Elizabeth Reneau, Snow White (Disney Version)

The loud bird chirping noises, the cute little forest animals, the iconic dwarf song of “hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s off to work we go” is what I remembered the Snow White film as. When walking through Disney I saw the seven dwarfs mining and Snow White turned into a dramatized princess with pale skin and red lips. Beyond her fair complexion, dark lips, and beautiful princess gown there is a story. Now, when watching the fairy tale as a nineteen-year-old and not a little six-year-old there is a different outlook on the film. The magic of Disney is still evident at any age because one is never too old for Disney, but watching the film as of late, there are some hidden secrets my nineteen-year-old self picks up on. From Walt’s self-figuration of himself throughout the film to a more romanticized version of the tale compared to Grimm’s original work, we are in for a wild ride with the Disney film of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

First, I am going to touch on the self-figuration of Walt throughout the film. This is first seen when the princess (Snow White) is in rags. This notion of rags to riches is seen multiple times in the history of Disney films and throughout different characters. You may be asking why there is such an emphasis on rags to riches? Well, it all links back to Walt himself. Walt was the definition of rags to riches with his early beginnings of a lower class lifestyle to the founding of one of the biggest empires the world has ever seen. Another example of this self-figuration is seen in the knight and shining armor. The knight is Walt himself, charming enough to whisk Snow White away and high enough in society to deserve recognition. Now, while I am talking about the knight and shining armor, let’s talk about my favorite part of Snow White. THE BOY MEETS GIRL ROMANCE!!

I am such a sucker for a cute love story let alone finding one’s true love. This is where Disney has come in and added magic and more of a “fairy tale” ending. Snow White meets her love and it is only fitting for her to be swept away by her prince charming. Today, society views love as magic and relationships as what makes the world go round. So, what a perfect idea as to incorporate the magic of what love can bring into the magic that Disney already represents!!

Now, even with the cute animals, heavens opening, and love in the air; there are still some bits of Snow White which are a bit more twisted. From the gender role assumption of Snow White as practicing a “woman’s role” in the home such as tidying up and cooking to the envy and lust seen from the Queen as she looks at the mirror. However, even with the darker twists and turns, the film finished and I still was left with a sense of magic, a longing for my true love, and a love for Disney.