The premise of the challenge is as follows: Seven Days Seven Deadly Sins Seven Flash Fictions up to 100 words Starting 7/7
Today is Lust. Excessive desire or thoughts of a sexual nature.
Seven Deadly Sins: Lust
Off-white, stained sheets rumpled and creased over his naked body. The smell of sin lay heavy in the rented room. The cheap hotel and his credit card bill were the only witnesses to their illegitimate passion. He snored lightly as she finally found her underwear and yanked it back on. She searched for her shoes next – she had kicked them off, and now couldn’t remember where they lay.
He grunted and rolled over as she found the heels, slipped them on.
She picked up the money left on the nightstand, and slunk out the door into the cold night air.
The premise of the challenge is as follows: Seven Days Seven Deadly Sins Seven Flash Fictions up to 100 words Starting 7/7
Today is Gluttony. Over-consumption of anything to the point of waste.
Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony
One of them had to be taken away in an ambulance. She heard the next day they had to pump his stomach to get all the toxins out. She was too busy holding her friend’s hair back from her face as she puked in the loo to notice the lights flashing and sirens wailing.
Another boy had to have four stitches below his eye. He had gotten into a disagreement with a less drunk boy who had smashed a bottle in his face.
Her friend threw up on her shoes. Gross.
“I will never drink again,” she thought to herself.
The premise of the challenge is as follows: Seven Days Seven Deadly Sins Seven Flash Fictions up to 100 words Starting 7/7
Today is Envy. Sorrow for another’s good.
Seven Deadly Sins: Envy
“If I had been in the same situation, I would have done the same thing. Why does he get a bravery award? It wasn’t terrifically dangerous, wading into deep water to get that kid’s hat. It’s so stupid.”
“I dunno, mate.”
“It doesn’t make any sense. It could have been anyone. It could have been me. I could be standing on that stage right now, shaking hands with the mayor. But instead, some brat gets some award for doing something not even dangerous.”
The premise of the challenge is as follows: Seven Days Seven Deadly Sins Seven Flash Fictions up to 100 words Starting 7/7
Today is Vanity. An excessive love of self.
This is based on an old story I once read, but I cannot remember where I read it. I do not claim responsibility for the basis of this idea, although I did make it my own.
Seven Deadly Sins: Vanity
Once upon a time, the vainest woman in the village was given a magical mirror by an enchantress that enhanced her beauty so much, she became enraged and jealous at her own reflection.
Day after day, she would gaze at herself, and when her husband begged her to come away, she would shout at him, accusing him of wanting the beautiful reflection for himself.
She wished so hard that she could be just like her reflection.
One day she got her wish.
She was incredibly beautiful, but she was as cold and unfeeling as the glass of the mirror itself.
I have to say, I enjoyed Cinderella a lot more than I enjoyed Snow White. It’s very similar, in that they both start off as domestic slaves, and both have very sweet tempers and kind natures. Disney sure came a long way in the dozen years between releasing both movies. Which is good, because they released ten films theatrically between the two Princess films (including, but not limited to, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi). Cinders was originally a coppery red-head, but for some reason they changed and made her blonde.
the Gothic King
The first thing that struck me, besides the fact that Cinders could actually talk to her Princess-requisite animal friends, was the portrayal of the King. The King wants his only son the Prince to get married and have babies, god damn it! There is no Queen. We see a collection of pictures of the King and the Prince enjoying their lives as the Prince grows up, and the King sleeps along in his enormous bed (which I know some royal and other VIP couples sleep in separate beds anyway), but the absence of a mother figure for the Prince struck me as rather important.
He even dreams of having blonde grandchildren. It's so creepy!
The King has extreme bi-polar in comical measures. He swings between happy to furious to sobbing to furious. He throws things around and destroys his belongings in a child-like tantrum. And his main objective is to get grandchildren. It freaks me out no end. I’ve even convinced myself that Cinderella is a Gothic story masquerading as a romance, because the King is so set on having grandchildren that he would probably sweep aside the Prince and take his place in the matrimony bed to ensure he gets descendants with the pretty, innocent girl! It grossed me out.
Domestic Princess-in-waiting
I like Cinderella a lot. She’s pretty, graceful, kind, and caring – even though her foul-tempered stepsisters declare that “It’s not like YOU care!” when she asks them if they slept well. Cinders doesn’t complain about anything: she just takes it as her lot in life. Much like Snow White. The difference between the two heroines is twofold:
While Snow White was more than happy to pick up a dustpan and broom and clean the dwarves’ house, Cinderella probably would not do the majority of the housework if she wasn’t forced to.
Cinderella comes from a wealthy family and her father marries a high-ranking lady (a Baroness, if I remember other versions correctly), but she herself is not a Princess.
Cinderella is surprisingly strong-willed, and presents a convincing argument as to why she should be allowed to attend the ball. The evil stepmother never intended to allow her to attend though. I can’t exactly figure out why. I think it is a mixture of habit in making Cinders’ life as difficult as possible, not wanting her to enjoy anything, and jealousy out of her beauty and that she might be a rival for her own daughters. I say this because the step-mother tells Cinderella to re-do a chore that she’s already done.
This talking animal thing is going too far.
Or, you know, it could be because Cinderella is locked away in a tall tower by a tyrant. Sounds pretty Gothic to me.
Domesticity Prevents Selfishness
Part of me thinks that Cinderella’s lovely personality is partly due to being forced to be a house servant. All that hard work, in comparison to her spoiled step-sisters who fight all the time and incredibly vain and selfish. Cinders is nothing like them, and I can’t help but wonder if it is due to her deplorable upbringing. I also get the feeling that Cinders is less of a passive victim than her previous Princess counterpart, Snow White, because she actively pursues her own destiny. She does, however, need help in doing that, which is surprisingly feminist for a film released in 1950.
At this point I realised 'Bippity-Boppity-Boo" was a song from Cinderella. Well played, Disney. Well played.
Also, in the version we watched, my partner (who patiently watches my Disney with me and permits himself to be a sounding-board for my thoughts) and I both didn’t notice if the Fairy Godmother told Cinders the magic wore off at midnight. Plot hole, anyone?
I have the best idea! Let's get to know each other before we fall in love!
One of the other things I liked a lot was that even though the Prince was clearly smitten with her from the first moment he saw her, they actually took time out to have a private chat and get to know each other, which gives Cinderella +10 points as a romance in my eyes. Yay for personalities!
PS – did anyone else LOVE Cinderella’s pink dress that her step-sisters ripped apart? I thought it was gorgeous!
I just destroyed my only connection to my dead mother!
Lady Antimony is hosting a week-long Seven Deadly Sins flash fiction challenge. It started on 07/07.
Lady Antimony
Lady Antimony
Lissa Bilyk 