"There was once an honest gentleman who took for his second wife the proudest and most disagreeable lady in the whole country. She had two daughters exactly like herself. He himself had one little girl, who resembled her dead mother, the best woman in all the world" (Rackham 1933:223). The starting of Cinderella is very different to that of other fairy tales their is no mention of beauty straight away, however there is a mention of the queen who has died previously and the king marries again (just like in Snow White).

"It happened that the King's son gave a series of balls, to which were invited all the rank and fashion of the city, and among the rest the two elder sisters" (Rackham 1933:223). This is the start of all the drama to come because Cinderella so badly wants to attend this ball also, but does not have anything appropriate to wear. Being such a wonderful woman just like her mother was Cinderella never complained out loud. Not once in all four of these fairy tales does the main and most beautiful woman/princess complain about the hardship they encounter.

"Amazed, the prince followed, but could not catch her. Indeed, he missed his lovely princess altogether, and only saw running out of the palace doors a little dirty lass whom he had never beheld before, and of whom he certainly would never have taken the least notice." (Rackham 1933:230). This quote from Cinderella demonstrates just how much the beauty of a women in fairy tales matters. Although the prince and Cinderella get together in the end, this judgment can almost be seen as shallow.

"As for the young prince, he found her more lovely and lovable than ever, and insisted upon marrying her immediately. Cinderella never went home again, but she sent for her two sisters to the palace, and married them shortly after to two rich gentlemen of the Court." (Rackham 1933:232) As with all fairy tales everyone lives happily ever after and the princess that had been treated so badly at the beginning of the tale always comes out on top.