The Subversion of Fairy Tale Tropes in Anne Sexton's 'Cinderella' classic fairies. Sexton, known for her style of confessional poetry, imbues the familiar story with a sense of irony and realism that challenges the tropes and moral simplicity of the original. In doing so, she questions the very foundations of fairy tales and the societal norms they perpetuate. This essay explores the themes of disillusionment, critique of the American dream, and subversion of traditional gender roles in Sexton's "Cinderella." Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayBody Paragraph 1: Disillusionment Sexton’s “Cinderella” begins with a series of vignettes that depict various “rags to riches” stories ”, preparing the ground for a critique of the idealized notion of success and happiness. These stories are loaded with irony, as Sexton juxtaposes the fantastical elements of the fairy tale with harsh realities. For example, Sexton writes: “You always read about it: / the plumber with the twelve children / who wins the Irish competition. / From toilets to riches. This opening serves to emphasize the absurdity of the Cinderella story by comparing it to improbable scenarios that, while technically possible, are highly improbable. In doing so, Sexton arouses a sense of disillusionment in the reader, questioning the authenticity and possibility of such fairy tale endings. story that promises success and happiness through hard work and virtue. Cinderella's transformation from abused stepdaughter to princess is traditionally seen as a reward for her kindness and patience. However, Sexton undermines this idea by emphasizing the arbitrariness of Cinderella's fortune. The deus ex machina of the Fairy Godmother, the magical transformation and the prince's obsessive search for the owner of the glass slipper underline the randomness of Cinderella's success. Sexton's portrayal suggests that success is not necessarily the result of merit but of chance, thus criticizing the meritocratic ideals often associated with the American dream. Body Paragraph 3: Subversion of Traditional Gender Roles Another important theme in Sexton’s “Cinderella” is the subversion of traditional gender. roles. In the original fairy tale, Cinderella is the embodiment of passive femininity, waiting to be rescued by a prince. Sexton, however, imbues his version with a sense of action and cynicism. The poem ends with a striking depiction of Cinderella and the prince living "happily ever after", but with an underlying sense of entrapment: "Cinderella and the prince / lived, they say, happily ever after, / as two dolls in a museum display case. ". This image of the couple as lifeless dolls locked in a glass case serves as a powerful metaphor for the restrictive nature of traditional gender roles and the superficiality of the fairy tale ending. In presenting this disturbing image, Sexton highlights the challenging the reader to reconsider the implications of these roles and the narratives that reinforce them. Conclusion Keep in mind: this is just a sample Get a custom article from our expert editors now. 'a classic fairy tale, rich with themes of disillusionment, a critique of the American dream and the subversion of traditional gender roles. Through his use of irony and realism, Sexton exposes the underlying absurdities and societal norms perpetuated by such.

Essay / The Subversion of Fairy Tale Tropes in Anne Sexton's 'Cinderella' classic fairies. Sexton, known for her style of confessional poetry, imbues the familiar story with a sense of irony and realism that challenges the tropes and moral simplicity of the original. In doing so, she questions the very foundations of fairy tales and the societal norms they perpetuate. This essay explores the themes of disillusionment, critique of the American dream, and subversion of traditional gender roles in Sexton's "Cinderella." Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayBody Paragraph 1: Disillusionment Sexton’s “Cinderella” begins with a series of vignettes that depict various “rags to riches” stories ”, preparing the ground for a critique of the idealized notion of success and happiness. These stories are loaded with irony, as Sexton juxtaposes the fantastical elements of the fairy tale with harsh realities. For example, Sexton writes: “You always read about it: / the plumber with the twelve children / who wins the Irish competition. / From toilets to riches. This opening serves to emphasize the absurdity of the Cinderella story by comparing it to improbable scenarios that, while technically possible, are highly improbable. In doing so, Sexton arouses a sense of disillusionment in the reader, questioning the authenticity and possibility of such fairy tale endings. story that promises success and happiness through hard work and virtue. Cinderella's transformation from abused stepdaughter to princess is traditionally seen as a reward for her kindness and patience. However, Sexton undermines this idea by emphasizing the arbitrariness of Cinderella's fortune. The deus ex machina of the Fairy Godmother, the magical transformation and the prince's obsessive search for the owner of the glass slipper underline the randomness of Cinderella's success. Sexton's portrayal suggests that success is not necessarily the result of merit but of chance, thus criticizing the meritocratic ideals often associated with the American dream. Body Paragraph 3: Subversion of Traditional Gender Roles Another important theme in Sexton’s “Cinderella” is the subversion of traditional gender. roles. In the original fairy tale, Cinderella is the embodiment of passive femininity, waiting to be rescued by a prince. Sexton, however, imbues his version with a sense of action and cynicism. The poem ends with a striking depiction of Cinderella and the prince living "happily ever after", but with an underlying sense of entrapment: "Cinderella and the prince / lived, they say, happily ever after, / as two dolls in a museum display case. ". This image of the couple as lifeless dolls locked in a glass case serves as a powerful metaphor for the restrictive nature of traditional gender roles and the superficiality of the fairy tale ending. In presenting this disturbing image, Sexton highlights the challenging the reader to reconsider the implications of these roles and the narratives that reinforce them. Conclusion Keep in mind: this is just a sample Get a custom article from our expert editors now. 'a classic fairy tale, rich with themes of disillusionment, a critique of the American dream and the subversion of traditional gender roles. Through his use of irony and realism, Sexton exposes the underlying absurdities and societal norms perpetuated by such.

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