Critique of Bruno Bettelheim's and Karen Kolbenschlag's interpretation of "Cinderella"

As is well known, the famous storytale "Cinderella" has many variants across cultures and time periods. These variants have been found to have the same general plot, which is characterized by the persecuted heroine, the meeting with the prince, the revealing of an inner identity, and marriage with the prince. This plot is simple enough to be understood by a child, yet the details that support the story's timeless popularity are more difficult to discern, …

…effort to make them fit into the slipper. Kolbenschlag believes strongly that the slipper serves as a tool of symbolism by which men can lead women to conformity.         Regardless of how differently Bettelheim and Kolbenschlag view certain complex aspects of "Cinderella," they both agree on the details that support "Cinderella" as a classic. Despite the differences in the lives of children and Cinderella the strong association children feel with her character ensures its timeless popularity.