Jane Eyre as an Independent Cinderella. Parallels between the Fairy Tale and the Novel

This essay draws parallels between the fairy tale Cinderella and Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre (1847). At first, the Cinderella motif is examined in detail and its elements explained. The versions referred to are Cendrillon (1697) by Charles Perrault and Cinderella (1812) by Brothers Grimm. Common themes are then compared between the fairy tale and the novel. The emphasis is on similar childhoods, patriarchal environment and a presence of an ally. Later on, the focus shifts on the religious and spiritual views and their influence on the protagonists' values. The last part of the paper deals with differences between two stories, analyzing the idea of marriage and Prince Charming. And finally, comparisons are made with a full regard to Victorian era in which Jane Eyre is set, as well as the patriarchal set of values present in both stories. The paper concludes with the idea that the novel Jane Eyre is the story of an emancipated Cinderella