Snow White

1812 Germany

Story

Once upon a time, there lived a queen who longed for a child. One day, while sitting by the window and sewing, she pricked her finger with a needle, and drops of blood fell onto the snow. Gazing at the blood, she wished for a daughter with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. Soon after, the queen gave birth to a baby girl whom she named Snow White.

Tragically, the queen passed away, leaving the king heartbroken. Eventually, he remarried, and his new queen was beautiful but wickedly vain. She possessed a magical mirror and would ask it daily, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" The mirror always replied that the queen was the fairest, until one day it declared that Snow White, now a young woman, surpassed her in beauty.

Consumed by jealousy, the queen ordered a huntsman to take Snow White into the forest, kill her, and bring back her heart as proof. However, the huntsman couldn't bring himself to harm Snow White and urged her to flee. In the forest, Snow White encountered a cottage where seven dwarfs lived. They welcomed her and allowed her to stay with them.

Discovering Snow White's continued existence, the queen tried three times to do away with her. Each attempt involved a disguise – first as a peddler with a corset that tightened, then as a comb seller with a poisoned comb, and finally as an old woman offering a poisoned apple. The dwarfs thwarted the queen's plans twice, but the third time, Snow White succumbed to the poisoned apple and fell into a deep sleep.

The dwarfs, unable to revive her, placed Snow White in a glass coffin. A prince passing by saw her beauty and asked the dwarfs if he could take the coffin. As his servants carried it away, one stumbled, dislodging the piece of apple from Snow White's throat. She awoke, and the prince, enchanted by her beauty, asked her to be his bride.

Snow White agreed, and they celebrated their union. The wicked queen, learning of Snow White's survival, attended the wedding. As punishment for her evil deeds, she was forced to dance in red-hot iron shoes until she fell down dead.

History and Meaning

The version most widely known today is attributed to the Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who collected and published folktales in the early 19th century. Their rendition, titled "Schneewittchen" or "Snow White," was included in the first edition of their collection, "Grimm's Fairy Tales," published in 1812.

The Grimms' tale drew inspiration from existing European folk traditions, combining elements from oral storytelling with their own literary contributions. The central themes of beauty, jealousy, and the triumph of good over evil resonate with many traditional stories found throughout different cultures.

It's essential to note that the Brothers Grimm adapted their tales for a specific cultural context. Their primary aim was to preserve and document Germanic folk traditions during a time of increased interest in national identity and cultural heritage. In doing so, they often modified the tales to align with the prevailing values and sensibilities of their audience.

The character of Snow White herself can be traced back to earlier European folk narratives and mythology, where tales of beautiful maidens facing trials and challenges were common. The symbolic use of colors, such as Snow White's white skin, red lips, and black hair, adds a vivid and memorable quality to the narrative.

Disney's animated film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), played a crucial role in popularizing the story to a global audience and contributing to its status as a classic fairy tale.