HANDOUT 6: Symbolism in Snow White

Symbolism in Snow White:

Colors: White, Red, Black No Mother The Poison Apple The Significance of Seven The Names of the Dwarfs The Seven Deadly Sins The Seven Holy Virtues Resurrection The Work Ethic

Colors: Skin as white as snow Lips as red as blood Hair as black as ebony

These colors provide a direct indication that Snow White is a “coming of age” story.

White represents innocence (birth)

Red represents life and passion

Black represents death.

No Mother: The absence of a mother in The absence of the birth mother makes it possible for storytellers to introduce the role of the evil stepmother. The evil stepmother is a common element of many fairy tales: Snow White, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel. The lack of a mother at all is also common, because if a mother were present, the series of events would not unfold as they do in stories where there is no maternal influence. This element of storytelling aims to engage the readers sympathy and it does that very well.

The poison apple: This would seem to point all the way back to the biblical reference of the apple which was offered to Eve by the serpent (evil/Satan). The evil queen offers Snow White the apple in much the same way. Snow White knows she should not be speaking to strangers, but she does it anyway and she pays for that mistake by falling under the spell.

The significance of seven: The number seven was used many times in the Bible for signifying perfection. The book of Revelation contains numerous groups of sevens such as angels, churches, trumpets, crowns, mountains, stars, and kings. It is one of the most significant numbers in Christianity in the sense that “God created the world in seven days”, or rather he created the world in six days and on the seventh he rested.

The names of the dwarfs: The names of the seven dwarfs are: Dopey, Grumpy, Doc, Happy, Bashful, Sneezy and Sleepy. These names are more aptly “the seven moods of man” rather than sins.

HANDOUT 6: SYMBOLISM IN SNOW WHITE, CONT’D

The Seven Deadly Sins: The Seven Deadly Sins are represented in the story of Snow White, but not in the form of the seven dwarfs.

Pride/Vanity: Clearly the vanity of the Evil Queen. The mirror is clearly a direct reference to vanity.

Lust/Extravagance: Again, the Queen as royalty is extravagant.

Gluttony: The seven dwarfs eating (maybe a stretch). Or in the original tale, the Queen actually eats the heart of Snow White.

Greed: The Queen again.

Sloth: Originally meant sadness, melancholy, apathy, depression, and joylessness which would distract from attention to god. This applies to the dwarfs after Snow White dies and sloth in the form of sloppiness certainly applies to the seven dwarfs in their manner of housekeeping.

Wrath: The wrath of the seven dwarfs upon the witch after they discover Snow White dead.

Envy: The Queen (again).

The seven deadly sins have opposites in the seven holy virtues: Humility, Chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness. All of these are characteristics of Snow White.

Resurrection: Snow White “dies” and comes back to life.

The Work Ethic: Snow White cleans the little house without prompting and cooks without being asked. The seven dwarfs also are hard at work in the mines (Hey Ho...).