Truth in dreadful disguise

My girls and I watched a production of “Cinderella” recently. Released six years ago, this movie stars Lily James, was directed by Kenneth Brannagh, and consists of a series of scenes so gorgeous that watching it truly transports you into fairy-tale land.

It got me thinking…

Cinderella gets a bad rap these days. 

A story which pivots on a maiden’s rescue by a handsome prince? Clearly sexist.  

A heroine whose attributes are kindness, obedience, and a forgiving spirit? Ha! Loser. 

Imaginary kingdoms, magical gifts, custom glass shoes – who needs ‘em, when so much explosive, digitized “virtual reality” is on offer?

Besides levelling critiques like these at the story, our culture has also co-opted the concept for its own, morally diminished, purposes. 

Think about it: “Cinderella Story,” in the vernacular, means a fable of rags to riches – but in a specifically material sense. The old fairy tale has been drained of its high-minded grandeur and re-purposed as a paean to winning power and money, with “happily ever after” code for ultra-luxurious leisure ad infinitum. 

In that anemic, money-focused form, “Cinderella Stories” are everywhere – the plotline to most stories being peddled in print or onscreen.  

As a sad consequence, it might seem that Cinderella herself – in the original, old-fashioned story – has nothing to offer anyone nowadays.

BUT…

Consider some of the ways that Cinderella, the old-fashioned version, is a true story. “True” in the sense of containing truth rather than in the sense of being factual, but nonetheless powerfully, and timelessly, true. 

Beauty… and truth

Start with the one characteristic of Cinderella on which everyone from wicked stepmother to Prince Charming agree: she is beautiful. Cinderella’s beauty is extraordinary, shining forth no matter how dirty and disheveled she is – magnetic even to little animals. Cinderella’s beauty is unenhanced, often unwashed. Cinderella’s beauty is unremarked on by Cinderella herself. (No such thing as a “Cinderella Selfie” – that would be completely out of character!) 

Cinderella’s disinterest in her own extraordinary beauty is the clue to its ultimate power: Cinderella’s beauty is inextricably linked to her virtuous character. Because her beauty signifies and points to her virtue, it seems all the more startling as it is displayed in various postures of menial servitude. This humility / radiance synthesis makes Cinderella’s beauty holy. (Think of Jesus, stooping to wash the disciples’ grimy feet.) In its Christlikeness, Cinderella’s beauty is true.

Names… and truth

The virtue and beauty which are Cinderella’s defining attributes are belied by her name. 

“Cinderella” – the name is shame, composed as ridicule and brandished as a demeaning label, used by those who have all but enslaved her. Cinderella’s real name has been taken from her by those who have robbed her of her rightful place as cherished daughter and member of the household; her name has been stolen from her along with her position and property. 

Here, again, deep truths emerge from the details of this fairy tale. Names and naming are holy privileges. God knows our names (Isaiah 43:1) – God has engraved our names on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16) – Jesus calls His own by their names, and they know Him immediately (John 10:3, 20:16).

But how often does the world replace our true names with labels that demean and denigrate? 

“Stupid.” “Loser.” “Ugly.” 

Epithets forged in racist or sexist hatred. 

The re-naming / shaming starts early and the effects linger late. 

Cinderella’s fraudulent family speak according to their pseudo-relationships with her, voicing malice through the denigrating name they give her. Tearing down Cinderella to artificially elevate themselves, they use words as a starting point for complete debasement.

Likewise, the world often serves as the mouthpiece for the “Father of Lies” (John 8:44), who would deny the legitimacy of God’s children and imply they are alone and unwanted. Cruel words from the world are a starting point for complete debasement in the heart. 

By honestly portraying the deceptive power and malicious intent of cruel names, “Cinderella” – the label – is true.

Dressing the part… and truth

In the early stages of her story, Cinderella’s clothes serve as an illustration and constant reminder of her demeaned status. She wears rags like she wears soot and cinders – as tangible evidence of her less-than-ness. 

Again, how often does this paradigm play out in the real world? People live into the labels that have been slapped onto them – dressing accordingly, acting accordingly – allowing the lie to become true, one painful layer at a time.

Recall the process by which Cinderella dresses for the ball: remaking an old dress of her mother’s, which her step-family tears to shreds; then receiving a wholly new dress made just for her. These stages demonstrate the painful process of “putting on” Christ. Hand-me-down robes, however beloved, will not suffice. Only the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3), the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), the clothing of Christ Himself (Romans 13:14) will do. The way in which Cinderella is supernaturally assisted to dress, finally, as herself, is true.

Turning points and truth

The turning point in Cinderella’s story comes in the form of an invitation to a ball at the palace. The invitation is clear: ALL the eligible ladies in the kingdom are summoned to the ball; NO ONE is to be left out. But Cinderella’s malevolent stepmother maintains that Cinderella – alone among the ladies in the kingdom – is excluded from the invitation because of her unique disqualifications. Cinderella is not eligible because of who she is – Cinderella – her identity wholly subsumed by her dirtiness. 

The stepmother does not have the last word, however… and from this point on, the stepmother’s power over Cinderella dwindles…

Because, here comes the fairy godmother! 

This character unmistakably resembles an angel: she is a messenger who comes with incredible news and miraculous power. She is a supernatural, omniscient being who asserts the truth of identity. She is a change-maker who brings visible reality into harmony with what has been true all along: Cinderella IS precious and worthy!

Cinderella’s transformation at the hands (and wand) of her fairy godmother bear uncanny resemblance to the transformation Christ promises his disciples: the filth is wiped away, the radiant covering of His imputed righteousness replaces our rags, and true identity – clean, pure, beloved – is made vibrantly alive.

The Big Picture … and God’s Truth

Step back and compare the story arch of Cinderella to the love story of the King for His daughters (and sons)… 

We begin with our identities mutilated by our sin. 

Victims of the Enemy, whose accusations and name-calling and relentless persecution make us prone to tears and sitting in ashes, we are also victims of our own gullibility and our own complicity in the Enemy’s rebellion. 

We are in rags and dirty both because we’ve been beat up by a fallen world and because we’ve beaten ourselves up, too…

The invitation is issued to us: royalty at the palace wants US – even us! – at the feast! But we doubt our ability to clean up pretty enough (and the Enemy is all too willing to remind us of all the unlovely aspects of our personhood). 

The Palace sends messengers – angels, prophets, finally the Son Himself – to persuade us that we are the whole reason for the feast – that we are His beloved, His chosen, His cherished ones.

And when we assent to being loved, the Palace provides cleansing… and new clothing… and an armed escort to bring us into His presence. 

In our story, there is no one single midnight interruption – there are multiple midnights! And every time – every single time – that we run away, revert to rags and cinders, sit by the fire that singes us, lament our fallen-ness – every time, He comes for us, shoe in hand. Every time, He shows us: see? The slipper fits. It’s for you. YOU are mine. 

In the end, it is not a handsome prince who whisks us off to the palace – it is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Cinderella’s story lifts His final word to end the fairy tale on the most important truth of all: God saying, “YOU belong to me. For happily ever after. Forever.”