Anne Sexton retells the old Cinderella story in a unique poetic way. The poem begins with illustrations of people whose lives changed drastically from worse to good or better still (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012). The plumber got lucky one day when he won the Irish Sweepstakes (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012). He moved from working in the toilets to becoming a very wealthy person. There was a nursemaid who won the oldest son’s heart to become a Dior. The poet also tells about a milkman who became a real estate owner and a Charwoman, who got involved in an accident and got insurance payments (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012).
The stories she mentions above are meant to prepare the reader for the Cinderella story. Cinderella was the daughter of a wealthy man. One day her mother, while on her deathbed, blessed her and told her to be a good girl (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012). The mother told her that she would look down from heaven and smile at her if she behaved well.
Her father married another woman who had two daughters. They mistreated Cinderella and even made her their maid. She was no longer a step sister to them but their worker. The poem describes the two daughters as being pretty but with hearts like blackjacks (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012).
One day her father came with gowns, jewels and gifts for his new wife and her daughters but only gave Cinderella a twig. Cinderella accepted her gift. She planted it on the site where the remains of her mother lay (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012). The twig grew into a tree on which a white dove settled. The dove fulfilled her wishes by dropping them on the ground the way a bird would lay an egg (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012).
One day the Prince wanted a wife, and women were supposed to gather in a market for him to pick one. The stepmother kept her busy with work while her daughters prepared for the event. Even when she finished her chores, they still told her that she did not have a perfect dress for the occasion and that she did not know how to dance.
The dove gave her special dress and little slippers that could only fit her feet (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012). The prince danced with her. She continued to meet with the Prince for three days until the prince had to find the mysterious girl (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012). A girl’s shoe got stuck on the steps he had covered with glue and he went out looking for her (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012). Cinderella fit into the shoe and got married to the prince. The dove pecked the two girl’s eyes while Cinderella and the prince lived happily ever after.
The Road not Taken, by Robert Frost is a story of a person who is regretting the choices he made about life (Gardner, Lawn, Ridl & Schakel, 2012). The roads he had to choose from were confusing, and yet he had to make a decision. He chose the road less traveled by many. His choice made all the difference in his life.
Cinderella made it in life by being lucky. She did not have to work hard to attain her status. On the other hand, the other person had to make serious choices about life. He ended up failing and regretting about his options. Such is the mystery of life.
References
Gardner, J., Lawn, B., Ridl, J., & Schakel, P. (2012) Literature: A portable anthology (3rd ed.).Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s.