitely be keeping a look out for more of the Princess Pathologies series, and I wish you all the luck on production. :)
Wow! Thank you so, so much! It's comments like these that can really make a difference in a creator's life! Although it's not a perfect production, I worked so hard on it because I loved the concept and I believed in my own ideas. I was touched when I read your comment, and I can tell that you genuinely appreciate my efforts. So, thank you!!! For the record, there will ABSOLUTELY be more Princess Pathologies coming! I know Cinderella has been out for a little over a year now, but that's because I was super busy at the time. Now, I can dust off my other scripts and get to writing and creating again! I am aiming to get the next one out by late November at the latest. I have another video that I am currently working on that is about a Studio Ghibli film that I am hoping to have out by Halloween at the latest. Once I publish that video, it'll be back to the Princess Pathologies series! UA-cam, just yesterday, gave me the ability to create posts on my channel! I will start using that feature to keep everyone abreast on what my next/future projects will be! So stay tuned! 💜
Ah, I've only just seen this video and I loved it. Growing up, Disney Princess movies were some of the few pieces of media that were even interested in telling stories about women at all, and it's kinda frustrating to just see these kinds of lazy criticisms being bandied about. The argument that she should have just left is frankly cruel. Cinderella's not real and she's got no feelings to hurt, but the kids who drew strength from her story are, and the reality is that often people in abusive situations can't just leave. Whether it's psychological entrapment, or financial, or they're, y'know, a child watching a Disney Princess movie and they get a bit of comfort from seeing a story about not letting cruelty make you cruel; not every person is a kickboxing champion who can casually punch through all of their problems and then backflip over an explosion out of it and that's okay! I was so glad to find this, thanks for sharing
Thank you!! It genuinely warms me that you loved the video. Hopefully my future installments are just as enjoyable. Absolutely! It is NOT simple to just leave an abusive relationship, especially if it's a parent. I couldn't agree more that people overlook the people/kids who have had the same experiences as her or are able to relate or resonate with her strength. It's almost like people just see the newer princesses and internalize that newer means better. I'm happy to see people here commenting their appreciation for Cinderella, as well as more traditional 'princess-y' values. Thanks again. I'm happy I shared my video. :) -JoJo
I can answer the whole "why midnight thing". For the French version of Cinderella - it was written for the court of Louis XIV. So that's why we have glass (not outdated fur), a pumpkin coach (Cinderellas before and after walked to the event), and a magical human character unlike previousw who had animals help her out. Anyway at the time of King Louis XIV the partly wouldn't start until 8-9pm and would last until 3 in the moring. So that meant Cinderella came "late" to the ball and then left "early".
Yeah... you're probably right. Yikes. 😬 I actually remember being a kid, and stuff like that kind of still had a blind-eye turned to it, even back then. I'm glad times have changed.
At 15:27 - Also... She lived in Medieval Europe, in a manor, far from the rest of the kingdom. Where is it supposed that she would have gone, and how was she supposed to have gotten there?
Cinderella is one of my favorite Disney princesses and society's treatment of her is horrifying. I think she had one of the few good live-action remakes, partially because it stayed true to her character. It's a shame Snow White is going the "warrior princess" route with her remake.
Cinderella is one of my top favorites as well! I'm so tired of the disrespect she has gotten throughout the years...especially that Cheetah Girls song (but I wont lie...that song is still bop and I am guilty for enjoying it to this day LOL). I've actually never seen the live-action remake of Cinderella. A part of me is kind of concerned that it may be disappointing and absolutely pale in comparison to the animated one...kind of like how I was mildly disappointed with Beauty & the Beast. As for Snow White...yikes. I didn't know that was the route they were going with her. It's disappointing how more "feminine" female role models can't stay that way without being seen as problematic, yet being perceived as more "masculine" is highly praised and no one sees any harm in it. -JoJo
@@WondrousJoJo I think it's a combination of people misunderstanding abusive relationships and the belief that gentle, feminine characters like her are old-fashioned; the active, tough girls are a bit more in fashion. That said, the live-action remake is one of Disney's best; while it removes the music sadly, it also keeps the focus on Cinderella as well as fleshing out the prince. Along with this, Cinderella still remains a very gentle person without feeling heavily modernized. I think Disney remakes can work if it helps to flesh out characters/story or work on cultural representation, most of which is with their more classical films. Mulan really dissappointed me, and I hope Hercules is better.
Also what I hate is that people think the live action remake Cinderella is more independent and stronger but in the live action version when she gets locked in her room she does NOTHING but sings it’s the mice’s that open the window so the Duke and knights can hear her. When she could of open the window but NO SHE GAVE UP IN THE END! Where in the animated one Cinderella is BANNING ON THE DOOR YELLING AND IS Desperately trying to get out and tells the birds to get Bruno to help the mice! She is trying everything to get out of there! Yet people say the live action is stronger when she did NOTHING to get out of the room?! Yes the live action did the romantic thing right and gave the prince more character but that’s about it. The animated Cinderella will forever be my favorite version especially the third movie a twist in time.
@@WondrousJoJo thank you and as I said before the live action does have some good qualities like the prince we see more of him. And it’s a beautiful movie the costumes are great. But like always they change some stuff that takes away the whole point of some things in the original for example in the original she loses her father when she was a child but in the live action she loses his when she is much older which makes her stand up to her step family a lot more than in the original. Where she lost him younger which makes her step family treatment all that she knows. Also what I noticed about the live action remakes a lot of the have narrators like maleficent and beauty and the beast but the narration in those two films are fine because it’s only during the beginning and the end of the movie but in the Cinderella one the narration is every 5 minutes telling us Cinderella is upset or tells she about to meet the prince! Like show don’t tell us what’s about to happen!
My personal favorite of live action adaptations for Cinderella is Ever After since it promotes the values of kindness, wit and loyalty much more organically than the mantra Disney's remake has to say out loud. The starting point of changing her fortune comes from how when she receives money, rather than run away Cinderella chooses to save one of her father's old servants who is about to be shipped off to America to pay part of the debts her stepfamily has accumulated. She dresses up as a noble woman (another thing I like about this adaptation is how it realistically has her not seeing herself as high class due to the years of being treated as a servant) and it is here that she first truly casts an impression on the prince. Later when the Roma steal her and the Prince's things (and have the Prince in a precarious situation) they admire how the lady cleverly rises to the task when told she can take back anything she can carry by simply putting the Prince on her back and starting to walk away with him. When she's locked up it is the servant whom she saved that works together with her lifelong friend to rescue her. Plus it portrays a more nuanced evil stepmother as we see even with her daughters she has her eldest as the golden child and the youngest whom she thinks is less attractive/has less potential as expendable to the point she even asks if she'll be sleeping in the fireplace with Cinderella. The ill treatment of them both creates a trauma bond which ensures they both help each other in the end.
@@alondraperez-ramirez8363 YES I love that one to even tho I have only watched only a few times but I remember it really well just goes to show how well it is.(I want to rewatch it😅)
At 8:21 - "You waited way too long." I hear you. But work with me. Cinderella, no matter how abused she was, was self-reliant. She figured out how to balance THREE breakfast trays, THREE laundry baskets, and whatever else... Just to make her life easier with one trip per chore. While she dreamed about getting out of the abusive environment, she made it as good as she could for herself and her animal friends. Magic, or a miracle, was a last resort. Deus Ex Machina, if you will. She had nothing left. There were no resources for Cinderella to work with. When she was at her lowest, she experienced a miracle.
Cinderella is one of my favorite princesses, and I rewatch her movie every now and again to remind me that there is a lot more strength in kindness and patience than modern society gives her credit for. The way modern society looks down on her is a disservice to the lessons she teaches, and they just want to find a reason to call her a bad role-model when in reality she's one of the strongest.
Loved your video! I've been screaming for YEARS that the assumption that women need to have "traditionally masculine" traits in order to be seen as strong is just as sexist as shoe-horning women into a mother/wife role! This topic came up in discussion again after watching the Barbie movie, which is why I'm on my semi-regular hunt for more videos vindicating my fave silver-clad Disney princess! 🤍 (
Thank you so very much! I totally agree with you! I personally think that it's a form of misogyny to say that women are 'more progressive' or 'respectable' because they display more traditionally masculine behaviors. Like, what does that say about women who love living in traditional femininity and feminine energy? Are they not valid? Are they stone-aged? I have not seen the Barbie movie, and I'm not sure if I want to. I'll think about it. I was never into Barbie, but I will say that it was nice to see "Kens" in the trailers/promotional work, even though they were all kind of made into a joke "Oh, this is Ken...he's just a Ken. Oh, here's another Ken... he's just another Ken, too." The women got to have personalities, hobbies, and interests while the Kens were just...Ken. No distinguishing factors or traits other than maybe their race/ethnicity. I understand that was the joke because that's how the actual male doll was kinda seen in real life. But that still stood out to me. ANYWAY, haha, I appreciate Silver Cindy! And, I appreciate others who take the time or effort to acknowledge her traditional palate of strawberry blonde hair and a silver dress! 😊
People forget that Cinderella is a such a universal story, literally every culture around the globe has its own Cinderella, so it's a pretty narrow view for people to take offense to just Disney's version for not measuring up to recent standards aka what old white men think feminism is.
