The "Cinderella" story has been told across the world a countless number of times dating back to 850 A.D. Almost every country has developed a personal "Cinderella" that reflects the cultural values and social ideology of the country and time period in which the story was written. In many versions, the author will try to illustrate a central lesson not told in other adaptations of the story. When looking at nine different versions of "Cinderella," it is easy to see that each has their own message to convey. "Gudgekin the Thistle Girl" is John Gardner's attempt to show how the Cinderella character has an independent personality and freethinking mind. The reason for this difference is for "Cinderella" to find true love. In this account, John Gardner illustrates a profound message to women and society how to stand up and have a voice.
             Each of the nine "Cinderella" stories has something in common in one way or another. Most of the stories have an unprivileged girl who seeks the affection of a "Prince" who is supposed to make her happy for the rest of her life. "Cinderella," in general, represents a fairytale version of a "rags to riches" tale. Every version tells the story in a unique way with a different message that relates to the culture from which it originates. Charles Perrault's "Cinderella" is the classic version of the famous fairytale. The Grim Brothers' "Ashputtle" is a more grotesque depiction of the "Cinderella" story. "When the Clock Strikes" is a twisted account in which the Cinderella character is a witch with the purpose of revenge on the prince. The oldest known version is the Chinese "Cinderella" told by Tuan Ch'eng-shih, where the magical element is a fish. "The Maiden, The Frog, and the Chiefs Son" is the African-based version passed d...