Anne Sexton's "Cinderella"

"Cinderella" Analysis Through literary devices such as simile, repetition and symbolism, Anne Sexton delivers the message that there is no way to live "happily ever after." Using four short stories as a lead in, Sexton makes powerful arguments about society by creating the symbol of the dove and alluding to the story of Cinderella. For Sexton there is no Cinderella, there is no prince charming, and there is no happy ending. However, through "Cinderella," she …

…Sexton alludes to the story of Cinderella, uses the symbol of the dove, and various similes to create a concrete theme about society's deranged perspective of what happiness is. Sexton couples allusion, symbolism, and simile with colloquial tone to identify the theme as society's inability to recognize its wrongdoings. When a society places false value upon superficial beauty, and feels the constant need to strive for the unattainable "happily ever after," nothing but destruction ensues.