I think it's that way because Disney is so large and iconic, and they market like it's no ones business. But I do agree that there is more than one Cinderella, and Disney shouldn't be able to monopolize "Cinderella".
@@WondrousJoJo follow me on this, if Disney wants to diversify their films more than why not do a Cinderella story from another culture? It's universal and there is a plethora of under representated people it could be story for while still staying mostly in their comfort zone of fairytales.
I think that could be a great idea. As long as that culture's Cinderella story is vastly different from the 1950 movie, then I would be fine with that. And what I mean by different is no slipper, no ball, etc. I only say that because the moment those iconic symbols are shown, people are going to compare the 2 and make the woman of color a "secondary Cinderella" carbon copy movie. I don't want to see that happen.
Thank you!! I have been saying this for ever!! The old Disney Princess have amazing values and thought me so much especially kindness! Plus cindarella was a true victim of abuse and yet cindarella was so kind and hella strong! If you hate cindarella that’s on you and if you can’t read in between the lines that’s on you! Love your video! ❤❤❤
Alot of people who criticize Cinderella obviously never read the original version of the story, the one that Disney re told he based his Cinderella cartoon on the Cinderella story that the Grimm brothers wrote the only thing Disney changed was the length of the festival/ball HE Added the fairy godmother in place of the magic tree Cinderella had planted at her mother's grave which is actually how she originally got the dress and shoes to where when she went to the party despite having been denied to ability to go with her step family. And the last thing Disney changed was the ending when her step family got paid out for what they had done to Cinderella when Cinderella's bird friends pecked out their eyes blinding them for the rest of their lives
I appreciate your contribution to the discussion! I know Disney put in the cat/mouse shenanigans to appeal to the widest audience possible, but I wish it wasn't there and instead allowed that runtime to be used for character development like the Prince, Cinderella, or Lady Tremaine, or add some depth to the relationship between the Prince and Cinderella. Also, I agree about them losing their eyes in the end, haha. However, Tremaine and her daughters were never punished for lying to the Duke. Yes, Cinderella got her happy ending, but we (the audience) wanted Tremaine and her daughters to get their karma.
@WondrousJoJo though if you want to see the version where Cinderella's step sisters get their karma, as you said, watch into the woods. Disney did a version of that Broadway play, and it does show as the Grimm brothers wrote the Cinderella story . Including the birds pecking out the stepsisters' eyes.
Thank you, always for vids that speaks for classic Disney princess and in my humble opinion female characters like Cinderella who’s mentally strong are more realistic and needed than those who can hold a weapon, don’t get me wrong I love female characters who fight they are cool ! But regular characters like Cinderella, Snow White and others are more real because most women are just regular women ( though I love martial arts but couldn’t continue for some reason ) Today’s modern feminism ( sadly ) bash femininity, bash female characters who’s like Cinderella but only hypes those who can fight, the reason we I also think these characters are more important because so many go through family ab*use and need a character that can inspires them, not just ab*se victims but we need mentally strong characters to inspire everyone even men, maybe it’s little silly to say that as 26 years old women but characters like that can help me alot, makes me like my feminine side more as someone who’s shy about being mocked for hyper-feminine side as well.
You're most welcome! I put my heart into this series. I'm not sure which princess is next, but the series is far from over! I don't think age really matters at all in my personal opinion. We can find inspiration in adults, children, even non-humans. A cartoon is just a reflection of an artist's heart and soul. Just because it is in the form of a drawing, that doesn't make it any less relatable :) -JoJo
im like really late to this video but honestly haters are going to hate. Cinderella is the embodiment of powerful. how she maintained kindness even in such terrible living standards. I don't think people realise just how difficult that is to do. And for anyone calling her story pure luck- have you watched Cinderella III A Twist in Time- she literally has an entire song about the fact that their isn't a point of dreaming if you won't try to make your dreams come true showing you have to work towards what you want
Dont worry about that! Loving Cinderella is a 24/7 thing, so you can never be too late! 😁 I agree with you. She is so wonderful, and she doesn't deserve the level of hate she gets.
As a female janitor, who has always worked so hard to provide for my family, I wish I could emulate Cinderella’s ability to sing her way thru her job, just accepting things for the way they are, even if there’s pple who mock her and put her down. Just being happy to have life and what else she has in her life.
What hurts Cindy the most imo is the new, more modern princesses she’s compared to. For example, if you compare her to Tiana or Mulan, at face value, she is a less interesting character. However, within the first 2 minutes of the movie it’s revealed that she was abused and neglected. They actually say ABUSED. She had no other choice than to comply with their demands otherwise would they hit her? Starve her? We don’t know, but we know from scenes in the movie that they are not above 1. Not allowing her to leave the house at her free will 2. Destroying her clothes as she’s WEARING THEM. They literally ripped her dress apart off her body. And 3. They lock her in her room from the outside. Presumably overnight, if the ball is still going at midnight. It’s also important to mention, in the original the dress wasn’t her mothers. She was making it from scratch by herself. She actually got half way through with the dress before her stepmom caught wind of her plan and gave Cindy so many chores she wouldn’t be able to finish the dress. So THEN the mice and birds finish it. Because Cindy was literally too busy being abused to finish her dress lol. And then when it is finished, the godmother ONLY shows up to fix the dress, and rewards her with an upgrade for her kindness. SO. Cinderella had EVERY INTENT to make that dress on her own, and get to that ball on her own. She only gets help after her abusers have punished her. On top of that, Cinderella never asks for the help she receives. She is helped as a reward for her kindness, not bc she’s lazy. Anyways let me get off my soapbox.
Thanks for joining the discussion! I love Cinderella, and the hate she gets is so misguided and unwarranted. I'm not sure if people just don't think much into the reality of an abused person...or if they just ignored that part altogether. As I've mentioned in the video, Cinderella made realistic attempts to "fight back" against her abusers. I think people just wanted her to respond differently how THEY think she should respond. We're not all the same. While one person may hit/punch/scream and run away, another person may cower in fear and obey. It's really unfair to victim-blame on someone who has been exposed to mistreatment since she was a little kid. Even IF she was only abused as an adult, that still doesn't justify blaming her, especially when we take a moment to understand her circumstances and why just 'up and leaving' is extremely unrealistic. It's also unrealistic to expect her to physically fight 3 against 1. Like, come on.... -JoJo
Fairy Godmother is not a human, she is a fairy. An immortal magical creature for whom 19 years is just a moment. She set the time limit until midnight to give Cinderella a chance to change her life herself, and not do all the work for her.
First, even if Cinderella had wanted to leave, she couldn't because she had nowhere else to go before the ball. Also, some non-Disney adaptations of the fairy tale might have Cinderella living in the basement, so I wouldn't necessarily consider that quote to be in error, because perhaps they're not referring to this film. (It's worth noting that the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical adaptation, or at least the 1997 made for TV movie, also has Cinderella's stepmother locking her in another room during the fitting of the glass slipper, though this is by no means common to all of them).
Thank you so much! I agree that both Cinderella and her story are relatable. I don't concern myself with the "dated" aspects of the film. I love it for what it represents; the desire to be free, happy, and overcome obstacles with the support of the ones closest to you.
Disney's Cinderella reminds me of Jane Austen's Fanny Price from "Mansfield Park." I'm sure that the Brothers Grimm were at least one of the inspirations for Mansfield Park. Another contemporary of Jane Austen was Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre."
Yeah, it was 1600s France, Louis XIV, "I am the state.", an all-powerful Catholic Church throwing the death penalty around like confetti on New Year's Day in half of Europe, all that good stuff. The best a woman could hope for back then was a man who wasn't (too) abusive and controlling.
@@WondrousJoJo But, that's not to say I don't have gripes with the movie. Some of that time spent on the mice being cute could have been spent on Cinderella and the Prince, who didn't even have a name. I'm pretty sure that in the "original" fairytale, he was riding on his horse while Cinderella was working outside, and they had a conversation before the ball, where he asked her name, and she said, "Cinderella, my lord. Well, it's actually Ella, my Stepmother and Stepsisters call me Cinderella because I have to sleep in the fireplace." It's been a very long time since I've read a fairytale, though. I could be wrong, but I'm sure when I had the story read to me as a little kid, there was a scene like that. Screw it, I'll give the Prince a name... George.
Yes. For a period of time, Disney left the men unnamed in their movies. And now that I think about it, why don't people criticize that? We hear all the time how some of the female characters are criticized for lacking hobbies or personalities...and yet...Disney did the men even worse if you really think about it. In Snow White, we didn't know the Prince's name, personality, interests, or nothing. "Prince Charming" had no personality whatsoever and no development. Why don't people complain more about this? If anything, girls/women in Disney were given so much more care and attention. I will say that Prince Phillip was a bit better ....a BIT better. He at least had somewhat of a personality. It wasn't really until Aladdin where the "prince" was given a backstory, a distinct personality, character development, and clear motives. It was fantastic.
