THE CLASS STRUGGLE AS SHOWN IN THE CINDERELLA’S LIFE IN CINDERELLA MOVIE (1950)

A. INTRODUCTION

Kindness is the key of Happiness and Good Luck

Cinderella or The Little Glass Slipper is an American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney, originally released by RKO Radio Pictures, directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wilfred Jackson and published/released on February 15, 1950, in Boston and March 4, 1950, in the U.S. Clyde was born on June 12, 1901, in Chiavenna, Italy. He was an Italian American animation director. And he is best known for his work at Walt Disney Productions. Luske was born on October 16, 1903, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. And he won the Academy Award for Best Special Visual Effects for Mary Poppins in 1965. The last is Jackson was born on January 24, 1906, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. And they were known as an American animator, arranger, composer and film director. In this film, Gerry, Luske and Jackson told the story about a young girl, her name is Cinderella who lived with his father, stepmother and two stepsisters. Where her father married a woman with two daughters with the same age as his daughter. Both of her half-sisters named Anastasia and Drizella. But not long after getting married Cinderella’s father died. Since the death of her father, the true nature of her stepmother was revealed, that cold, cruel and bitterly jealous of the beauty and charm of Cinderella. And since then, Cinderella becomes a slave by her mother and her two stepsisters.

Actually, in this paper, the writer will discuss about “The Class Struggle as Shown in The Cinderella’s Life in Cinderella Movie” by using Marxist criticism. Basically, Marxist related to economic, social and political. However, the writer will focus on analyzing of social class in Cinderella’s movie. And in this film related to social class/class struggle because of a materialist philosophy: that is, it tries to explain things without assuming the existence of a world, or of forces, beyond the natural world around us, and the society we live in (Barry, 2009 : 150). This topic is related to class struggle because it reflects the real story of the struggle between classes in our society where the highest class oppresses low class. According to Wayne (2003 : 6), “For Marxist, a class is fundamental because of its integral links with labour and production, the very basis of social existence and development.” So, in this work the writer will use Marxist criticism in the class struggle because in this film shows that to become rich is easily with to marry a rich man, and when the man who married the woman died, the property/treasure left by her husband controlled by enslaving the heirs.

B. ANALYSIS

In this part, the writer will analyze “The Class Struggle as Shown in The Cinderella’s Life” using Marxist criticism that related to the class struggle in the movie of Cinderella and how the theory is applied in the literary work. In this film, there are many theories in it, such as feminist, Marxist, psychoanalytic, and postmodernist criticism. But the writer will discuss only one theory that is the Marxist theory. This theory is very closely linked to the perspective between wealth and poverty. Because it can be seen from the class conflicts that are displayed throughout the story scenes. However, Marxist criticism is an economic and social understanding of the political and economic ideas of Karl Marx and Frederich Engels. Marxism sees progress as coming about through the struggle for power between different social class. The title of the film “Cinderella” refers to a rich girl but finally enslaved by her stepmother and stepsisters since the death of her both biological parents. In the Marxist theory, there are a few main ideas that come from the works of Marx and Engels, include means of production, mode of production, base and superstructure, class consciousness, ideology, historical materialism, political economy, exploitation, and alienation. But from some of the main ideas, the author will discuss the base and superstructure that contained in the film of Cinderella.

In the film of “Cinderella” (1950) as has been said in the beginning, there are many theories associated therewith and one of which is the Marxist theory. Wherein is told Cinderella was a girl who lives happily with her father and mother. However, at one time her mother fell ill and later her mother died. Then her father was married again to a woman who already has two children of the same age with her daughter. Her stepmother named Lady Tremaine and her two stepsisters named Anastasia and Drizella. Then shortly afterward, Ella's father had died. Ella was finally alone and she does not have anyone. And while Ella thought her stepmother and her two stepsisters well, she's wrong. Since the death of her father, her stepmother and stepsisters attitude changed and showed their true nature, which is cold, cruel, and bitterly jealous of Cinderella’s charm and beauty. Ella was eventually enslaved by her stepmother and stepsisters since Ella was a kid until Ella grew up, and her stepmother and stepsisters always told her to do homework and take care of all their needs. And Ella was given the nickname by her stepmother and stepsisters are Cinderella. And at some point, Ella heard that Prince held a dance party looking for a woman who deserves to be his wife. And Ella also would like to participate to attended the party, but when the stepmother and stepsisters to know that Ella wants to go to the dance party, they actually told Ella to complete housework and if completed Ella was allowed to join, but in fact they lied and two stepsisters damaging the dress to be worn by Ella to the dance party and they left Ella. Then, Ella was crying because she was abandoned by her mother and her stepsister. And then came the fairy godmother and make Ella surprised. Knowing what makes Ella sad, fairy godmother finally helps Ella and make Ella can attend the dance party. But with one condition, Ella must leave the dance party just before 12 o'clock at night. However, Ella is almost forgotten and then heard the sound of the clock struck and he was struck. When Ella run away, the shoes that worn by Ella off and left on the stairs. And the prince was chased but Ella was not found. But it turns out the prince saw the shoes is left behind and think that there is a big possibility that he could meet with Ella back.

So, from the story of the film of “Cinderella” (1950) can be analyzed using Marxist criticism by using the theory that associated with the film is a social class/class struggle theory. Based on “Cinderella” (1950) movie, here is the analysis of Marxist criticism using quote in the movie:

(The bell is ringing)

Anastashia: Cinderella!

Cinderella: All right, all right. I'm coming. Oh, my goodness. Morning, noon, and night.

STEPSISTERS: Cinderella!

Cinderella: Coming, coming.

-Cinderella!

-I'm coming.

-Cinderella!

-In a minute.

