Oochigeaskw - The Rough-Faced Girl, A tale of Cinderella

Oochigeaskw – The Rough-Faced Girl, A tale of Cinderella

As Maria Tatar explains “Fairy tales are up close and personal, telling us about the quest for romance and riches, for power and privilege, and, most important, for a way out of the woods back to the safety and security of home”. (Writing and reading across the curriculum, 231) A fairy tale should be one that a child enjoys hearing, learns from and can get some grasps of what is right and wrong. In “Oochigeaskw – The rough-faced girl” all of the listed criteria’s to an educational fairy tale are in the story at some point. This is a fairy tale that I would highly recommend to those parents seeking a small story to read with educational purpose.

        In the tale “Oochigeaskw – The Rough-Faced Girl”, the author whom remains anonymous, decides to place the setting of this fairy tale in a native tribe. Now I know you have all read “Cinderella” and are aware this is in a completely different setting. The story its self resembles “Cinderella” for several reasons, it has the same conflicts, same rewards and same criteria’s explained by Tatar. In this version of Cinderella, Oochigeaskw who represents Cinderella is still given a rough up bringing by suffering due to her evil stepsisters. She is set with life challenges of being given a life of poverty, chores and obstacles put before her. In this story however, the prince is not your everyday prince, he is invisible and the one lucky girl to truly see him will become his wife, Sound familiar. As this story tale ends Oochigeaskw ends up seeing the invisible one and her misfortune is taken away where she lives a life of peace and happiness.

    Arthur Schlesinger believes that “human nature is not innately good”. In “Oochigeaskw – The Rough-Faced Girl” this is shown throughout the story, Some examples of this would be when the author describes how the sister of the invisible one would take the girls from the village on walks, the sister would then ask the girls “Do you see my Brother” Majority would say yes, the girls were lying, they could not see the invisible one but were saying they could due to being gready and wanting wealth and marriage. (Anonymous, 246) Also stated in the text the youngest sister, Oochigeaskw was tormented by her oldest sister who would burn her hands and feet with hot cinders. When Oochigeaskw would leave the house villagers would yell out at her “shame” due to her appearance. (247) All three of these examples show how “human nature is not innately good” from lying, torture and misjudgment.

    Schlesinger feels “That conflict is real” when it comes to fairy tale criteria. In the tale “Oochigeaskw – The Rough-Faced Girl” conflicts are presented throughout the entire tale. First conflict which relates to most versions of “Cinderella” has to deal with the loss of a mother. Oochigeaskw is forced to grow up with her father and evil sisters. Without a mother figure the sisters do not have stability and present their own conflict. The conflict between Oochigeaskw and her oldest sister is one of heartache and in a sense torture. The oldest sister treats Oochigeaskw poorly by burning her hands with hot cinders and lying to their father about it saying that Oochigeaskw was falling into the fire. (246) unfortunately there is neglect and abuse that happen in this country, when this happens there should always be away out, Oochigeaskw finds her way out in this happy ending. Another act of conflict is how poor Oochigeaskw is faced with not having any type of wealth since whatever her father brings how the older sister get first pick. Oochigeaskw walks around barefoot until one day she takes a few of the extra shells to make an outfit out of this she found in the woods, her father’s old moccasins which she soaked in water to soften them for her to wear even then they were too big, and she tried her luck at seeing the invisible one.

    The third characteristic given by Schlesinger is “that life is harsh before it is happy” This is true is more ways than one in our own life and in this version of “Cinderella”. The entire story behind “Cinderella is that this girl lost her father, was forced to grown up with her evil step sisters and made to do the petty work around the house, wear the rags and scraps of clothes in the house and forced to stay hidden from the outside world. All of this harshness led to Cinderella ending her tale of great sorrow to happiness and wealth. In this tale of “Oochigeaskw – The Rough-Faced Girl” Oochigeaskw is faced with very harsh treatment from her older sister, she is looked down upon from the entire village because of her appearance, which was caused by her oldest sister. After years of having to look and feel the way Oochigeaskw did she tried her luck at seeing the invisible one. To her surprise when she entered the woods and found the sister she did in fact see the invisible one.  When asked “what is his sled-string?” Oochigeaskw replied “It is the rainbow” the sister then asked “What is the bow-string” Oochigeaskw then told the sister “It is the spirits road – the Milky Way” (247) The sister new at that time she could see her brother and that her heart was pure and true. Once this was discovered the sister took the girl home and gave her a bath to clean her. As soon as she started washing Oochigeaskw her scars started disappearing and her true beauty was shown inside and out. Oochigeaskw’s life was hard and never ending in her eyes, she had to endure this harshness prior to her happiness. Those who deserve it, it will come.

    In conclusion Oochigeaskw was offered the wife’s seat and Oochigeaskw was pronounced his wife. She was able to leave her life of sorrow for one of happiness and did not have to turn back. Even though Oochigeaskw went through everything in the beginning that seemed uncalled for or harsh it made her the person she turned out to be. She new the value of life and that no matter what in the end good will come to those who deserve and wait. I feel that this is a great read for children that may have a sense of failure or heartache in their own lives. It may be able to help those who need a little up lifting and show them that things can change and to keep striving for goodness. This version of Cinderella shows all of Schlesinger’s Characteristics for fairy tales very well. I feel that this story is a true fairy tale one that your child would love to read.