Fun Fact: Cinderella was such an icon that Walt's favorite clip in his company was Cinderella's transformation scene, likely because he felt he could relate a lot to Cinderella for having faith in your dreams. Cinderella can be a role model to more than just girls, and I think Walt demonstrated that.
AB-SO-LUTE-LY!! That was Walt's favorite piece of animation! It symbolizes a patient dreamer finally getting their chance. 💜 I love Cinderella so much! Her belief and faith in dreams are exactly why her song is the theme of my channel.
In a way, it was confirmed that Cinderella would die had she tried to go through her window as Lucifer fell from a high chateau window and likely died. Cindy would have splattered. Also, if she fought back against her stepfamily, she would have likely been sent away, treated even worse, or both. She even implied this when she warned Bruno about dreaming of hurting Lucifer.
Thank you! Patience has been a virtue. As for an update, I actually have been planning one for a long time lol. I was thinking a progression video for all the years people missed out on. Though I fell off with documenting the journey publicly, I never missed a beat with taking personal photos for my journey! I'm a goofy person, so I can even see myself providing commentary with each photo lol. Idk if you're a subscriber or not, but I WILL do a hair video for my long-time subscribers. I feel that is the least I can do for being MIA for so long.
😊 I know I'm a little late but I just wanted to point out I was one of those people that sort of blamed Cinderella😊 I'm so glad I watched this video because it changed my opinion...... I thought to myself if that house belonged to Cinderella's father shouldn't Cinderella be the rightful owner of that estate but she's been mistreated since a child.... and I can't believe the Cheetah Girls made that bash about Cinderella😂 she represents dreams and hopes😊
The amount of heat Cinderella gets it’s just so stupid. I mean she does her darndest to do stuff herself. It’s not her fault her step family keeps making her do other stuff that’s that’s what the fairy godmother is therefore that’s what her animal friends are therefore, she’s not making them do that stuff they want to do that stuff why because well the fairy godmothers the fairy god mother and her animal friends are repaying her they’re like hey girl you’re nice to us so we’re gonna be nice to you that’s all this is.
Exactly! As I've said before, her and her friends have a symbiotic kind of relationship. They reciprocate out of love and care for one another. It doesn't make you weak for having a reliable support system. Some people have such a toxic mindset when it comes to concepts of womens' independence and autonomy.
Lol. I don't think you should feel too bad about it. You learned and grew throughout the years. Plus, the way society shifts views and ideas constantly, especially amongst youth, I think it's expected that people will have 'rebellious' phases. Women/girls are free to express their femininity as they please. I believe that whether she is dainty/breezy, or a tough tomboy, (or even a 'Mulan' who can do both roles) she should be respected and not put down for not conforming to current societal ideals/ideals of that current time.
That would be... interesting. I imagine it would not be a Disney film. I envision a realistic revenge movie, lol. Definitely one for adults. They'd have to name the film something like "Cindy" to avoid super-obvious connections to the animated film so that kids and parents don't think it's a family-friendly remake. Hahaha
No worries! Thank you so much for watching. I'm happy that people are enjoying the video. Hopefully the next one in the series does just as well, if not better.
Cinderella is like Marilyn Monroe in a way, a troubled and abused past and married her way to freedom. Cinderella was an abused woman who simply desired happiness and freedom. If she retaliated against Lady Tremaine, she would be homeless.
Hello. If you are mostly talking about the skits, I can see where you may be coming from. During the production of next video in the Princess Pathologies series, I'm actually going to try omitting the music from the skits to see how that works. Also, I want you to keep in mind that this video is the first of its kind on my channel. I'm still a new content creator, and I'm trying out new things all the time. Sometimes I'm not going to get things right, and I am always open to constructive criticism. I'm working hard on the next installment to provide a more improved experience.
At least animated OG Cindy saved herself the end and that why she is my favorite disney princess.🤍🤍🤍🤍 But i didn't like the live action remakes because Ella was to passive and didn't saved herself the end.. sadly the live action make her the doormat.she was always accused of being.
I'm honestly surprised that so little people don't pick up on how she has a parallel to her dog Bruno. Note how they both were original inhabitants of the house and are thrust in the lowest condition possible. Cinderella goes from a well loved heiress to a maid in her own house, Bruno went from the pampered pup to the skinny dog forced to sleep near the oven if he wants any warmth. They both dream about escaping (or in Bruno's case attacking) and as Cinderella says to her fellow victim when Bruno admits to catching Lucifer in his dream "If you want to stay in a warm bed, you need to get rid of those dreams" which shows an acute awareness that they have nowhere to go so they must work to make the best of it. Bruno protects the chickens and guards the house; Cinderella works as a servant. They both are good to their fellow disenfranchised (the mice) despite how everyone promotes killing them as pest. And in the end they both outwit their assailant: Bruno by chasing Lucifer so inevitably has to go out the window and Cinderella by carrying the other slipper out for the Duke in case it 'accidentally' broke.
This is fantastic! All my years of Cinderella, I never really thought to compare her experience to Bruno's. They do have many similarities. Great job!
At 7:52 - Cinderella didn't suddenly know who the Fairy Godmother was. When she magically appeared, Cinderella asked who she was. The answer was "Dear, I'm your fairy godmother."
While fairies were a fantasy thing, godparents were particularly important. Especially in that time period. Mothers frequently died in child birth, and fathers were often killed in war. So... Someone had to be appointed to take care of raising the child as a good Christian, and whose job was it? Their god parents. (I'm not Christian - that's how it worked.)
The idea that this godmother was a magical woman (at a time when overweight meant that the person was blessed with bounty and wealth and health) was bonus for our protagonist.
The amount of hate Cinderella gets really says more about us as a society than it does the movie and character. Traits like kindness, compassion, and optimism are undervalued, as is the idea of asking for help. Quite frankly, I think we could all stand to learn something from Cinderella.
I agree 100%! I have this theory (and I know that I'm not alone in thinking this) that modern society only values the strength of female characters if she responds in more stereotypically "masculine" ways. Things like violence, aggression, brutality, herculean strength, recklessness, stoicism, and etc. seem to be praised when they're on female characters. This is definitely a problem, in my opinion. I understand that a lot society's love for those characteristics comes from seeing women portrayed as all the opposites in the past...but completely flipping the script is not healthy either. By having done that, it now demonizes important and valuable traits that were seen as traditionally "feminine" (understanding, compassion, kindness, empathy, emotional intelligence, optimism, resilence, etc.) So, in essence, femininity itself gets the shaft (unless its sexualized...which can present some problems within itself, and is a whole different conversation lol).
Anyway lol, I agree that Cinderella is a good rolemodel! Thank you for participating on this video.
-JoJo
That’s an excellent point! Thanks for your video, I look forward to seeing more in the future!
It's a terrible shame that society forgets that strength comes in many forms, not just physical. Cinderella had strength of CHARACTER
Absolutely! While physical strength is undeniably both important and useful, it's often forgotten how crucial emotional strength is. A strong warrior spirit can present in more ways than just brute strength.
-JoJo
My problem with calling CInderella a "bad example" is that maybe she's not even meant to be one. Maybe she's just there to be an interesting character in a story. It's not as if characters have to be good to be good characters.
That's a good point. And even if we were to make them all "examples," Cinderella would do a lot better than someone like Ariel IMO.
Cindrella is a good example because she is kind, good, loving compassionate hardworking and pursues her dreams and does stand up for herself when she can in a way that is peaceful oh and she remains hopeful
Exactly 👏
Tbh the reason that Cinderella got all of these thing is because she is innately a good person. She is nice to everyone without judgement. Despite she is abused horrifically and assaulted many times, she remains hopeful. Hence she receive the help of her mice friends, her fairy godmother and eventually gets the love of the prince. It shows little girls that even in the darkest times be good and kind, and good things with come to you. People criticise the fact that she fell in love with him so quickly, however it makes sense. The Prince is the only human being who treats her like a human, not something he can exploit for free labour like her stepmother and step sisters.
I never knew how strong Cinderella actually was, until I became an adult. I can finally see and appreciate her truly. She is an amazing role model, cause so many girls can actually relate to her.
I love this! 💜
There is also a bit at the movie that says that she was horribly abused in that house, and so we get a clearer perspective of how she may have been violently conditioned into not actively fighting back.
anyone who says "why dont you just leave" has never been in a abusive relationship, just leaving isnt that simple. Also isnt it like 18th century france where this takes place? I'm sorry where is a non-noble single woman gonna go?
Exactly!
I agree it's time that people stop blaming Cinderella😊 she was being mistreated😊 her story is very uplifting and inspiring
I would also like to point out that in the dress scene, when Lady Tremaine was stalking towards Cinderella you could literally feel the other shoe about to drop. You see Cinderella's lips part, her eyes widen in terror, and her body physically lean back.
If you look at Tremaine's face you can see this isn't the first time they have gotten physical. She looks upon the damage with a wicked smile, very pleased, and called them off when she felt Cinderella had "learned her place" once again.
