Symbolism in Disney’s “Cinderella”

The story of Cinderella has been shared through many generations, exploring the life of a beautiful girl who is cruelly abused by her wicked stepsisters and stepmother. The director of Cinderella uses a song in every scene, making a definite contribution to the tone of underlying happiness despite the pitiful servitude Cinderella must succumb to in the movie. Not a single rhythm or melody is arbitrarily inserted into the narrative. Not only this, but the use of shadows and romantic auras to elicit a full quota of inventive ideas, is also eminent. However, the films’ strongest point is its ability to elicit an emotional response from its audience through the traumatizing scenes, which consist of many horrific elements. This ability to get a hold of the audience in a way that makes the viewer feel that they are experiencing the whole film is where its success lies.

The character of Cinderella is undoubtedly the definition of perfection amidst a restricting torrent of misery and hate. Our love for her is embedded when her beautiful voice sings “Sing, Sweet Nightingale.” During this scene the wicked stepmother is giving futile vocal lessons to her two tone deaf daughters who can’t hear the flawlessness of Cinderella’s singing over their own screechy bursts. By using a “tilt shot,” we rise vertically upward as Cinderella sings. The soap bubbles from her undeserving forced labor rise and dance with rhythm and color, creating a tone of joyousness among unrecognizing adversity. By using this camera angle, Disney symbolizes innocence and beauty trying desperately to escape the confines of evil. The audience is able to relate to this scene, making them feel pity for Cinderella whom they feel, should be recognized.

Another scene that uses music to portray happiness is the sequence in which, the birds and mice cleverly craft the ball gown of Cinderella to the key musical numbers, which add direction and tempo. The high pitches of the small animals along with the rhythm of song allow them to become more than what we typically expect animals to be. Song evolves them into symbols of hope and happiness, creating a tone of cheerfulness regardless of their restricted abilities. Once again, a “tilt shot” is used to bring the audience in as the camera rises with the dress, showing the dress in a powerful position, further symbolizing it as Cinderella’s one chance to achieve freedom.

Even the sternest of an audience would find it difficult not to elicit a heartbreaking gasp when the horrible stepmother trips the Grand Duke which causes Cinderella’s last sliver of hope (the glass slipper) to shoot into the air, and plummet to the ground with a horrifying smash. Not to mention the scene where the step sisters obliterate Cinderella’s dress to shreds in an atrocious display to wickedness. These two scenes especially contribute to the director being able to grip the audience, making them feel as if they are a part of the film.

The audience had a responsive chord sharply struck during the scene in which, the evil step sisters tore Cinderella’s dress to pieces. By using a darker quality of light in the sisters faces as well as a “low level” shot, the audience feels their anger and jealously as the despicable act is committed. The darker lighting as well as the helpless feeling from the low angle shot terrify the audience, creating an iniquitous tone which deceives the viewer into believing that Cinderella now has no chance at going to the ball.

By using a low angle shot of the glass slipper rotating precariously in the air, we gain a feeling in our hearts that this is Cinderella’s last hope for freedom, as it all hangs in the balance of a falling, delicate glass slipper. Once the slipper falls, the angle then switches to a high angle, showing the evil stepmother towering over Cinderella’s shattered hopes and dreams, immediately creating a tone of despair, further enhancing tension and drawing the audience deeper into the story. However, the audience is brought in ever further when they see Cinderella expose a second slipper, giving a tone of relief and happiness once again. This ability to draw the audience in with happiness undercut with pure unjust doings is what separates this Disney movie from the rest.

So with the combination of different camera angles, music and lighting, Disney is able to captivate it’s crowd, drawing them in likebees to a bright and yellow flower. The many tone shifts between sinfulness and felicity keep viewers on the edge of their seats, feeling as if Cinderella’s plight was embedded within their souls.