Cinderella (was:Re: Protection-Abuse / Patron-Client (was:re:Blood protection...

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 158635

> >>Tesha:
> The Cinderella Story is the only real and true Cinderella story -
> If HP WAS The Cinderella Story it wouldn't be Harry Potter it would
> be... wait for it... The Cinderella Story.

Betsy Hp:
Actually, I don't think there is an "only real and true Cinderella 
story".  Since it started out as an oral folk-tale there are various 
versions out there of, I think, similar authenticity. (I know I'll 
be corrected if I'm wrong about this. <g>)

(e.g. Was there one ball Cinderella attended or three?  Did the step-
sisters mutilate themselves to try and fool the prince?  Were their 
eyes pecked out by birds, were they forced into red-hot iron shoes, 
or did Cinderella show them mercy? etc.)

Of course, what we were discussing was the Cinderella *type* of 
tale.  Does the Harry Potter series (or more exactly, PS/SS) fall 
under that type?

Personally, I think there are less links than more.

> >>Tesha:
> JKR used the Cinderella tool to craft Harry - had a wonderful life
> ahead of him, terrible things happen, suddenly life is no longer   
> rosy, he grows up straight and tall anyway and he moves forward to 
> meet his destiny. She makes the replacement father an ignorant    
> bully and the mother replacement, well -- is complex a good word? 
> We can't LIKE them, some of us can't understand them - but all of 
> us see them for what they are, a crucible for Harry.

Betsy Hp:
But... that's not really the Cinderella story is it?  The father 
should be dead.  The mother and sibling should be jealous of the 
Cinderella figure.  They should covet the life the Cinderella figure 
receives at the end of the tale.  And the magical figure should show 
up only to rescue the Cinderella figure.  Not stick them into the 
bad situation in the first place.  (Plus, Cinderella never had to 
fight evil.)

I do think there are Cinderella elements to PS/SS.  Harry is the red-
headed stepchild at the Dursleys.  But I don't think JKR set that 
particular type of tale as her cornerstone.  I think it was more 
the "hidden prince" thing.

Betsy Hp