It has been years since I have seen the Disney movie of Snow White. Now that I have watched it again being much older, it was difficult to not watch the movie from a different perspective. After reading the original story, the background behind it, and learning of Disney’s life and influence, you begin to notice certain things in the movie. First thing that I noticed as the movie began, is that the mirror is a male and that she seems to call him her “slave.” I just found it interesting and ironic that this powerful, all-knowing male that causes the queen to feel inferior is called her slave. In a way the mirror in the story (which supposedly represents a male or the male gaze) is an all powerful being that, for all we know, was lying to the queen about who was the “fairest of them all” and therefore purposefully causing trouble in attempt to make the queen feel vain.
Another aspect of the movie that I really payed attention to was the role of the dwarves. I really like how Disney decided to give the dwarves names in the movie. It really made the story much more entertaining and happy. I especially love how he assigned them their own unique personality based on their names. It was also really cute to see how these little dwarves cared for Snow White. In the dwarves’ house, it seemed as though Snow White was in control especially when she tells them all to wash up before dinner. I found this to be very interesting. Also in the original story, it was the dwarves who told Snow White that she had to clean and cook while she stayed there, but in the movie it was Snow White who offered up this idea and the dwarves quickly agree to it because they don’t know how to cook good meals for themselves. In the Disney movie, the dwarves seem to act almost like children, besides the fact that they have beards, which I find very funny. After reading different annotations and meanings behind the dwarves and the prince, I couldn’t help but notice those things as well. The dwarves noticeably represented the working class and seem to do most of the work in the story. The dwarves are the ones who protect her all throughout the story, even chasing away the evil queen to her death, and then care for her even after “death.” Nevertheless, it is the prince who randomly swoops in, kisses Snow White, and is suddenly labeled a hero. As a child I always thought this was a cute story where the prince finally comes to rescue the princess thats in trouble, but I never really seemed to notice that he didn’t actually do much or play a significant role in most of the story. I always found it funny and strange how the prince and Snow White met for literally a second and in that second she immediately ran away. Then somehow in the end and all throughout the story, they were so in love. However, as silly as it is, I do like Disney’s touch of adding the signature “true love’s kiss.” This is one characteristic that makes the story cute, romantic, and happy despite the hidden connotation that a woman needs a man to save her and live happily ever after.
Another aspect of the movie that is obviously different from the original story is the singing and music. In my opinion I love this about Disney movies and definitely think that they add to the happiness and entertainment aspect of them. I personally know most of these Disney songs and sing them a lot with my siblings. However, Snow White has an incredibly high voice so I don’t end up listening to her songs often.
I was caught completely off guard when I saw Snow White praying next to the beds. I never noticed this as a child and if I did I probably didn’t think much of it. She seems to represent the ideal white, Christian American.
There were also obvious differences in the encounter between Snow White and the evil queen dressed as an old hag. In the movie I feel as though they made the queen look creepier than she is suppose to be in the story. Also instead of just making the poisonous apple look super irresistible, the queen made Snow White believe that it was a “wishing apple.” I guess they created the “wishing apple” as a way to incorporate the idea of the prince and true love into the storyline. However, in both versions Snow White was her usual naive and gullible self. I also noticed that while the queen was making the potion to turn herself into an old woman she mentioned the three main symbolic colors red, white, and black.
In Disney’s version of Snow White there was also the added component of the animal side kicks. Disney seems to always add an animal sidekick or helper in his Disney princess movies. You seem them helping her to clean, protect her, and even warn the dwarves of the queen’s evil plans.
It is fascinating to see the progression of animation, especially in Disney, throughout the years. It has been so long since I have sat and watched the oldest Disney movies such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, or Cinderella because I usually end up watching the newer ones such as Beauty & the Beast, Mulan, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and now Moana.
Overall, I do love and enjoy watching this movie. Without a doubt, Disney created an industry that would revolutionize story telling and film making with his amazing animation technique and his famous “happily ever after” and “true love’s kiss.”
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