It's body language that you have to look for. I would highly recommend watching the movie and watching the facial expressions and really understand the TIME PERIOD she was born in.
It was the 1800's and women weren't given jobs back then. I mean unless you wanted to be a maid, seamstress, or work in a brothel. It's very rare you could get a job as a woman as women were considered homesteaders and baby makers. Trophies to hang off your arm.
This is another factor into the reason she couldn't leave. She had no money, no contacts on the outside, and they had to travel to that castle by carriage. Whenever we looked outside we saw they lived in the countryside. So there were no neighbors to hear her cries or stop any of the cruelty.
We also need to acknowledge she never physically asked for help until the scene with the key and Lucifer. She is being helped by people of their own volition. She was far too busy to do anything for her dress but the mice stepped up because they loved her. The Godmother is a manifestation of Cinderella's will because she said, "If you had given up hope completely I wouldn't be here."
I really love you spoke out about this. It's honestly so rewarding to see someone speaking on her behalf. She gets so much unnecessary hatred. Speaking as a victim of abuse? This story hit home for me. The victim shaming I have faced is exactly like hers. It's harder to fight when you have been raised in abuse and think it's normal.
Thank you so much for watching!
As soon as you mentioned some of the iconic body language moments in the film, they immediately replayed in my mind! I've seen Cinderella sooo many times...perhaps too many lol. The last time I watched it certainly wont be the last time I watch it, haha.
I see that you totally understand Cinderella's predicament and how she couldn't just leave her situation. She has spent most of her life depending on Tremaine for her basic needs, while also being subjected to abusive behavior. She was groomed to be a servant in her own home. Its unrealistic to expect someone with all of that trauma to just snap out of it and leave. Abuse was her norm, and she learned to cope with it since childhood. Even IF she 'wised up', she would have nowhere to go and no one to reach out to for help (as you've stated). A lot of people overlook all of these factors and just jump on the hate bandwagon.
Also, yes, she never did ask for help until she enlisted Bruno's help. You're right. One thing I don't like is how society perceives asking for help as a weakness or a sign of incompetence. That's just simply not true. We only make it harder for one another when we support this idea of having to struggle all on our own and keep quiet about it. It's such a toxic mentality, in my opinion. Her friends helped her out of love, and if anything, that's a more beneficial lesson than letting others struggle for the sake of saving their ego.
Lastly, I appreciate your kind words. I'm sorry to hear that you've had that kind of upbringing. I am so glad that you feel that I did the topic justice. I love Cinderella, and I wanted to help balance out the negativity towards her while having a little fun too! To do this, it required the discussion of her trauma and environment. I started the "Princess Pathologies" series to help shed light on the older princesses and help humanize them, rather than demonize them, as many people like to do in more recent times. Cinderella was the perfect starting point.
- JoJo
The dress ripping scene horrified me as a kid and I could never figure out WHY. As an adult I know why: it looks like a rape scene. It has the same energy and terror as sexual violation. Disney knew EXACTLY what they were doing back then.
@@IceQueen975 That scene is definitely shocking. Admittedly, I've always found myself intrigued by it...not because she was being violated, but because of how intense Disney was with that scene. The intensifying colors of the background as the scene played out, Cinderella's facial expressions as it happened, and how their mother just sat there and let it happen. I thought it was a very bold move on the animator's part. Bold...yet safe ENOUGH for children to see. I do believe that Disney put things in their films that pushed boundaries.
@@WondrousJoJo EXACTLY! Asking for help from others isn't a bad thing. Learning to ask for help can help victims of abuse to get an outside perspective. To get away from negative or toxic influences.
To this day, because of the abuse I was brought up in, I am STILL discovering new normals and the way I put myself down. Therapy has helped a lot.
People who don't know what it means to go through this will always undermine the struggles. That's a very common victim shaming tactic I have face where people go, "How did you not realize 'xyz'?" Or, "Why didn't you just tell someone?"
Because it was NORMAL for me. It was ingrained into me just like breathing is ingrained into yours. It was THAT normal. It's why I can relate to Cinderella so hard.
People gloss over the time period, women's rights, and just how secluded she was. But even if she did have neighbors they wouldn't do anything. Because back then women were property and commonly backhanded by others. You could even see it in old media where it was common to slap women for being "hysterical" or for simply making a mistake.
So people really need to think before they say and type things about Cinderella. She wasn't weak.
I always looked at it like she was saying, "I am kind DESPITE you." That is super powerful.
@@IceQueen975 Wow - I never put that together, but you are 100% correct!
Something that someone wrote in the recent past that really hit home for me about Cinderella was how a big reason she stays is the love she has for her animal friends. They're basically family to her and she's probably hesitant to leave because she thinks 'Who'll care for them?' and also probably doesn't want everybody separated from each other. Her stepfamily aren't reliable in terms of caring for them so when the prince comes along it's ideal because not only is he wealthy, he genuinely loves her and wants to do what makes her happy. They're all welcome at the palace once she and the prince are married :) This revelation nearly made me cry and I feel so bad there's been times I judged her because she's not as 'obviously strong' as some of the other princesses like Merida or Mulan. She's also actually quite assertive if you watch the movie, she just does it in a classy, subtle and smart way because that's her personality, plus she's trying to survive, I think. She kind of needs her stepmother to an extent and also wants to try and honor her dad's memory as best she can. He chose Lady Tremaine and Cinderella wants to make her comfortable and hope for family connection, even if she's aware of how her stepfamily can be. It takes enormous courage to be that nice and patient in the face of adversity and in unhealthy circumstances, you definately need help like you say. She's also a lady of a different time and realistically, most wouldn't have fought in a physical manner but rather found other ways to fight back and survive, again like how you've pointed out :)
Thank you for ur video :)
That is so beautiful! I never thought about that! Cinderella is so strong and so caring. It irritates me so much how people disregard all of her both subtle and overt strengths just because she doesn't respond or behave in a more "masculine" way. While she may not be Mulan, she's still a protector in her own right. While she may not be Jasmine, she still speaks her mind. While she isn't Merida, she's still very brave. I don't want people to be unable to recognize different forms of strength, bravery, and courage. I feel like that is where we are as a society, and it scares me.
You're most welcome for the video! Thanks for joining the discussion. :)
-JoJo
Cinderella is one of the strongest disney princesses.
Not only did she lose both parents at a young age, she was straddled with a horrifying living situation, imprisoned in her OWN family house by a woman who married her father, bullied every day non stop, subject to emotional, psychological and physical abuse (watch how Cinderella recoils when her stepmother becomes angry) and made to work until she couldn't have any energy to fight back.).
Still, after all that, she remained kind, hopeful and faced each new day with pride. How many people would be broken by the same situation and not be able to be more than a shell of themselves?
Not only that, as soon as Cinderella was given a chance to leave, she took it immediately, acting upon it without hesitation. How many people who after years of abuse and loss would be able to do such? Many would just recoil in their cocoon, give in to their fate.
Also, people forget, Cinderella is a young girl living in different times.... Even if she left the house, what would she do? A young girl with no family, money or possessions... In those times she would either starve or be subject to harsh work (not much different from what she was already doing) or be arrested into unwanted work (like prostitution). It was not like she had many choices ... During those times, most women's opportunity of a better life was through marriage, that's why her stepmother was so obsessed with finding good husbands for her own two daughters. So Cinderella basically had no options... She did her best within what she had be given (plus what you said about growing up in an abusive household and grief and how that models one's psyche).
I love this!
Lady Tremaine didn't just realise Cinderella was an "eligible maiden". No. She realised Cinderella was the girl at the ball. She realised why the girl at the ball seemed "familiar". Because she did recognise her at the ball, and tried to get closer to her to see for sure. If she had had the moment like in the original fairytale where she shared fruit with her stepfamily, Lady Tremaine would have known who she was. If Cinderella had carried on as normal and hadn't hummed a song she should not know, I don't think Cinderella would have been locked in her room. She would have been kept very busy instead. Lady Tremaine turned Cinderella's happiness against her.
Lady Tremaine is just like the other villainess who shares her voice, Maleficent. She is a deep, complex, evil villain. She always knows what is going on and is the smartest character in the movie.
Cinderella is a victim of abuse. While not my favourite movie, she is my favourite princess. She's strong, confident, optimistic, kind, bold, and polite. I do want to contest the idea she is not the type to be physical. She was fully ready to beat Lucifer with a broom until the page interrupted. "Lucifer! You mean old thing! I'm just going to have to teach you a lesson!" she says as she grabs the broom and chases after Lucifer. It's why she's holding it when she takes the letter lmao. She DOES stand up for herself when it's safe for her to do so (against Lucifer and at the end of the movie).
I find it genuinely saddening her prince is the only one without any kind of name. Snow White has Florian, Aurora has Philip. Cinderella has... Prince Charming. She also gets shafted in the merch with yellow hair, blue eyes, and a blue dress when originally she has strawberry blonde hair, teal eyes, and a silver dress.
