Brittney Johnson
ENG 251
Brother Gorton
July 10, 2013
Sexton’s Use of Irony in Her Retelling of “Cinderella”
In Anne Sexton’s poem “Cinderella” she takes an old fairytale written in the late 17th
century and gives an ironic and modern spin on it. Her use of irony in the poem makes readers
question the value of fairytales when they are so blatantly perverse and non-conducive to reality.
Sexton forces the readers to examine their own lives and asks them if fairytales are really more
beautiful than real life. The theme of “Cinderella” is illustrated through irony, fairytale
symbolism, and a mixture of modern slang and period details to examine American culture and
its obsession with unrealistic stories and icons. Through “Cinderella” Sexton is questioning our
society that is determined to retain youth and beauty, to ignore the natural afflictions caused by
life, and the inability to cope once those afflictions have occurred.
In Sexton’s first stanza we are immediately introduced to her sarcastic tone and her usage
of irony. Before retelling the Cinderella tale she gives four similar instances of fairytales where
the characters are taken from rags to riches. “You always read about it: The plumber with twelve
children who wins the Irish Sweepstakes. From toilets to riches. That story” (p. 572) By giving
these four examples of the plumber, the nursemaid, the milkman, and the charwoman who all
happily stumble upon good fortune it makes us further question the nature of the Cinderella
fairytale. After each story she uses the phrase “That story.” This simple phrase is the opening key
to realizing that Sexton has written a deeply sardonic piece that is meant to make us analyze the
intent of fairytale’s and myths. “From diapers to Dior. That story.” We can clearly see her use of
irony in this straightforward phrase.
Another important aspect of Sexton’s poem is the mixture of language. Sexton noticeably
combines period detail with American slang from the twentieth century. An example being “The
man took another wife who had two daughters, pretty enough, but with hearts like blackjacks”
(p.573). This anachronistic mixture of slang and original fairytale elements is more than just a
way to make the poem more relatable. It is a way to make a statement about American society
and culture today. “Cinderella went to the tree at the grave and cried forth like a gospel singer:
Mama! Mama! My turtledove, send me to the prince’s ball!” (p.573). Sexton includes modern
slang to both bring the tale into a more realistic light and to force the reader to look at their own
lives. Are we ignorant to life’s sometimes somber and unfair realities? Do we put too much stock
in fairytales and celebrities? And once those fantasies are dashed do we feel robbed? Are we able
to cope with life’s misfortunes? Sexton enhances these questions by making the decision to
effectively use the older Brother’s Grimm version which is much darker and more violent than
the more common version of Disney.
By applying the Grimm version to her poem she creates a more poignant and more
startling assertion of a society that is bent on retaining youth and beauty. In the Grimm version
one stepsister cuts off her toe while the other cuts off her heel to make their feet fit into the gold
slipper. The Grimm version combined with modern language gives a gruesome analysis of
women going to extreme lengths to shape, cut, and transform themselves to merely appease a
charming Prince who will not love them in the end. The combination is a powerful statement on
the modern world and it’s fascination of being overly perfect.
In Sexton’s last stanza we are given the most ironic passage and also the main theme of
the poem. “Cinderella and the prince lived, they say, happily ever after, like two dolls in a
museum case never bothered by diapers or dust, never arguing over the timing of an egg, never
telling the same story twice, never getting a middle aged spread, their darling smile pasted on for
eternity, regular Bobbsey Twins. That Story” (p. 575). This last stanza is a biting remark on fairy
tales that supposedly end with happily ever after. Sexton knows that there is no such thing as
happily ever after at least not in the way fairytales convey, and to ignorantly believe so will only
lead to a person’s downfall when life doles out its mistakes and tragedies.
Sexton’s method of irony makes a more blaring statement on the unrealistic views
fairytales make in the real world more so than if she were to outright say what she was thinking.
She makes us question our society and ourselves and the myths we allow ourselves to believe in.
The wonderful yet disturbing image of being stuck in a museum case unable to truly experience
life leaves a haunting image that none of us, I should think, would like to experience.
“I did not consult any outside sources for this paper.”