The Liminal Period in the Cinderella Fairy Tale
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literature
book review
published 23/04/2008
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level : General public
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In The Little Glass Slipper, Cinderella is undergoing what anthropologist Victor Turner, in his theory regarding rites de passage, would regard as a transitional period between being a girl under the protection of her mother and a woman under the protection of a husband. During this transitional, or liminal, state, Cinderella is prepared for her new role by a series of instructors so that she may become what her culture views as an ideal wife. She is first instructed by her stepfamily, which teaches her through forced labor and maltreatment to become the ideal passive, hard working, domestic housewife. Once this training is complete, Cinderellas Fairy Godmother further transforms Cinderella into the other womanly ideal, that of the pure, beautiful, desirable socialite.
Table of Contents
- Victor Turner states that rites de passage 'indicate and constitute transitions between states,?.
- Not only does Cinderella lose her status and name, but she also loses physical presence.
- As well as losing her name, place, and social status, Cinderella is forced to undertake domestic labor.
- After the stepsisters leave for the ball, Cinderella's Fairy Godmother enters to comfort the crying girl.
- The transmission of knowledge from instructor to initiand.
