Snow White, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s protagonist, is situated in a society that is dominated by vanity in the fairy tale “Snow White”. Regardless of her attempts to escape the influences that society poses on women and girls of all ages, she remains fixated on beauty as well. As a result, Snow White is unconsciously conditioned to believe that luxurious or pretty items are worth sacrificing one’s life for in the tale. Appearance, and more importantly the extent to which beauty can supplement one’s life, act hand in hand to present one prominent theme in the tale. For Snow White is aware of her the power of beauty, and uses the appointed knowledge to her advantage.
Beauty acts as the influencing factor in the lives of all the characters of …show more content…
In a following instance, another luxurious item associated with vanity, occurs when the old peddler reveals a comb; Snow White is more reluctant to purchase the item now because she realizes the trouble she will face with the dwarfs, and on a subconscious level she is attempting to exhibit self-control. She demands the old lady to “go away,” she claims that she “cannot let anyone in” (Hallett and Karasek 120). In a broader sense the quote refers to the ideas that society thrusts on women to follow trends and attend to their beauty, or vanity. Snow White’s remark indicates her own will to detract society’s beliefs from her mind, her purpose by uttering these words is to attempt to push away the influences that have surrounded her as a child from viewing her stepmother. The old peddler’s comments in this instance are a microcosm of society’s demands for pampering oneself. A walking infomercial, she coerces Snow White into believing that she must have the item she views and succeeds because “she like[s] it so well that she forgot about everything” (Hallett and Karasek 120). In other words, Snow White is easily brainwashed into considering other beliefs enforced around her and forgets about her personal values. Her stepmother’s presence reveals the implication that she is the only model “the fairest of the land” has for presenting that a lady’s attitude toward her beauty must involve pride. In other words, the stepmother is the only woman, or mother figure, described in the tale that Snow White has any recollection of that could have provided her with quality values. The princess recognizes that she is beautiful but she is not as upfront, or proud as her stepmother, yet she continues to display signs of fascination with beauty and vanity. Before the disguised queen visits the enchanted princess, she always repeats the same
Beauty acts as the influencing factor in the lives of all the characters of …show more content…
In a following instance, another luxurious item associated with vanity, occurs when the old peddler reveals a comb; Snow White is more reluctant to purchase the item now because she realizes the trouble she will face with the dwarfs, and on a subconscious level she is attempting to exhibit self-control. She demands the old lady to “go away,” she claims that she “cannot let anyone in” (Hallett and Karasek 120). In a broader sense the quote refers to the ideas that society thrusts on women to follow trends and attend to their beauty, or vanity. Snow White’s remark indicates her own will to detract society’s beliefs from her mind, her purpose by uttering these words is to attempt to push away the influences that have surrounded her as a child from viewing her stepmother. The old peddler’s comments in this instance are a microcosm of society’s demands for pampering oneself. A walking infomercial, she coerces Snow White into believing that she must have the item she views and succeeds because “she like[s] it so well that she forgot about everything” (Hallett and Karasek 120). In other words, Snow White is easily brainwashed into considering other beliefs enforced around her and forgets about her personal values. Her stepmother’s presence reveals the implication that she is the only model “the fairest of the land” has for presenting that a lady’s attitude toward her beauty must involve pride. In other words, the stepmother is the only woman, or mother figure, described in the tale that Snow White has any recollection of that could have provided her with quality values. The princess recognizes that she is beautiful but she is not as upfront, or proud as her stepmother, yet she continues to display signs of fascination with beauty and vanity. Before the disguised queen visits the enchanted princess, she always repeats the same