The gloves illustrate the tension in Cinder’s life. She wants to feel that she is a princess, as Kai’s gift suggests she can be, but her family’s cruelty makes her feel downtrodden and unworthy. Still, one of the morals of both
Cinder and “Cinderella” is to judge a person by their character rather than their appearance or other superficial traits. Cinder’s resourcefulness and kindness makes her just as worthy of wealth and happiness as anyone else.