In the film Ever After, despite its many flaws in portraying accurate and realistic perceptions and lessons, begins to introduce the idea of postmodernism in the film. The movie subtly questions and debates what we perceive to be true in terms of feminism and its traits as a preconceived role from birth. Danielle, raised by a man and turned to a servant, lacks the intrinsic and expected characteristics of women of the time period and even today. Her lack of compliance for the standards can be seen through the juxtaposition of Marguerite, who is the ideal female in terms of societal image, and Danielle's more 'manly' traits. In several points in the film, Rodmilla (the evil step mother) points out Danielle's masculinity and usefulness in hard labor. In addition, Danielle's role in her relationship with the prince is not entirely feminine. Although she dresses nicely when interacting with him, her personality and tendencies betray her femininity. At one point in the film, she 'rescues' the prince from the gypsies by physically carrying him away. Not a typical action of a female protagonist in a renaissance film. The movie indirectly questions what it means to be female, and makes a case that femininity is a societally constructed norm, and is not intrinsically natural.
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