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Last year, I heard about the untold dark story of one of the fairy tales that became part of our childhood, Cinderella. Personally, this was my favorite fairy tale in my childhood. Little did I know that decades later, I will hear about a dark version of this fairy tale in my adulthood. I heard about this dark story four months ago and out of curiosity, I tried to absorb the story as much as I can. I was wondering if it's a fact or just a conspiracy.
THE FAIRY TALE WE KNOW
First, let's have a recap of the story we are familiar with before comparing it to the dark version. As we all know, Cinderella's mother died early so her father married again. Her father left for a business trip so she was left alone with her stepmother and her two stepsisters. They treated her like a maid and they let her do all the chores.
One day, the royal palace sent an invitation to all the women in the kingdom for the party that will be held, in the hope that the prince will be able to find someone he can marry. Cinderella wants to attend the party but her stepsisters ruined her outfit. They did not allow her to come. Cinderella was so sad and she cried. While she was crying, her fairy godmother appeared and she used her magic to help her go to the party. She turned pumpkins into a carriage, she turned Cinderella's friends into humans, and she gave her a gown and a pair of glass shoes that transformed her splendidly. She was told that everything is temporary and will be back to its original form so she has to go home before midnight.
At the party, her beauty stands out and it caught the prince's attention. They danced during the entire party. Midnight comes along and Cinderella ran as she rushed her way back home. The prince never had the chance to ask about her identity. He only had the glass shoes left by Cinderella when she ran. After the party, the duke was sent to search for the owner of the glass shoes. He went to houses and let each woman try the shoe. Cinderella's stepsisters tried it but it didn't fit. Cinderella had her turn and it fits her. They figured that she's the owner of the shoe. She was taken to the castle and the prince married her and so they lived happily ever after.
THE DISTURBING DARK VERSION
I heard a claim that Cinderella's dark story is the one made by the Grimm brothers during the 18th century. Here's the difference from the bedtime story we were told.
Cinderella's Family Background
Similarly, in this version, Cinderella's mother died too and her father re-married so she has a stepmother and stepsisters in this version. Another similarity is that her father went on a business trip and they treated Cinderella badly while he was away. He asked each of them what they want when he returns. The stepsisters asked for clothes and jewels. Cinderella only asked for the first twig that will fall on his head.
Cinderella plants the twig her father brought at the backyard where her mother is buried. Later on, it grew into a tree that serves as a shelter to birds. These birds became Cinderella's friends and they help her whenever she needs them.
Cinderella's Challenge
Another similarity in this version is the party held at the royal palace. The beautiful women were invited to attend so the prince can find someone he will marry. Her stepmother did everything so Cinderella can't attend the party. In this version, she brought a basin filled with lentils. She scattered those lentils in Cinderella's room. She made a condition that Cinderella can only go to the party if she can pick up everything in half an hour. She successfully did this with the help of the birds she's friends with. Her stepmother was surprised and she finds it impossible to accomplish in just half an hour. So she brought 2 basins of lentils this time and scattered them. She told Cinderella to pick up everything in 1 1/2 hours. Again, she successfully accomplished the task with the help of her friends. Still, her stepmother did not allow her to go.
Cinderella cried under the tree she planted. There's no fairy godmother in this version. This is another difference in this version. While crying, she recited a line:
"Little tree, little tree, shake over me so that silver and gold may come down and cover me."
Unexpectedly, the birds brought her a beautiful dress, jewels made of gold and silver, and instead of the glass shoes we know, they brought her a pair of golden shoes. No pumpkins turning into a carriage and her friends did not turn into humans in this version. She's so elegant and beautiful that no one would recognize her. Now she's ready to go to the party.
The Party at the Castle
We all know that the party lasted for a day. But in this version, it was held for three days. On the first day, everyone was stunned by Cinderella's beauty. It caught the prince's attention as well. He danced with her all night. At the end of the day, he offered assistance to ensure her safety as she goes home but she declined because she didn't want him to know her condition. She was able to run away and the prince lost track of her. On the second day, she attended the party and the same thing happened. On the third day, the prince set a sticky trap. This is how Cinderella left her shoe as she runs. The prince took the shoe.
For the Sake of Marrying the Prince
The prince searched the entire kingdom to find the owner of the golden shoe. He came to Cinderella's house but she's nowhere to be found and he met her stepmother and stepsister instead. He let the stepsisters try the shoe. This is where the dark side of the story happens.
The elder stepsister had her turn. The index finger of her toe is big and won't fit in the shoe. The stepmother brought her to the room and sliced off her index finger so the shoe will fit. The prince saw that the shoe fits so he took her with him. While they are on their way to the castle, the prince noticed a blood dripping from the shoe. He figured that her finger was cut. When they returned, the younger stepsister tried the shoe. It won't fit her because of her heels. She had her heel cut so the shoe will fit. The prince figured what happened while they're on their way to the castle so they returned. It's Cinderella's turn this time. The shoe fits her well so the prince took her to the castle to marry her.
The Bloody Happily Ever After
The stepsisters attended the wedding. But the birds who became Cinderella's friends are mad at them. They pecked their eyes out of anger, causing them to go blind for the rest of their lives. This is how the story ended. It's a bloody ending for the stepsisters while Cinderella had her happily ever after with the prince.
I was surprised to hear about this dark story. It's more of a tragedy than a magical fairy tale. I never imagined bloody and disturbing things happening in a popular fairy tale that once made our childhood memorable. I'm hoping it's just an urban legend or a conspiracy. Are you, by any chance, familiar with this dark story? Which one do you prefer? Tell me your thoughts about it. I still prefer the story we know and tell the generation of children today. A feel good genre gives more justice to a fairy tale.