Cendrillon

Cendrillon is the French name for the fairy tale character Cinderella. The most famous version of the story in French literature is by Charles Perrault, first published in 1697 in his collection Histoires ou contes du temps passé, avec des moralités, aussi connues sous le nom de Contes de ma mère l'Oye. Perrault's Cendrillon features a kind and beautiful young woman who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.

In Perrault's narrative, Cendrillon's deceased mother appears to her as a fairy godmother. The fairy godmother provides Cendrillon with a magical gown, a carriage, and glass slippers, enabling her to attend a royal ball. At the ball, the Prince falls in love with her, but she must flee at midnight, leaving behind one of her glass slippers. The Prince then searches the kingdom for the owner of the slipper.

When the Prince finds Cendrillon, the slipper fits her perfectly, and they marry, living happily ever after. Perrault's version is known for its more refined and courtly tone compared to earlier folk versions. It also includes a moral, emphasizing that kindness and good character are ultimately rewarded. The name "Cendrillon" itself derives from the French word "cendres," meaning ashes, referring to the protagonist's drudgery of cleaning the hearth. The story has been adapted numerous times in literature, opera, ballet, and film, solidifying Cendrillon's status as a universal fairy tale archetype.