What is the reason for the prevalence of the “evil stepmother” trope?
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The evil stepmother is an important figure in one of the most famous and adapted fairy tales – Cinderella. Many times, an evil stepmother is an explicit reference to Cinderella, either because the work is adapting Cinderella or just as a nod towards it.
More generally, “evil” stepparents (stepfathers are also frequently painted as villains, though they tend to be more directly violent) tap into a fundamental anxiety about family, especially for children. One of your parents is gone and has been replaced by someone who lacks a real connection to you or even actively wants to harm you. This could relate to the literal loss of a parent through death or abandonment or the metaphorical loss through disinterest, strife, or mental health problems.
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