"So this is love, Mmmmmm
So this is love
So this is what makes life divine
I'm all aglow, Mmmmmm
And now I know
The key to all heaven is mine.""So This is Love" from Walt Disney's animated feature Cinderella (1950)
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Dearest Cinderella. Another classic fairytale, familiar for its Prince Charming and the glass slipper. Filled with magic, talking mice and happy little songs. Though Charming and Cinderella's relationship is a bit of an improvement from Snow's, we still shouldn't aim for yet another Cinderella story.
As "Cinderella" begins, we learn that she is currently "abused, humiliated, and finally forced to become a servant in her own house." Despite this, she's still high in spirits and hopeful, singing about dreams being "a wish your heart makes," with all her lovely birds and mice as her friends. She then continues to go about her everyday routine serving the wicked Tremaines.
It is from here that we get a glimpse into Charming's life. His father feels the need for the prince do get married A.S.A.P, for he is the King's only son. Then, the clever king decides a ball should coincidentally be held the night of the prince's return with all of the eligible maidens in the kingdom. Immediatly, they send out invitations. Lady Tremaine agrees that "if" Cinderella finishes her chores, she can attend. Good thing Cindy has such wonderful animal friends that fix-up her dress for her - to song, of course.
Cinderella rushes to the ball after the festivities have begun with her all the things provided by her fairy godmother. His Royal Highness sees her in a distance and immediatly knows she's to be his bride. So, they waltz - and from the ballroom, they dance till the garden and walk and dance about, singing that they've found love. They must have some chemistry, though, for we see two on-screen kisses before the clock strikes twelve.
After this, we all know what happens. She's off in a hurry, leaving only a single glass slipper behind - this turns into a test to see who the fair maiden actually was, by sending the Grand Duke to try it on every maiden in the kingdom, for His Royal Highness didn't even know who she was. Of course, it fits Cinderella's foot perfectly; and immediatly, they're married, and that's the end of that.
So, overall, Prince Charming and Cinderella's relationship is significantly less creepy than Snow White's. Still, they're relationship is just as rushed; the majority of the movie takes place over a matter of merely two days (for we're not quite sure when the wedding is, but my guess would be soon).
Now, in this series, I will always leave you with some food for thought. It's always bugged me how everyone refers to Cinderella as Cinderella. In the parks, in the sequels...in the original story, I believe she was called that because she was covered in cinders all the time. I once read a book that was a princess fairy tale with a twist, but with the main character, Ellis. It was a Cinderella story, so they called him Cinderellis. This can only lead me to believe that Cinderella's true name is Ella, thus when the prince calls her Cinderella, it makes it somewhat insulting.
