Alex Rose, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney)

I have not seen Snow White since I was seven or eight years old. While re-watching it, Snow White’s characterization is extremely obvious in the first few minutes of the film. Snow White is defined by both her beauty and her innocence. In the beginning of the story Snow White is followed by doves as she walks to the well. As she sings into the well the prince approaches her because of her beauty. After she is expelled from the kingdom the huntsman is unable to kill her because of her beauty. As in the Brothers Grimm’s story Snow White’s beauty is the reason for so much of her good fortune.

Snow White is also portrayed as helpless. When she is spared by the huntsman she runs through the woods and sees all of these terrifying creatures. Instead of continuing to run she falls down and cries. She seems too helpless to fight the creatures of the night. In addition, she believes the evil witch about the apple. Even after the dwarfs tried to help her by telling her not to open the door to anyone, Snow White still succumbs to the witch’s lies and eats the apple.

The animals are another aspect of Disney’s Snow White that really stood out to me. Snow White starts out being followed by doves. She is then followed by a variety of birds and animals through the forest after she is exiled. The fact that the animals follow Snow White shows her innocence. She is so unintimidating and innocent that even the animals are not afraid of her. In addition to signifying her innocence the animals also seem to follow her because of her beauty. She is so beautiful that even the beautiful animals have to see her.

Snow White’s relationship with the dwarfs enforces gender stereotypes. When she arrives at their home, it is a mess. Snow White immediately begins to sweep up and clean the entire house. When she interacts with the dwarfs they allow her to stay if she continues to clean and cook for them. Snow White seems to enjoy these things as she cleaned without being asked the first time. This shows the gender stereotype of women to clean and cook and enjoy doing it. The dwarfs represent the working men. They don’t seem to care where they sleep or about the general cleanliness of their home they just care about making money.

Disney’s invention of “true love’s kiss” is literally explicitly stated in the story. When the witch/queen is making the poison apple to give to Snow White she reads that the only antidote is “love’s first kiss” and laughs at the idea. Disney’s main difference from the Brothers Grimm seems to be the apparent theme of love throughout the story. Snow White says she loves the prince early in the story and is ultimately saved by that love. Disney also uses magic throughout the story, but the magic seems to mostly be evil. The magic that has positive effects seems to be exclusively love.