The Little Glass Slipper

The glass slipper is the most iconic symbol in the story. It represents fragility and the delicate, graceful nature of Cinderilla’s character and her circumstances while attending the ball under pretense. Cinderilla is described throughout the story as kind and demure. Her shoe can only be worn by someone who embodies delicacy, one who dances ever so lightly while never breaking the façade.

The slipper also serves as a symbol of transformation and the prospect of a better life. It perfectly fits Cinderilla, symbolizing her unique attributes and how she is destined to rise above her current circumstances. Without the slipper, “which the Prince took up most carefully” ( Paragraph 41), she would never have been identified as the princess who captivated everyone at the ball and married the prince, elevating her to noble status.

The word “magic” is never mentioned in Perrault's version of Cinderilla, but it is implied. The “godmother only just touched her with her wand,” instantly transforming animals and objects (Paragraph 21). The fairy godmother and her magical enchantments represent hope and how a higher power can help one gain recognition or reward.