Hi, Ellie!
Yeah, Lady Tremaine is awful...cunning too, but just plain awful and wicked. And yet, somehow, I appreciate her villainy at the same time. To my understanding, I think she gave Cinderella the famous glare (the part of the movie where Cinderella is daydreaming and humming) because she realized that Cinderella was a threat to her selfish priorities of her stepdaughters. The thought of Cinderella even having a CHANCE at happiness was a huge no-no to her. Not only that, if Cinderella were to be discovered, Tremaine knows that there is a chance that Cinderella could cut her and her daughters off and leave behind the misery of that chateau (which I believe Cinderella would never do because she's too kindhearted to leave "family" to suffer...even if they are her abusers. But hey, in the mind of wrongdoers, they always fear the worst case scenario because they know they've done evil, and ultimately fear retribution).
From what I recall, I think the moment where Tremaine knew for sure that Cinderella was that girl from the ball who mesmerized the prince was the moment when Cinderella revealed that she had the other slipper (and Tremaine's mouth was so far agape lol).
To your point about Cinderella only being physical when it's safe, yes, I agree. I actually do wish she got her hands (or broom in this case, haha) to make contact with Lucifer. I agree that Lucifer would be a safer time to retaliate because Lucifer doesn't ultimately control her livelihood like Tremaine (and her daughters, by extension). After all, she wouldn't dare bite the hand that feeds her.
As far as the prince goes...yeah, him not having a name is disappointing. If they can go back and give Florian his name, and even go back and officially name Belle's prince....then there's no reason why Charming couldn't get an official name as well.
And lastly, I AGREE! I am not a fan of Cinderella's rebranding over the decades, either. I personally love her original design and color palette, and that is why I picked it for the thumbnail. That is also why I made a reference to her dress color in one of the skits. Hey, I had to express my grievances somehow, right? Haha. I love Cinderella as a character, and to this day she's still inspiring to me. The movie itself is charming, but not my favorite Disney princess film. Cinderella is my 2nd favorite princess. She's the whole reason I started this series. Take care!
-JoJo
Tremaine may be very smart but it is also her downfall. She underestimated Cinderella who had the other slipper but also for having the guts to come down.
@@WondrousJoJo I think her shock was less "oh SHE'S the girl" and more shock tha Cinderella had the other slipper, meaning Cinderella won in the end, she outwitted Lady Tremaine. I think her breaking the shoe is proof she knew the slipper belonged to Cinderella. There was a high chance it wouldn't fit her, as it had fit no other maiden at that point. The duke had looked all night, and like you said, they live far outside the kingdom. So it's likely they were some of the last ones to be able to try it on. While that certainly narrowed it down to less people, it also would mean the girl was perhaps not even from the kingdom.
I mean, if she didn't know, that dark glare while Cinderella is humming a song played at the ball wouldn't like... make any sense? I mean she demanded her daughters be quiet just so she could hear and they deliberately darkened the area round her. Plus they had her say "Yes, there is something familiar about her".
I think if she only thought "wait Cinderella is still an eligible maid" then we wouldn't've gotten such a hefty focus on her realizing it. Everything else about that was really subtle. From being aware Cinderella could attend- "Yes, so it does... Well, I see no reason why you can't go... if you get all your work done." to destroying the dress- "After all, we did make a bargain. Didn't we, Cinderella? And I never go back on my word... These beads, they give it just the right touch, don't you think so, Drizella?" But when she's trying to dismiss Cinderella, there's panic in her voice- "Yes, just an imaginative child". Every other point in the movie she's cool as a cucumber as she dismisses Cinderella.
That last one is also the only time she agrees with her daughters, not the other way around, as she's responding to Anastasia saying "It's ONLY Cinderella".
I think she had to know. S'only way her actions made sense. I think they included Cinderella humming and dancing for that reason.
That all said I love seeing videos talking about how wonderful Cinderella is. Drastically misunderstood character by most. Thank you
I think his name is Christopher in the stage musical, so I've been going with that in my head.
I heard somewhere he was called Henri for some French merch or something, so he kiiind of has a name, if you stretch.
Also to blame Cinderella for not physically fighting back is buying into toxic masculinity and misogyny. Praising another woman by tearing down or insulting another woman is also an example of mistreating women. Being able to ask for help and support is a skill that is hard to learn and escaping abusive situations takes a network of friends and family to rely upon.
Hi!
Yes, having variety doesn't take anything away from the value of the older options. We can have chocolate, mint, and strawberry ice creams...but that doesn't make vanilla any less enjoyable or valuable. I see Cinderella as the vanilla ice cream in this analogy. Yes, there are other princesses (flavors) to enjoy, but Cinderella still stands strong on her own for what she brings to the table. I also agree that physically fighting doesn't make a character more superior than a character that uses other means to come through tough times. And yes, though I do encourage people to escape from abusive situations asap, it's definitely far easier said than done. It takes a reliable support system to get out, and Cinderella just didn't have it.
Thank you for your subscription!
-JoJo
It's not "toxic masculinity" it's just plain old victim blaming and misandery.
@@IceQueen975 I only said toxic masculinity because people usually praise newer character who showcase more traditionally masculine attributes like physical strength or combat by tearing down those who show more traditionally feminine attributes like dreamers or kindness. Buying into a more masculine dominated viewpoint.
And you know what, that toxic mindset to just leave your abusers and fight them is exactly why the abused are scared to ask for help. There’s a difference between saying “I’m too weak to handle this” and saying “you know what? I’m not doing so well”. There’s no shame in needing help, it’s only human. Saying to just punch your way out or just leave is like telling someone with anxiety to just calm down or someone with depression to just cheer up. Cinderella isn’t weak for not getting out of her situation alone. She stays strong until she gets rescued. And news flash, not everybody can escape their situations. If she tried, she’d be on the streets and her situation could’ve been worse especially in that time period. There’s literally nothing she could do accept stay strong, be positive, and remain kind which ended up saving her in the end. I mean, she didn’t even know she was dancing with the prince and fell in love with him, and I think her not knowing who the prince was is what made him fall for her. Everybody wants to see the prince and marry the prince but what about the man? Cinderella fell for the man, not the title.
@ashebennett7726 Beautifully said! :)
I wish the old Disney princesses were treated better, Cinderella acts realistically as a girl imprisoned and treated like a slave her whole life by her evil stepfamily
I wish they were treated better as well! I can be fair and admit that the older princesses may have been lacking a bit in the motivation department. Yes, Cinderella believed in her dreams....but....what were her actual dreams, if you think about it? We could ASSUME she was dreaming about a happier life, free from abuse---but she never specifically stated that. Thankfully, her desire to go to the ball and have a good time, along with her finally fighting for her freedom near the end of the movie, saved her from being entirely one-dimensional.
I agree with you, she behaved very realistically. She feared her stepmother/abuser, yet she learned to cope with that life and make the most of what she did have.
Thanks for the insightful review! It's becoming a big issue in our society that women feel like they need to essentially become men in order to be strong. It takes a lot of self-discipline, patience, and goodness to be kind to people who mistreat you. The fact that Cinderella faithfully took care of her step-family even when they were horrible to her just emphasizes her strength. (Not to mention the enormous physical strength that she must have to do so many household chores by herself!) Despite what modern media would have us believe, assertiveness, aggression, and ego are not virtues. I wish more girls would take Cinderella's example.
Cinderella was not fragile She held on despite it all.
She sure did!
Thank you! I’ve been hating how people have been putting Cinderella down.
Another Disney princess that people seem to miss understand is Ariel. They say that she gave up her legs for a man, but she was already in love with the surface and Eric was just the straw that broke the camels back. It didn’t help her father DESTROYED her collection that she worked so hard on, leaving her vulnerable for Ursula to take advantage of.
You're most welcome! I don't appreciate how popular it is to hate on Cinderella either. I wanted to defend her while also having fun with the concept!
As for Ariel...I have so much to say on her! But instead of making a super long response, I will eventually do a Princess Pathology video for her as well. I already bought some props for the video, but I still have to write the script. Hope to see you there!
-JoJo
Cinderella spoke to the women of the era.They had just experienced war time and knew how hard it can be to just keep going, and to believe for a better tomorrow. People critisizing this are just entitled, never been in such a situation.
Wow, I think that's a great point, and I don't think I considered that! Of course I knew she came from a different decade, but I didn't think to ever connect her spirit and struggles to what women were experiencing at that time! Thank you so much for contributing to the conversation!
-JoJo
@@WondrousJoJo Same I liked that persons explanation too.
I love how you made all the Disney princesses sisters that’s super cute.
I never understood the hate Cinderella even though she was never my favorite Disney princess. I consider her one of the strongest for still retaining kindness after all she been through.
You know: Cinderella could have conjured the fairy godmother herself, when she hit her lowest point she tapped into her greatest power, like any hero does at their lowest moment, it’s just that this was to satisfy her greatest wish which in the moment was just to go to the ball. To have magical night where she could feel beautiful, and go to an other worldly location, and dance the night away. I dunno if I can explain the slippers, maybe that was just how strong she was able to make the godmother. Maybe the slippers were just supposed to be something nice for her to keep so that she could look back and remember that night.
