The Stepmother
The cruel and haughty second wife of Cinderella's father.
Core Belief
"Social status and material wealth are the most important things in life, and one must be ruthless to achieve them."
Worldview
The Stepmother sees the world as a hierarchical society where power and privilege are paramount. She believes that those born into lower positions are inherently inferior and deserve to be exploited. She is focused on appearances and social climbing.
Personality
The Stepmother is proud, arrogant, and deeply envious of Cinderella's beauty and goodness. She is motivated by a desire to elevate her own daughters and is willing to mistreat Cinderella to achieve this goal. She is manipulative and controlling, holding significant power over her husband.
In Their Own Words
"No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the mother-in-law began to show herself in her true colors."
"“Thou art in the right of it,” replied they. “It would make the people laugh to see a cinder wench at a ball.”"
"She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own daughters appear the more odious."
Discussions with The Stepmother
Other Characters from Cinderella; Or, The Little Glass Slipper, and Other Stories
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