By T.K. Wilson (Rated G)
Plenty of people have written about Snow White, both in her favor and against, and plenty of those people are much smarter than me.
Snow White was never my favorite Princess growing up, mainly because I found the pitch of her voice a little grating. (Better sound mixing since the 90s has helped.) But there was a dear old lady, who could never remember my name, yet she loved my brother and I, and she called me Little Snow White because of my long dark hair (not black, but very close) and pale complexion.
It wouldn’t be until I was an adult that I would bear that nickname as a true badge of honor. In the 90s, Snow was derided as weak, an unworthy role model, stupid, and worst of all, dependent on *men!* All of these are superficial at best and outright lies at worst.
Snow was forced into her role as a slave by her legal guardian. In medieval times, there was nothing she, or anyone else could do about it. She was not weak; she was strong for keeping a cheerful, hopeful attitude despite the unfairness of her situation.
Snow is an industrious, capable girl, who barters for room and board with her skills. It just so happens that they’re traditionally feminine skills like housekeeping.
Stupid? Naive, perhaps, a bit too trusting, maybe, but never stupid. She sees the best in others and never stops loving them even when they dislike, or even hate her. You can tell when she prays for Grumpy to start liking her, and in the original script draft, she prays for her enemy, the Queen, to repent!
And as for depending on men, that’s the way it was in society in the middle ages. Snow HAD to depend on men for protection, and the men she chose took that responsibility seriously. Yes, even the Prince. Originally it was planned for the Queen to take the Prince captive, and, overhearing her plans, he makes a daring escape to save Snow White. Unfortunately, he gets lost on his way there and is too late to save her, but knowing what happened, kisses her in hopes that even now he can break the spell. Only the last part made it into the movie because of lack of resources.
Snow White’s innocence and goodness make her enemies simply because of who she is. She never earned their hatred, and in return she gives them love. And love is the most powerful thing in the world.
LogoSophia Magazine 