I actually love your interpretation of Cinderella tapping into her greatest power when her back is against the wall! Cinderella's manifestation of her inner power is shown in a way that is very creative and unlike the typical moments we see in cinema, which is like some power upgrade or new hidden/latent physical ability. Cinderella doesn't use physical prowess to overcome. Cinderella uses more spiritual means.
Thank you for pointing that out! I love it! 😊
-JoJo
@@WondrousJoJoYeah, I dunno if you’ve seen Avatar: Legend of Korra, but there is a great line spoken by the character Avatar Aang to Korra “When we hit our lowest point, we are open the greatest change” and I think that philosophy definitely applied here.
oooh asking/accepting help...very hard for me...
definitely a lesson to learn
I love this! The skits of "Cinderella" calling out the rest of us for hating on her story with your more serious and thoughtful analysis following them was just golden. I really like you structured this video essay, and I can't wait to see what you do for the other princesses. I really respect what you are doing here - giving these so-called "problematic" princesses the respect and spotlight that they deserve.
I will definitely be keeping a look out for more of the Princess Pathologies series, and I wish you all the luck on production. :)
Wow! Thank you so, so much! It's comments like these that can really make a difference in a creator's life! Although it's not a perfect production, I worked so hard on it because I loved the concept and I believed in my own ideas. I was touched when I read your comment, and I can tell that you genuinely appreciate my efforts. So, thank you!!!
For the record, there will ABSOLUTELY be more Princess Pathologies coming! I know Cinderella has been out for a little over a year now, but that's because I was super busy at the time. Now, I can dust off my other scripts and get to writing and creating again! I am aiming to get the next one out by late November at the latest. I have another video that I am currently working on that is about a Studio Ghibli film that I am hoping to have out by Halloween at the latest. Once I publish that video, it'll be back to the Princess Pathologies series! UA-cam, just yesterday, gave me the ability to create posts on my channel! I will start using that feature to keep everyone abreast on what my next/future projects will be! So stay tuned! 💜
@@WondrousJoJo Awesome! Very much looking forward to it.
Everything Cinderella got she earned herself through her own kindness and good will.
Ah, I've only just seen this video and I loved it. Growing up, Disney Princess movies were some of the few pieces of media that were even interested in telling stories about women at all, and it's kinda frustrating to just see these kinds of lazy criticisms being bandied about. The argument that she should have just left is frankly cruel. Cinderella's not real and she's got no feelings to hurt, but the kids who drew strength from her story are, and the reality is that often people in abusive situations can't just leave. Whether it's psychological entrapment, or financial, or they're, y'know, a child watching a Disney Princess movie and they get a bit of comfort from seeing a story about not letting cruelty make you cruel; not every person is a kickboxing champion who can casually punch through all of their problems and then backflip over an explosion out of it and that's okay! I was so glad to find this, thanks for sharing
Thank you!! It genuinely warms me that you loved the video. Hopefully my future installments are just as enjoyable.
Absolutely! It is NOT simple to just leave an abusive relationship, especially if it's a parent. I couldn't agree more that people overlook the people/kids who have had the same experiences as her or are able to relate or resonate with her strength. It's almost like people just see the newer princesses and internalize that newer means better. I'm happy to see people here commenting their appreciation for Cinderella, as well as more traditional 'princess-y' values.
Thanks again. I'm happy I shared my video. :)
-JoJo
I can answer the whole "why midnight thing". For the French version of Cinderella - it was written for the court of Louis XIV. So that's why we have glass (not outdated fur), a pumpkin coach (Cinderellas before and after walked to the event), and a magical human character unlike previousw who had animals help her out. Anyway at the time of King Louis XIV the partly wouldn't start until 8-9pm and would last until 3 in the moring. So that meant Cinderella came "late" to the ball and then left "early".
I appreciate the insight! 😊
Don't forget that back in those days abuse at the time was swept under the rug as people believed it was none of there business.
Yeah... you're probably right. Yikes. 😬 I actually remember being a kid, and stuff like that kind of still had a blind-eye turned to it, even back then. I'm glad times have changed.
Cinderella just wanted to be happy and have out night out, meaning the haters argument do not support the narrative.
At 15:27 - Also... She lived in Medieval Europe, in a manor, far from the rest of the kingdom. Where is it supposed that she would have gone, and how was she supposed to have gotten there?
Cinderella is one of my favorite Disney princesses and society's treatment of her is horrifying. I think she had one of the few good live-action remakes, partially because it stayed true to her character. It's a shame Snow White is going the "warrior princess" route with her remake.
Cinderella is one of my top favorites as well! I'm so tired of the disrespect she has gotten throughout the years...especially that Cheetah Girls song (but I wont lie...that song is still bop and I am guilty for enjoying it to this day LOL). I've actually never seen the live-action remake of Cinderella. A part of me is kind of concerned that it may be disappointing and absolutely pale in comparison to the animated one...kind of like how I was mildly disappointed with Beauty & the Beast. As for Snow White...yikes. I didn't know that was the route they were going with her. It's disappointing how more "feminine" female role models can't stay that way without being seen as problematic, yet being perceived as more "masculine" is highly praised and no one sees any harm in it.
-JoJo
@@WondrousJoJo I think it's a combination of people misunderstanding abusive relationships and the belief that gentle, feminine characters like her are old-fashioned; the active, tough girls are a bit more in fashion.
That said, the live-action remake is one of Disney's best; while it removes the music sadly, it also keeps the focus on Cinderella as well as fleshing out the prince. Along with this, Cinderella still remains a very gentle person without feeling heavily modernized.
I think Disney remakes can work if it helps to flesh out characters/story or work on cultural representation, most of which is with their more classical films. Mulan really dissappointed me, and I hope Hercules is better.
Cinderella is an abuse victim who escapes. I’ve always loved her and her kindness in spite of it all.
Same here! 💜
Also what I hate is that people think the live action remake Cinderella is more independent and stronger but in the live action version when she gets locked in her room she does NOTHING but sings it’s the mice’s that open the window so the Duke and knights can hear her. When she could of open the window but NO SHE GAVE UP IN THE END! Where in the animated one Cinderella is BANNING ON THE DOOR YELLING AND IS Desperately trying to get out and tells the birds to get Bruno to help the mice! She is trying everything to get out of there! Yet people say the live action is stronger when she did NOTHING to get out of the room?! Yes the live action did the romantic thing right and gave the prince more character but that’s about it. The animated Cinderella will forever be my favorite version especially the third movie a twist in time.
I've never seen the live-action remake of Cinderella, but I believe you. Plus, a remake will never top the 1950 animated film 💜
@@WondrousJoJo thank you and as I said before the live action does have some good qualities like the prince we see more of him. And it’s a beautiful movie the costumes are great. But like always they change some stuff that takes away the whole point of some things in the original for example in the original she loses her father when she was a child but in the live action she loses his when she is much older which makes her stand up to her step family a lot more than in the original. Where she lost him younger which makes her step family treatment all that she knows. Also what I noticed about the live action remakes a lot of the have narrators like maleficent and beauty and the beast but the narration in those two films are fine because it’s only during the beginning and the end of the movie but in the Cinderella one the narration is every 5 minutes telling us Cinderella is upset or tells she about to meet the prince! Like show don’t tell us what’s about to happen!
My personal favorite of live action adaptations for Cinderella is Ever After since it promotes the values of kindness, wit and loyalty much more organically than the mantra Disney's remake has to say out loud. The starting point of changing her fortune comes from how when she receives money, rather than run away Cinderella chooses to save one of her father's old servants who is about to be shipped off to America to pay part of the debts her stepfamily has accumulated. She dresses up as a noble woman (another thing I like about this adaptation is how it realistically has her not seeing herself as high class due to the years of being treated as a servant) and it is here that she first truly casts an impression on the prince. Later when the Roma steal her and the Prince's things (and have the Prince in a precarious situation) they admire how the lady cleverly rises to the task when told she can take back anything she can carry by simply putting the Prince on her back and starting to walk away with him. When she's locked up it is the servant whom she saved that works together with her lifelong friend to rescue her. Plus it portrays a more nuanced evil stepmother as we see even with her daughters she has her eldest as the golden child and the youngest whom she thinks is less attractive/has less potential as expendable to the point she even asks if she'll be sleeping in the fireplace with Cinderella. The ill treatment of them both creates a trauma bond which ensures they both help each other in the end.
@@alondraperez-ramirez8363 YES I love that one to even tho I have only watched only a few times but I remember it really well just goes to show how well it is.(I want to rewatch it😅)
At 8:21 - "You waited way too long." I hear you. But work with me. Cinderella, no matter how abused she was, was self-reliant. She figured out how to balance THREE breakfast trays, THREE laundry baskets, and whatever else... Just to make her life easier with one trip per chore. While she dreamed about getting out of the abusive environment, she made it as good as she could for herself and her animal friends.
