History Main / SculleryMaid

Even if she's basically been [[MadeASlave enslaved]] into such a position, the Scullery Maid will find some way to prevail. Contrast with {{Meido}}, FrenchMaid, and NinjaMaid for less realistic interpretations of the role. For reference, the scullery is a small, hot, sweaty room behind the kitchen, where heavy, dirty, menial work, such as cleaning pots and pans, is carried out. As the most junior servant in the household, the pay was below abysmal and she would often be pressed into service doing any unpleasant tasks around the house (like emptying chamber pots) and serving upon the rest of the servants. Most real life (not enslaved) scullery maids only stayed in the position for a year or two, just long enough to get the character reference required to move on to a better job.

The SpearCounterpart is also found, particularly in works more carefully based on the HighMiddleAges or earlier. Medevial households generally employed men to work in the scullery, as women were considered strong enough to do the heavy work, it was only during the Victorian Era, when woman began to dominate the servant industry, that the job were mostly given to maids--also, women were cheaper. Compare FarmBoy.

Even if she's basically been [[MadeASlave enslaved]] into such a position, the Scullery Maid will find some way to prevail. Contrast with {{Meido}}, FrenchMaid, and NinjaMaid for less realistic interpretations of the role. For reference, the scullery is a small, hot, sweaty room behind the kitchen, where heavy, dirty, menial work, such as cleaning pots and pans, is carried out.

The SpearCounterpart is also found, particularly in works more carefully based on the HighMiddleAges or earlier. Compare FarmBoy.

The SpearCounterpart is also found, particularly in works more carefully based on the HighMiddleAges or earlier.

* The two major examples that come to mind are Cinderella and Snow White, naturally.

[[caption-width-right:250:''A Scullery Maid Preparing A Chicken'' by Williem Joseph Laquy.]]

* In KingArthur legends, Sir Gareth of Orkney starts by getting a job as a kitchen boy.
* In ''Havelock The Dane'', Havelock is working as a kitchen boy when the regent decides to nullify Princess Goldborough by marrying her off to this splendid but lowly man. (Turns out he's the rightful king of Denmark and can reclaim her throne after his.)

* In ''TheSecretGarden'', Mary's first relationship in her new home is with the young scullery maid who comes to clean the fireplace in her room. Mary can't do anything for herself (having always been waited on hand and foot) and the girl takes pity on her and helps her learn to be self sufficient.

* In PatriciaCWrede's ''Literature/EnchantedForestChronicles'' story "Utensile Strength", Cinomere wants to interview people for the kitchen staff herself, to prevent a princess from being taken on. [[spoiler:She fails.]]

* The two major examples that come to mind are Cinderalla and Snow White, naturally.

* In ''Discworld/MonstrousRegiment'', this is how the heroes get inside the castle (including the male lieutenant, who is the most enthusiastic of them all).

* Why has it took so long to mention Cinderella and Snow White?

If she's in for infiltration, scullery {{maid}}s (or any other menial help staff) are practically invisible. They don't get very much access to sensitive areas of the castle, it is true, but chances are someone will notice our heroine's talents and give her a promotion, or else that she'll have a knack for attracting ExactEavesdropping. If the infiltration has some sort of assassination in mind, kitchen staff have a perfect opportunity to poison people. If there's [[DancesAndBalls a ball]], [[RagsToRoyalty promotions can go quite high]]. It is, indeed [[FallenOnHardTimesJob the go-to job]] for runaway FairyTale {{Princess}}es.

%% Image is ''A Scullery Maid Preparing A Chicken'' by Williem Joseph Laquy

%%[[caption-width-right:250:caption text here]]

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/scullerymaid_9032.png]]

* Henchman 21 from ''TheVentureBrothers'' reveals in a counceling session that he was part of the "scullion class" of The Monarch's army.

* EllaEnchanted has the title character assume this position in her own home after her obedience curse is discovered by her stepsisters. The job is given by none other than Ella's own [[spoiler:fairy]] godmother, who works as a cook for the family and pretends indifference towards her godchild in order to protect her from being forced into a much lower position.

-->'''Literature/CapORushes'''

* [[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/donkeyskin/stories/caporushes.html Cap O'Rushes]], having been thrown out by her father for saying she loved him like she loved salt, went for such a job.

* There is a class of {{fairy tale}}s, related to "Literature/{{Cinderella}}", in which a princess is forced to flee her homeland and hides out as a scullery maid in the royal castle of another kingdom (and then the prince of that kingdom holds a ball in order to meet eligible young women, and so on). The episode "Sapsorrow" of ''Series/TheStoryteller'' is adapted from one of these.
* Interesting case: Daisy from ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' is actually a scullery maid to start with (as in, that's her job title), but she's not spying on anyone and it's 20th-century Britain so the most nefarious things going on involve servants' jostling for better jobs. (She later gets promoted to Assistant Cook).

* Why has it took so long to mention Cinderella and Snow White?

* In ALittlePrincess, Sara Crewe takes this role to pay her headmistress.

-->'''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/donkeyskin/stories/caporushes.html Cap O'Rushes]]'''

* In "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/crane/storycatherine.html Catherine and Her Fate]]", Catherine, having chosen to be miserable in youth and happy in old age rather than the other way round, ends up as a SculleryMaid -- except that her Fate, being an AnthropomorphicPersonification, is always showing up and wrecking her position for seven years.

Even if she's basically been [[MadeASlave enslaved]] into such a position, the Scullery Maid will find some way to prevail. Contrast with {{Meido}}, MaidOfSexy, and NinjaMaid for less realistic interpretations of the role. For reference, the scullery is a small, hot, sweaty room behind the kitchen, where heavy, dirty, menial work, such as cleaning pots and pans, is carried out.

If she's in for infiltration, scullery {{maid}}s (or any other menial help staff) are practically invisible. They don't get very much access to sensitive areas of the castle, it is true, but chances are someone will notice our heroine's talents and give her a promotion, or else that she'll have a knack for attracting ExactEavesdropping. If the infiltration has some sort of assassination in mind, kitchen staff have a perfect opportunity to poison people. If there's [[DancesAndBalls a ball]], [[RagsToRoyalty promotions can go quite high]].

* Creator/JosephJacobs's "[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/donkeyskin/stories/catskin.html Catskin]]" as a RunawayFiancee