The World's Oldest Fairytale? (Favorite Fairytales Part 1)

Fairytales have been in my life since before I can remember. My Dad and my brothers would read them to me out loud and I loved Disney princess movies. When I was little I loved them because of the romance, the pretty ladies, and the magic. Today, I can appreciated how important they are as a literary genre. Fairytales, like myths, are the basis of the literature and stories we have today; they reflect human nature and explain deep truths about our world. 

And so, I'll be doing some posts about my favorite fairytales. I'll be taking a deep dive into the history of these tales and various versions, as well as some amazing retellings that are worth the read/watch. Starting with probably the most famous fairytale of all time: Cinderella.

The History

The oldest known version of Cinderella is thought to be from Ancient Greece. It is contributed to the Greek historian Strabo and is about Rhodopis, an Egyptian courtesan, whose sandal is stolen by an eagle while she is bathing. The eagle flings the sandal in the lap of Pharaoh who sends men far and wide to find its owner. Rhodopis becomes Pharaoh's wife. The version of Strabo's story which is most commonly known and mistakenly contributed to Strabo is actually by Mrs. Olive Beaupre Miller from Illinois who combined elements of Strabo and European versions of the tale, adding more depth and plot elements. Miller's version is less than 100 years old but is thought of as the Ancient Egyptian version of Cinderella: The Egyptian Cinderella Story Debunked. It might be more accurate to say that the oldest version is from China's Tang Dynasty and is called "Yeh-Shen". 

Cinderella made its way to Europe and appeared in 17th Century Italy as "The Cat Cinderella" by Giambattista Basile. Germany and France produced their own versions which are considered the most famous. The Brothers Grimm published Aschenputtel while Charles Perrault published Cendrillon. The majority of book and film adaptations you see today pull from Perrault's version. Almost every country and culture in the world has a version of Cinderella which contributes to the tale's rich history. 

The Plot

Perrault's Cinderella tells the tale of a young woman called Cinderella who has been forced into servitude by her stepmother and stepsisters. One day the stepmother and stepsisters are invited to a ball at the palace where the prince will choose a wife. Cinderella is sad to be left at home, but is visited by her fairy godmother who magically creates a coach, horses, footmen and a beautiful dress so that Cinderella can go to the ball. The fairy godmother also creates a pair of glass slippers and warns that the magic will fade at midnight. Cinderella goes to the ball and falls in love with the prince who is instantly smitten. The clock strikes midnight and Cinderella flees, but leaves behind one of her glass slippers. The prince searches the kingdom for the woman who will fit in the magical slipper, until he finally finds Cinderella and they live happily ever after. 

Why Do I Love It?

I think the main reason I love this fairytale so much is because there are so many different versions of it. I love to discover how various cultures have told the story and the changes it has undergone. I can't remember a time when I didn't know the story, and I can't get enough of it. I don't think there will come a day when I'll stop looking for new versions and adaptations. I've always found the story to be very romantic, even though the prince doesn't often get much character development, but that could just be because of all the different versions I've read and watched. Because unlike other fairytales on my favorites list, the adaptations and alternate versions improve upon the story. 

My Favorite Versions and Adaptations

Tattercoats and Catskin - These are both tales from England that have key changes which expand the central story and can be read as their own fairy tales. However, they have a lot of similarities to Perrault's tale. In Tattercoats the heroine is the granddaughter of a great lord who refuses to acknowledge her existence. She grows up neglected, her only friend a gooseherd who takes the place of the fairy godmother. Catskin also tells the story of a girl who is neglected by a great lord, this time her father. When she is forced to marry, she runs away and takes work as a servant. Both of these tales can be found on Project Gutenberg in the collection English Fairy Tales.

The Rough Faced Girl by Rafe Martin is a picture book that adapts a version from Algonquin folklore. While it is very different from European versions, it does have similar story elements. In this version all the young women of a village are tested to be the wife of the Invisible Being. Mesmerizing and haunting, this is one of the most unique versions.

Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci is a picture book that takes inspiration from a traditional Creole story. The pictures are beautiful and it tells the story from the perspective of the fairy godmother. 

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is a Newbery Honor winning children's book that includes many elements of Perrault's tale but adds new plot elements. Ella of Frell is cursed by the fairy Lucinda with the gift of obedience. 

Before Midnight by Cameron Dokey may be my favorite adaptation of Perrault. The relationship between the stepmother/stepsisters and Cinderella is much more nuanced and the writing is absolutely beautiful. Our heroine, Cendrillon, is abandoned by her father and raised along with a boy named Raoul who's true identity is a mystery. 

My Favorite Film Adaptations

Ever After (1998) - Set in the French Renaissance, the film presents the "true" version of Cinderella. The Brothers Grimm are told the story of a commoner Danielle de Barbarac who becomes a queen.

The Slipper and the Rose (1976) - A musical by the Sherman Brothers which was financed by the Sultan of Oman. It stays close to Perrault's version, but is an extended story with a lot of added plot points that go beyond the prince finding Cinderella. 

Cinderella (1914) - A silent film starring Mary Pickford that sticks very closely to the traditional tale, but also adds some surprising elements; mostly to do with fairies and witches. 

Cinderella (2015) - An adaptation of the famous Disney animated film from the 50s; there isn't much additional story added, but it's a beautiful film that is well worth a viewing.