Magic, or a miracle, was a last resort. Deus Ex Machina, if you will. She had nothing left. There were no resources for Cinderella to work with. When she was at her lowest, she experienced a miracle.
Cinderella is one of my favorite princesses, and I rewatch her movie every now and again to remind me that there is a lot more strength in kindness and patience than modern society gives her credit for. The way modern society looks down on her is a disservice to the lessons she teaches, and they just want to find a reason to call her a bad role-model when in reality she's one of the strongest.
Loved your video! I've been screaming for YEARS that the assumption that women need to have "traditionally masculine" traits in order to be seen as strong is just as sexist as shoe-horning women into a mother/wife role! This topic came up in discussion again after watching the Barbie movie, which is why I'm on my semi-regular hunt for more videos vindicating my fave silver-clad Disney princess! 🤍
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Thank you so very much! I totally agree with you! I personally think that it's a form of misogyny to say that women are 'more progressive' or 'respectable' because they display more traditionally masculine behaviors. Like, what does that say about women who love living in traditional femininity and feminine energy? Are they not valid? Are they stone-aged?
I have not seen the Barbie movie, and I'm not sure if I want to. I'll think about it. I was never into Barbie, but I will say that it was nice to see "Kens" in the trailers/promotional work, even though they were all kind of made into a joke "Oh, this is Ken...he's just a Ken. Oh, here's another Ken... he's just another Ken, too." The women got to have personalities, hobbies, and interests while the Kens were just...Ken. No distinguishing factors or traits other than maybe their race/ethnicity. I understand that was the joke because that's how the actual male doll was kinda seen in real life. But that still stood out to me.
ANYWAY, haha, I appreciate Silver Cindy! And, I appreciate others who take the time or effort to acknowledge her traditional palate of strawberry blonde hair and a silver dress! 😊
People forget that Cinderella is a such a universal story, literally every culture around the globe has its own Cinderella, so it's a pretty narrow view for people to take offense to just Disney's version for not measuring up to recent standards aka what old white men think feminism is.
I think it's that way because Disney is so large and iconic, and they market like it's no ones business. But I do agree that there is more than one Cinderella, and Disney shouldn't be able to monopolize "Cinderella".
@@WondrousJoJo follow me on this, if Disney wants to diversify their films more than why not do a Cinderella story from another culture? It's universal and there is a plethora of under representated people it could be story for while still staying mostly in their comfort zone of fairytales.
I think that could be a great idea. As long as that culture's Cinderella story is vastly different from the 1950 movie, then I would be fine with that. And what I mean by different is no slipper, no ball, etc. I only say that because the moment those iconic symbols are shown, people are going to compare the 2 and make the woman of color a "secondary Cinderella" carbon copy movie. I don't want to see that happen.
Yes! We need to stop the victim blaming!
Absolutely! People need to stop demonizing traditional femininity as well.
"My dreams had nothing to do with [a man]. Where's my damn tea?" 😂😂
Thank you!! I have been saying this for ever!! The old Disney Princess have amazing values and thought me so much especially kindness!
Plus cindarella was a true victim of abuse and yet cindarella was so kind and hella strong! If you hate cindarella that’s on you and if you can’t read in between the lines that’s on you!
Love your video! ❤❤❤
I had such a sigh of relief that this wasn’t a video shitting on Cinderella.
I'd never! 😊
Alot of people who criticize Cinderella obviously never read the original version of the story, the one that Disney re told he based his Cinderella cartoon on the Cinderella story that the Grimm brothers wrote the only thing Disney changed was the length of the festival/ball HE Added the fairy godmother in place of the magic tree Cinderella had planted at her mother's grave which is actually how she originally got the dress and shoes to where when she went to the party despite having been denied to ability to go with her step family. And the last thing Disney changed was the ending when her step family got paid out for what they had done to Cinderella when Cinderella's bird friends pecked out their eyes blinding them for the rest of their lives
I believe Disney left that last detail out because it would have destroyed his G rating it would have made the cartoon pg of pg13
I appreciate your contribution to the discussion! I know Disney put in the cat/mouse shenanigans to appeal to the widest audience possible, but I wish it wasn't there and instead allowed that runtime to be used for character development like the Prince, Cinderella, or Lady Tremaine, or add some depth to the relationship between the Prince and Cinderella.
Also, I agree about them losing their eyes in the end, haha. However, Tremaine and her daughters were never punished for lying to the Duke. Yes, Cinderella got her happy ending, but we (the audience) wanted Tremaine and her daughters to get their karma.
@WondrousJoJo though if you want to see the version where Cinderella's step sisters get their karma, as you said, watch into the woods. Disney did a version of that Broadway play, and it does show as the Grimm brothers wrote the Cinderella story . Including the birds pecking out the stepsisters' eyes.
Thank you, always for vids that speaks for classic Disney princess and in my humble opinion female characters like Cinderella who’s mentally strong are more realistic and needed than those who can hold a weapon, don’t get me wrong I love female characters who fight they are cool ! But regular characters like Cinderella, Snow White and others are more real because most women are just regular women ( though I love martial arts but couldn’t continue for some reason )
Today’s modern feminism ( sadly ) bash femininity, bash female characters who’s like Cinderella but only hypes those who can fight, the reason we I also think these characters are more important because so many go through family ab*use and need a character that can inspires them, not just ab*se victims but we need mentally strong characters to inspire everyone even men, maybe it’s little silly to say that as 26 years old women but characters like that can help me alot, makes me like my feminine side more as someone who’s shy about being mocked for hyper-feminine side as well.
You're most welcome! I put my heart into this series. I'm not sure which princess is next, but the series is far from over!
I don't think age really matters at all in my personal opinion. We can find inspiration in adults, children, even non-humans. A cartoon is just a reflection of an artist's heart and soul. Just because it is in the form of a drawing, that doesn't make it any less relatable :)
-JoJo
@@WondrousJoJo Looking forward for more princess series of yours! Good luck 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
At 4:22 - "I mean, if you got the minions... I mean..." This line made me laugh out loud!
im like really late to this video but honestly haters are going to hate. Cinderella is the embodiment of powerful. how she maintained kindness even in such terrible living standards. I don't think people realise just how difficult that is to do. And for anyone calling her story pure luck- have you watched Cinderella III A Twist in Time- she literally has an entire song about the fact that their isn't a point of dreaming if you won't try to make your dreams come true showing you have to work towards what you want
Dont worry about that! Loving Cinderella is a 24/7 thing, so you can never be too late! 😁 I agree with you. She is so wonderful, and she doesn't deserve the level of hate she gets.
As a female janitor, who has always worked so hard to provide for my family, I wish I could emulate Cinderella’s ability to sing her way thru her job, just accepting things for the way they are, even if there’s pple who mock her and put her down. Just being happy to have life and what else she has in her life.
I would love to see your take on Snow White
I'm hard at work on it! 😁
What hurts Cindy the most imo is the new, more modern princesses she’s compared to. For example, if you compare her to Tiana or Mulan, at face value, she is a less interesting character. However, within the first 2 minutes of the movie it’s revealed that she was abused and neglected. They actually say ABUSED. She had no other choice than to comply with their demands otherwise would they hit her? Starve her? We don’t know, but we know from scenes in the movie that they are not above 1. Not allowing her to leave the house at her free will 2. Destroying her clothes as she’s WEARING THEM. They literally ripped her dress apart off her body. And 3. They lock her in her room from the outside. Presumably overnight, if the ball is still going at midnight.
It’s also important to mention, in the original the dress wasn’t her mothers. She was making it from scratch by herself. She actually got half way through with the dress before her stepmom caught wind of her plan and gave Cindy so many chores she wouldn’t be able to finish the dress. So THEN the mice and birds finish it. Because Cindy was literally too busy being abused to finish her dress lol.
And then when it is finished, the godmother ONLY shows up to fix the dress, and rewards her with an upgrade for her kindness.
SO. Cinderella had EVERY INTENT to make that dress on her own, and get to that ball on her own. She only gets help after her abusers have punished her. On top of that, Cinderella never asks for the help she receives. She is helped as a reward for her kindness, not bc she’s lazy.
Anyways let me get off my soapbox.
Thanks for joining the discussion!
I love Cinderella, and the hate she gets is so misguided and unwarranted. I'm not sure if people just don't think much into the reality of an abused person...or if they just ignored that part altogether. As I've mentioned in the video, Cinderella made realistic attempts to "fight back" against her abusers. I think people just wanted her to respond differently how THEY think she should respond. We're not all the same. While one person may hit/punch/scream and run away, another person may cower in fear and obey. It's really unfair to victim-blame on someone who has been exposed to mistreatment since she was a little kid. Even IF she was only abused as an adult, that still doesn't justify blaming her, especially when we take a moment to understand her circumstances and why just 'up and leaving' is extremely unrealistic. It's also unrealistic to expect her to physically fight 3 against 1. Like, come on....
-JoJo
I love this video so much! Such a thoughtful analysis!
