麻辣公主 (1997)

Ella Enchanted is a critically-acclaimed fantasy novel written by Gail Carson Levine. It was published in 1997 by HarperCollins Publishers. The book tells the story of Ella of Frell, a teenage girl who struggles to gain control of her own life as she navigates friendship, danger, and love while trying to break the curse of obedience that was placed on her at birth. The story is a retelling of "Cinderella" that features various mythical creatures, highlights modern themes relating to gender and autonomy, and draws a traditional fairytale into the modern era.

The book won a Newbery Honor in 1998. It was also the basis for a popular 2004 film adaptation and an award-winning stage musical.

In 2006, Levine went on to write Fairest, a retelling of the story of "Snow White" that is set in the same world as Ella Enchanted. Levine later published Ogre Enchanted, a prequel to Ella Enchanted, in 2018.

Plot summary

At birth, Ella of Frell receives the "gift" of obedience from the fairy Lucinda, which turns out to be a terrible curse, forcing Ella to instantly and literally obey even the simplest commands from others. Throughout her childhood, Ella is guided and protected by her mother, Eleanor, and her family cook, Mandy. Eleanor passes away when Ella is fifteen, and at her funeral, Ella meets and befriends Prince Char.

Ella's father, Sir Peter, sends Ella to finishing school alongside Hattie and Olive, two daughters of the wealthy Dame Olga. At school, Hattie discovers and takes advantage of Ella's obedience, using it to end Ella's friendship with her best friend, Aredia. Devastated, Ella resolves to find Lucinda and reverse the spell.

Using her mother's magic book, Ella tracks Lucinda to a giant's wedding. On her journey, Ella is trapped by ogres, who command her not to run away, intending to eat her. She stays up all night practicing their language to talk them to sleep and successfully escapes. She then encounters Char and a group of soldiers, who apprehend the ogres. One of Char's men is sent to escort Ella to the wedding.

Upon finding Lucinda, Ella learns that she turns ungrateful recipients of her gifts into squirrels. Using an alias, Ella confronts Lucinda, who dismisses her and orders Ella to be happy with her gift.

Upon returning home, Ella is informed by Peter that he is financially ruined and must marry Dame Olga. At their wedding, Lucinda gifts them eternal love. Olga is livid after discovering Peter's financial situation, but, unable to stay angry at him due to Lucinda's gift, projects her anger onto Ella. When Peter leaves on a business trip, Hattie informs Olga of Ella's curse, and Olga makes Ella a servant.

Ella and Char secretly write to each other while he travels abroad. They begin to fall in love, but Ella, realizing her curse could endanger him and the kingdom of Kyrria once he assumes the throne, leads him to believe she has run off with a rich earl, leaving him heartbroken.

Mandy confronts Lucinda about the disastrous consequences of her gifts and convinces Lucinda to experience Ella's curse for herself. Six months later, Lucinda returns, disheveled and remorseful about the suffering she has caused. Ella learns that Char is set to return to Kyrria and begs Lucinda to remove the curse, but Lucinda insists that Ella must do so herself.

With Mandy and Lucinda's help, Ella attends Char's homecoming balls in disguise. On the ball's third night, Hattie unmasks Ella, forcing her to flee and lose one of her glass slippers. Char discovers the slipper and visits Ella at her home. After the two profess their love, Char unknowingly orders Ella to marry him. After an internal struggle, Ella successfully defies the order, hoping to protect him and the kingdom; her unselfish love for Char breaks the spell. She explains everything to him and happily accepts his marriage proposal.

Ella is welcomed warmly into the royal family. Mandy becomes the castle cook and fairy godmother to Char and Ella's future children.

Characters

Ella of Frell

The novel’s protagonist. She is cursed with the gift of obedience at birth and must follow every order she is given. She goes on a series of misadventures throughout the novel and faces torment from her step-family, but eventually falls in love with Prince Charmont and lives happily ever after.

Prince Charmont of Kyrria

Ella’s friend, love interest, and eventual romantic partner. He is a loyal friend to Ella and the future king of Kyrria, eventually helping free Ella of her curse when he proposes to her.

Mandy

A house cook of Ella’s childhood home, later revealed to be Ella's fairy godmother. She supports Ella through her misadventures and treats her with love and respect throughout the book.

Sir Peter

Ella’s father. Marries Olga to save himself from financial ruin. At the end of the book, he does not visit Ella in the castle.

Olga

The novel’s main antagonist. She forces her step-daughter Ella into servitude after discovering her curse of obedience.

Hattie and Olive

Ella’s step-sisters. At finishing school, they bully and torment Ella upon discovering her curse of obedience. Olive tends to blindly follow in Hattie’s footsteps.

Lucinda

A stubborn but well-meaning fairy who bestowed the gift of obedience upon Ella. She stands behind her choice until the novel, when she repents for her actions and apologizes to Ella.

Lady Eleanor

Ella’s mother. She maintains a close relationship with her daughter until her death.

Analysis and themes

Critics have expressed that Ella Enchanted blends key aspects of the Cinderella tale while greatly extending them. Cited alongside novels like Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries, Levine's novel fits into a category of contemporary fiction that has “taken traditional princess stories and altered them in unexpected ways." In Horn Book, Anne Deifendeifer observed that Levine's “expert characterization and original ideas enliven this novelization of Cinderella."