(Lucifer don’t know wheres Gus Gus)

-Cinderella!

-In a minute!

(All the bell is ringing)

Scene 6 Drizella's room

Cinderella: Good morning, Drizella. Sleep well?

Drizella: As if you care. Take that ironing and have it back in an hour. One hour, you hear?

Yes, Drizella.

Scene 7 Anastashia room

Cinderella: Good morning, Anastasia.

Anastashia: Well, it's about time. Don't forget the mending. Don't be all day getting it done, either.

Cinderella: Yes, Anastasia.

Scene 8 stepmother room

Stepmother: Well, come in, child, come in.

Cinderella: Good morning, Stepmother.

Stepmother: Pick up the laundry and get on with your duties.

Cinderella: Yes, Stepmother.

Based on conversations above shows that Cinderella is included under the lower class and should always be according to what was commanded by the stepmother and her sisters and should not be against the slightest.

Romantic music.

All the trimmings!

It can't possibly fail.

Can it?

King: Yes, Sire. No, Sire!

Very well, Sire.

Duke: I shall arrange the ball for...

King:- Tonight.

Duke:- Tonight? Tonight!

- Oh, but, Sire...

King:- Tonight! And see that every eligible maid is there. Understand?

Duke: Yes, Your Majesty.

Based on the above conversation can be seen that the king ordered his subordinates to create an event that took place the same night. And subordinates may not refuse any single word.

(The Duke is practicing what will he saying to the king)

Duke: Your Majesty, I see no point in beating about the bush. I regret to inform you, Sire, that the young lady has disappeared, leaving behind only this glass slipper.

Yes. I'll do it. No. I just can't.

(The king is dreaming about his future grandchildren)

(Knock)

King: Well, come in. Come in!

Duke:- Your Majesty...

King:- So, he's proposed already?

- Tell me about it.

- Well...

- Who is she?

- I didn't get a chance... No matter. We've more important things to discuss. Arrangements for the wedding, invitations, a national holiday.

- All that sort of thing.

Duke:- But, Sire...

King: Here. Have a cigar. Take a few more.

Duke: But...

King: Better practice passing these out, eh? Duke: But, if you'd only listen.

 

King: And for you, my friend. Duke:- Your Majesty, please...

King:- A knighthood. Duke: Please please please. King: I hereby dub you Sir... By the way, what title would you like?

Duke:- Sire? She got away.

- Sir "She Got Away"?

King: A peculiar title, but if that's what you... She what? Why, you...You... You traitor!

Duke: Now, Sire. Remember, your blood pressure.

(The king is trying to kill the Duke)

From the conversation above, it can be seen that the king was annoyed to a subordinate because the woman wants her whereabouts are unknown and ordered his subordinates to immediately find out the girl who has stolen the attention of his son with a glass slipper left behind when the ball last night.

And the Marxist concepts, one of which consists of base and superstructure, including the determination of the economy in the film Cinderella included such as labor, property, wages, social gap, and jobs. But in the film Cinderella there is no base structure but there is the only superstructure which includes in it the social consciousness. But the relationship between the base and the superstructure is regarded as one of the dialectics, not the difference between the actual entity "in the world."

So, as the result of the Marxist criticism in this film, it can be seen that the royal family show the difference between the proletariat (workers) and the bourgeoisie (upper class). Where the king and the prince occupying the highest class and lived in a magnificent palace while people who worked as a laborer living in the old house and damaged. Workers should be able to survive in distress while the king and the prince lived in their palace and had plenty of waiters to serve all their needs. And it is shown that the high economic status controls the lower economic status. This fact is seen when the King doing a dance event by inviting all the girls to come to the party that is made in order to find a wife for his son.

Moreover, in a scene in the movie “Cinderella” show when the king and the prince to force every woman to try on shoes that left over from when dance party and wished that the prince meets with his true love. It proves the existence of capitalism for their higher power that controls the lower class. In addition, Ella’s stepmother and stepsister forced her to be a servant and do all the housework and consider that her stepmother and stepsisters like royalty and Ella was a waitress. And commanded Ella, such as do the ironing clothes, mopping, sweeping, washing the dishes, preparing food, cooking, etc. and Ella must do so without a fight and had to obey the orders of stepmother and stepsisters. But in the end, the suffering and the struggle of Cinderella for enslaved by her mother and two stepsisters ended successfully since Cinderella married the prince. So that was Cinderella has included the lower classes and must always fight for her life, but it's all paid off after meeting with the prince and the prince was falling in love with Cinderella, and they live happily ever after.

C. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, “The Class Struggle as Shown in The Cinderella’s Life” is a film about a young girl whose life is full of struggle for always enslaved by her stepmother and her two stepsisters since both of her biological parents died. In this film, there are many theories on the movie Cinderella, but the writer only focus on discussing Marxist theory which has in it the problems of economic, social, and political. The film depicts the life of the lower class who always enslaved by the upper class and the themes contained in the film Cinderella refers to the kindness and patience of the lower class experienced by every human being and a small portion depicted in the film of Cinderella. In Cinderella’s film gives many examples of class conflicts in the household. Cinderella shows close association between wealth and happiness, as well as showing some economic high class status controls the lower economic status. 

 

REFERENCES

Barry, Peter. (2009). Beginning Theory:  An Introduction to Literary and Cultural

Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Mbengo, F. (1978). Marxist Theories of Class and Class Struggle. Utafiti.

Wayne, M. (2003). Marxism and Media Studies: Key Concepts and Contemporary Trends. London: Pluto Press.

https://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/c/l.htm

https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/CIP.CHAP5.HTM

https://subscene.com/subtitles/cinderella/english/958832

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Marxism

https://www.scribd.com/doc/295724358/Cinderella-1950-Script