Wow, thank you so much!! I put my heart into that project! 💜
Fairy Godmother is not a human, she is a fairy. An immortal magical creature for whom 19 years is just a moment.
She set the time limit until midnight to give Cinderella a chance to change her life herself, and not do all the work for her.
First, even if Cinderella had wanted to leave, she couldn't because she had nowhere else to go before the ball. Also, some non-Disney adaptations of the fairy tale might have Cinderella living in the basement, so I wouldn't necessarily consider that quote to be in error, because perhaps they're not referring to this film. (It's worth noting that the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical adaptation, or at least the 1997 made for TV movie, also has Cinderella's stepmother locking her in another room during the fitting of the glass slipper, though this is by no means common to all of them).
She was strong in the face of abuse. She's inspiring.
Good video essay. There's nothing wrong with Cinderella. The story endures because it resonates with audiences.
Thank you so much! I agree that both Cinderella and her story are relatable. I don't concern myself with the "dated" aspects of the film. I love it for what it represents; the desire to be free, happy, and overcome obstacles with the support of the ones closest to you.
Disney's Cinderella reminds me of Jane Austen's Fanny Price from "Mansfield Park." I'm sure that the Brothers Grimm were at least one of the inspirations for Mansfield Park. Another contemporary of Jane Austen was Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre."
Yeah, it was 1600s France, Louis XIV, "I am the state.", an all-powerful Catholic Church throwing the death penalty around like confetti on New Year's Day in half of Europe, all that good stuff. The best a woman could hope for back then was a man who wasn't (too) abusive and controlling.
Unfortunately, that is the truth. Cinderella's circumstances are so brushed off and ignored by many audience members.
@@WondrousJoJo But, that's not to say I don't have gripes with the movie. Some of that time spent on the mice being cute could have been spent on Cinderella and the Prince, who didn't even have a name. I'm pretty sure that in the "original" fairytale, he was riding on his horse while Cinderella was working outside, and they had a conversation before the ball, where he asked her name, and she said, "Cinderella, my lord. Well, it's actually Ella, my Stepmother and Stepsisters call me Cinderella because I have to sleep in the fireplace." It's been a very long time since I've read a fairytale, though. I could be wrong, but I'm sure when I had the story read to me as a little kid, there was a scene like that. Screw it, I'll give the Prince a name... George.
Yes. For a period of time, Disney left the men unnamed in their movies. And now that I think about it, why don't people criticize that? We hear all the time how some of the female characters are criticized for lacking hobbies or personalities...and yet...Disney did the men even worse if you really think about it. In Snow White, we didn't know the Prince's name, personality, interests, or nothing. "Prince Charming" had no personality whatsoever and no development. Why don't people complain more about this? If anything, girls/women in Disney were given so much more care and attention. I will say that Prince Phillip was a bit better ....a BIT better. He at least had somewhat of a personality. It wasn't really until Aladdin where the "prince" was given a backstory, a distinct personality, character development, and clear motives. It was fantastic.
@@WondrousJoJo I'll give the Snow White Prince a name too... Aloysius.
Classic case of even your best is never enough and for every step you go up the evil raises to match. Who wouldn’t cry?
Fun Fact: Cinderella was such an icon that Walt's favorite clip in his company was Cinderella's transformation scene, likely because he felt he could relate a lot to Cinderella for having faith in your dreams. Cinderella can be a role model to more than just girls, and I think Walt demonstrated that.
AB-SO-LUTE-LY!! That was Walt's favorite piece of animation! It symbolizes a patient dreamer finally getting their chance. 💜 I love Cinderella so much! Her belief and faith in dreams are exactly why her song is the theme of my channel.
I’m a little late but this needs to be said: fantastic video!
Well thank you so much! It's NEVER too late to compliment someone! :)
Thank you for making this. Ever so much. ❤
No problem!!! It was a labor of love! 💜
In a way, it was confirmed that Cinderella would die had she tried to go through her window as Lucifer fell from a high chateau window and likely died. Cindy would have splattered. Also, if she fought back against her stepfamily, she would have likely been sent away, treated even worse, or both. She even implied this when she warned Bruno about dreaming of hurting Lucifer.
I think you're right. Is Lucifer in the sequels? If he is, that defeats Disney showing his demise in the original film.
Your hair is so long now! I would like to see a brother lock update.
Thank you! Patience has been a virtue. As for an update, I actually have been planning one for a long time lol. I was thinking a progression video for all the years people missed out on. Though I fell off with documenting the journey publicly, I never missed a beat with taking personal photos for my journey! I'm a goofy person, so I can even see myself providing commentary with each photo lol. Idk if you're a subscriber or not, but I WILL do a hair video for my long-time subscribers. I feel that is the least I can do for being MIA for so long.
😊 I know I'm a little late but I just wanted to point out I was one of those people that sort of blamed Cinderella😊 I'm so glad I watched this video because it changed my opinion...... I thought to myself if that house belonged to Cinderella's father shouldn't Cinderella be the rightful owner of that estate but she's been mistreated since a child.... and I can't believe the Cheetah Girls made that bash about Cinderella😂 she represents dreams and hopes😊
The amount of heat Cinderella gets it’s just so stupid. I mean she does her darndest to do stuff herself. It’s not her fault her step family keeps making her do other stuff that’s that’s what the fairy godmother is therefore that’s what her animal friends are therefore, she’s not making them do that stuff they want to do that stuff why because well the fairy godmothers the fairy god mother and her animal friends are repaying her they’re like hey girl you’re nice to us so we’re gonna be nice to you that’s all this is.
Exactly! As I've said before, her and her friends have a symbiotic kind of relationship. They reciprocate out of love and care for one another. It doesn't make you weak for having a reliable support system. Some people have such a toxic mindset when it comes to concepts of womens' independence and autonomy.
@@WondrousJoJo exactly, and it doesn’t hurt that the mice have cute little voices.
I know I disrespected Cinderella in my not-like-other-girls phase. Thanks internal misogyny!
Lol. I don't think you should feel too bad about it. You learned and grew throughout the years. Plus, the way society shifts views and ideas constantly, especially amongst youth, I think it's expected that people will have 'rebellious' phases. Women/girls are free to express their femininity as they please. I believe that whether she is dainty/breezy, or a tough tomboy, (or even a 'Mulan' who can do both roles) she should be respected and not put down for not conforming to current societal ideals/ideals of that current time.
Really great video what would you say your first favourite Disney princess is?
Thank you so much!
That's a great question! My number 1 favorite has always been Belle. 💛🥀
omg your hair is soo cute like that! 😊
Thank you! 😊
I want a Cinderella movie that shows her having PTSD from all the abuse she endured all those years
That would be... interesting. I imagine it would not be a Disney film. I envision a realistic revenge movie, lol. Definitely one for adults. They'd have to name the film something like "Cindy" to avoid super-obvious connections to the animated film so that kids and parents don't think it's a family-friendly remake. Hahaha
Out of all the Disney villains, as a kid, I was the most terrified of Lady Tremaine.
She definitely commands respect and attention!
Cinderella is stronger than me truly i would thrown that step-family in prison if i was her
My apologies; hit the wrong button accidentally! Really enjoyed the video.
No worries! Thank you so much for watching. I'm happy that people are enjoying the video. Hopefully the next one in the series does just as well, if not better.
@@WondrousJoJo Looking forward to it!
Amazing video essay
I really appreciate that. :) It was my first video returning to UA-cam to rebrand my channel. It's a very important video to me. 😊
0:24 watched a few of your vids in a row...yeah I do wanna see more. Ok Subbed.
Haha, I love this! Thank you!
I love your channel😊!
Thank you so much! 💜
Loved your video ❤
Thank you!!!
Cinderella is like Marilyn Monroe in a way, a troubled and abused past and married her way to freedom. Cinderella was an abused woman who simply desired happiness and freedom. If she retaliated against Lady Tremaine, she would be homeless.
where would she even go, like
I think you are a good rule model for girls. A good rule model for old girls, too
Me? Or are you talking about Cinderella?
Strong, mind, not 100 per cent of the time....❤.
Anyone trying to write an essay
Not "trying to." I *did* write an essay. Have a great day. 😊
Did you hafto play music trough the haul thing! IT. WAS NEARLY. IMPOSSIBLE . TO. HEAR. ANYTHING!
Hello.
If you are mostly talking about the skits, I can see where you may be coming from. During the production of next video in the Princess Pathologies series, I'm actually going to try omitting the music from the skits to see how that works. Also, I want you to keep in mind that this video is the first of its kind on my channel. I'm still a new content creator, and I'm trying out new things all the time. Sometimes I'm not going to get things right, and I am always open to constructive criticism. I'm working hard on the next installment to provide a more improved experience.
@@WondrousJoJo Your NEW!? and this good allready?! Awesome
At least animated OG Cindy saved herself the end and that why she is my favorite disney princess.🤍🤍🤍🤍
But i didn't like the live action remakes because Ella was to passive and didn't saved herself the end.. sadly the live action make her the doormat.she was always accused of being.
Thanks for commenting. I love the flowers in your profile picture.