A young girl, mistreated by her proud stepmother and stepsisters, endures a life of servitude. Known as Cinderella, she is forced to perform menial tasks while her sisters prepare for a royal ball. Despite her hardships, her fairy godmother appears, transforming a pumpkin into a coach and mice into horses, allowing Cinderella to attend the ball in splendid attire, complete with glass slippers. Captivating the prince, she dances gracefully, but must leave before midnight, losing one slipper in her haste. The prince, enchanted by her beauty, searches for the owner of the slipper, proclaiming he will marry whoever fits it. Cinderella's stepsisters fail to wear the slipper, but when Cinderella tries it on, it fits perfectly. Her fairy godmother reappears, enhancing her appearance, revealing her true beauty. The stepsisters, astonished, beg for forgiveness, which Cinderella graciously grants. Ultimately, she marries the prince, who recognizes her goodness and beauty. Cinderella, embodying kindness, invites her stepsisters to live in the palace and marries them to noble lords, demonstrating her compassion despite their previous mistreatment. The story concludes with themes of resilience, transformation, and the triumph of virtue over adversity.
By Charles Perrault · First published 1697 · Genre: Fairy Tales, Romance, Fantasy