Comparative Essay

Jena Hughes
Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing, P.4
Comparative Essay
06 May 2011

The Secret to the Slipper

“All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” ~Walt Disney (Thinkexist.com). The film Cinderella, its creator Walt Disney, and the words of the Secret are all comparable. The story of the classic 1949 film Cinderella and Walt Disney demonstrate through their success, the techniques of the Secret. Furthermore, the Secret is simply the “answer” to receiving what is desired. In other words faith, and Cinderella is a story showing the Secret in action.

“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.” ~ Walt Disney (Thinkexist.com). The Secret stresses that if an individual is longing for an object, an entity, or simply anything the heart desires, believe in it, believe it is already in possession and one day it will come. Cinderella is a story of faith, patience and destiny. Cinderella the character, was the master of her outcome; her outcome of a happily ever after. “Believe that it’s already yours. Have what I love to call unwavering faith. Believing in the unseen.” ~Lisa Nichols (The Secret). Additionally, the cognitive thoughts of a person are what allow that individual to receive what is being desired, according to the Secret. “All that we are is a result of what we have thought…What we think, we become.” ~Buddha (The Secret). Philosophers, visionaries, psychologists, and professors from the lectures of the Secret accentuate that positive thinking provides a positive outcome; the preferred result. Walt Disney is the perfect exemplar of portraying positive thinking. Walt Disney was a dreamer. In fact, he was the biggest dreamer in many eyes of the world. He used the techniques of the Secret, and therefore became the world known creator of animation and synchronized sound, and it all began with a dream. His dream was tossed aside, thrown in the trash, and nearly stolen several times, but he believed that someday his work would be seen. "All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me ... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." ~ Walt Disney (Tripod.com). Today, he is and will always be the greatest creator of animation and that became possible when Disney refused to give up and believe; he had faith in himself and in his work. “Somehow I can't believe that there are any heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four C s. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Constancy and the greatest of these is Confidence.” ~Walt Disney (Inspiration-Oasis.com). Walt Disney was living flesh of the Secret which was clearly evident by his masterful works; Pinocchio, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and of course Cinderella. I believe no other Walt Disney film portrays the Secret more clearly than the timeless classic Cinderella. Cinderella is a film that demonstrates many techniques of the Secret and Cinderella the character was too a dreamer, just as her creator. She believed that she was much more than a servant regardless of being in the clutch of her evil stepmother and stepsisters. She cleaned, cooked, and washed with a positive attitude and then her dream was at her doorstep. The night of the ball, she was led in like a fish on a hook by her stepmother and then she was torn apart by her stepsisters, physically and emotionally. However, she didn’t let that stand in her way of getting to the ball. She made it to the ball and found true love. Indeed, Cinderella was more than a house servant; she was a beautiful, kind, and intelligent woman who became a princess. Using the techniques of the Secret, Cinderella had faith in herself, believed there was more to life than just being a servant, she never gave up, and she maintained a positive mind even when the evil things of the world knocked her down. Cinderella was successful using the methods of the Secret and obviously Walt Disney was triumphant in sharing the Secret within his award acclaiming masterpieces. Furthermore, the song, A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes uses the words of the Secret. “If you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.” ~ (Cinderella, 1949). Additionally, the meaning of the Secret and the meaning of the movie proves that one can be successful if they believe in the impossible and they can choose what their outcome will be. Cinderella was successful by transforming from a peasant to a princess, because she believed and she chose her outcome which was to live happily ever after. “You are the Michelangelo of your own life.” ~ Dr. Joe Vatale (The Secret).

One of the greatest fairy-tale classics Cinderella lives out her story using the techniques from the Secret. Cinderella’s story of desire and dreams becoming reality turned into one of the most loved fairy-tales of all time. Indeed, her story was the Secret. Walt Disney was the father of animation, and he never gave up on his dream, because he believed and demonstrated it over and over in his life’s work. However, the Secret wasn’t in print or a film in the 1950’s, yet the Secret was represented everywhere. If an individual desires something and wants to be successful in receiving what they want, believe it is in possession, believe in oneself, and most importantly, do not give up on dreams. Life is full of happiness and unfortunately disappointment, but believing in your dreams, letting magic happen, and not letting the world overcome you, dreams really can come true and you will be successful. “If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.” ~Walt Disney (The Secret, p.43).

Bibliography
1. Byrne, Rhonda. The Secret. New York: Atria, 2006. Print.
2. Cinderella. By William Peed, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton S. Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Ben Sharpsteen, Ub Iwerks, C. O. Slyfield, Donald Halliday, Al Teeter, Oliver Wallace, Paul J. Smith, Mack David, Jerry Livingston, Al Hoffman, Joseph Dubin, Mac Stewart, Eric Larson, Don Lusk, Ilene Woods, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Brey Claire Du, Rhoda Williams, and Rooten Luis Van. Distributed by Buena Vista Film Distribution Co., 1949. Videocassette.
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