Story and Myth of Cinderella

Story and Myth of Cinderella

How does the Japanese story reflect the tales found in other countries of the world?

The Japanese story of a boy Kuramochi Bon, who becomes his desired Cinderella by being transformed from within, which has a profound influence on his external appearance, reflects tales found in other countries of the world in the sense that firstly the boy has dreams and secondly, his dreams are related to beauty. The doctor's medicine that is given to the boy is like a magical potion for transformation. From this aspect also the story reflects other Cinderella stories around the world by the common magic element that brings about transformation in a very short time. The transformation is brought by a doctor in the Japanese story. In the Walt Disney Cinderella, it is brought by a fairy godmother. The existence of another elderly person to bring transformation is also similar. The theme of helplessness is there too. Cinderellas around the world are helpless (Friedman, 36). They wait for themselves to be rescued. The similarity also lies in the permanence of transformation. In the original Cinderella story, though the transformation that magic has brought, the change from rags to satins, is short-lived till midnight, but the resulting effect brings eternal happiness. The boy in the Japanese story also becomes happy eternally. The element of financial success is also common. The boy moves high in the hamburger shop hierarchy. The Walt Disney Cinderella after getting married becomes a princess. The Japanese boy and the Walt Disney Cinderella, both get their love (the Japanese boy begins to date a beautiful girl). Cinderella stories in other parts of the world, like United States, are “firmly linked to the prince” (Miller 5). It is to be noted that the partner is also ...