Intro
Starting off with a new series, analyzing all the Disney Princess characters. Even though the first movies of Disney are very calm and don't have too much tension, that doesn't mean they aren't good. All Disney princesses have character and have their own journey. They have good and bad character traits even if they are a challenge to see when you just watch the movie. To that I say: Challenge excepted!
Starting off with the very first Disney Princess and also the first feature length animated movie by Walt Disney: Snow White. When thinking of snow white, there are a few character traits that come to mind. She is kind, dreamy, very nurturing, happy... Not a bad trait inside, right? Well... I do see it otherwise. You might not agree with me, but let me take you on Snow White's journey, and look behind the magic for her character flaws.
Snow White's Backstory And Beginning Of The Movie
We don't get to know a lot about her before the story actually starts, but I am assuming that before she lost both of her parents she was beloved and had a good life. Of course, there's the life action, but since there are a lot of changes in that version, I will not go into that movie right now. (Personally, I do like this movie, but that is a tale for another blog post.) So for now, I will assume she grew up with loving parents until her mother died. Her father died and remarried, and only after he died too, she showed her true colors.
Now that she is living with only her stepmother, things have changed. Afraid that Snow White will one day be more beautiful than her, the queen puts her in rags, and makes her clean the castle. Forcing her to act like a maid in her own home.
It isn't stated in the movie, but if you look it up, it seems to be cannon that Snow White is only fourteen in the movie, and she has been doing this for who knows how long. She's still young and a child, so you can't really blame her for doing what she is told. Where is she supposed to go anyway?
But despite the way she is treated by her wicked stepmother, she continues to be happy and tries to make the best of it. Doing her chores, talking to her animal friends and dreaming of finding love someday.
This already brings forth her character even in the first few minutes. She is kind showing how she acts to the doves in the courtyard. She knows how to make the best of a bad situation, by singing and remaining happy even though she is treated like a slave by the evil queen. She is dreamy and romantic. The fact that she is wishing for her prince might make her romantic character seem like a bad trait, but it depends on how you look at it. She is a teenager, not having gotten much love for a long time. Perhaps her prince will finally take her away from her abusive stepmother. Maybe in her head, that is her way to be free and feel loved again.
Writer's Note: The romantic trait I feel is a neutral trait to begin with, but could turn into an either good or bad trait. Being romantic might be great in a relationship between characters, and they can come up with new ways to spice up their relationship or do sweet things for their partner. Though on the other side of the spectrum are bad expectations. Perhaps a character is dreaming of a perfect man or woman that doesn't exist. It would be a fun thing for a romance book, having the character having the person they actually love right in front of them, but not realizing it because they are looking for the perfect partner. Honestly, iconic for 'feel good' movies, but also pretty fun (sub) plot for a novel if you ask me.
The Inciting Incident
The inciting incident happens very quickly in the movie. The queen orders the Huntsman to kill her. At first Snow White is still happy and singing, until she realizes he is about to kill her. Luckily for her, he can't get it over his heart and tells her to run away.
Having been sheltered for who knows how long, probably always having someone with her to escort her if she was outside, and knowing her own stepmother wants to kill her... The forest might seem very scary to anyone if you ask me. Her whole life has been turned upside down within seconds. She has to survive on her own now, and she is still very young.
The fact that she is so afraid and kind of sees everything attacking her in the forest, I do not consider a moment of weakness. It's not showing weakness or strength. It is showing actual fear, because someone wants her dead and someone actually did try to murder her.
Writer's Note: While a character's biggest fear can often be tied to one of their flaws, or even one of their good traits, it doesn't always have to be that way. Someone could just be afraid of spiders, or be afraid of the dark, and those fears can be used in the story to test the character. Sure, there has would need to be SOMETHING personal that they're afraid of or go through, but a lot of people just have simple fears. Some maybe don't even have to be faced. For example, a character might be afraid of needing to choose between two people or families (in a non-romantic way), but by the end realizes they don't have to choose at all and could have them both in their life. A character fear is really what THEY are afraid of. Not what is really going to happen by the end of a story.
A New Life
After running through the forest for a while she collapses crying, only to then find out that that the eyes she had been seeing everywhere had just been forest critters. She instantly befriends them and shows her kindness and her animal loving nature to them. While being lost in the forest, she simply sings a song and makes herself feel better again. This once again shows how she tries to make the best of any situation. Instead of staying stuck where she is, she asks the critters for help, letting them take her to a place to sleep at night.
This is where one of her possible bad traits could be shown though. If you think about it, you could call it a bit naive what she is doing, because she finds the cottage and instantly walks in when no one seems to be home. She doesn't know who lives there, and neither do the forest critters as far as I know. Cause they just take her there and also walk in, seeming to be very curious. It could be a bad person who lives there, or maybe even a trap set by the evil queen. But she simply steps inside, giving it no thought at all.
When she sees the mess and considers the fact that the people who live there are children without parents, she instantly starts cleaning. It shows her nurturing character. She does not even hesitate to help the 'children' and works together with the animals to clean everything in hope they will allow her to stay. When she finds out the children are dwarfs, she still asks them if she can stay, and promises to cook, clean, and bake for them in return. She sees seven little men who need help, and she wants to help them. She is very much like a mother figure to them, telling them to wash up for dinner as she cooks for them.
The Old Hag
Honestly, the end of the movie is where her bad character traits come into play the most. She knows the queen is after her, and she also knows that she possesses dark magic, since Grumpy mentioned it. He literally said she could make herself invisible and be in the room at that very moment. The dwarfs tell her not to open the door for anyone or talk to strangers because of this very reason.
As she is baking and the peddler woman appears at her window, she is startled for a moment, but kindly talks back to her. Even though the grin on the hag's face is very clear. It shows her how she is a bit naive and too trusting. Her kindness becomes her weakness here. Even the animals can see the witch is up to no good and attack her. What does Snow White do? Scold the animals trying to save her, and take the woman inside while she has been specifically told NOT to let anyone inside.
Of course, she just wants to let the old woman catch her breath and give her something to drink. But the peddler woman takes it a step further and tells her about one of her apples being a wishing apple. Snow White, being very gullible and seeing nothing wrong at all believes this without even hesitating. She takes the bite from the apple, putting her into a sleep.
Of course eventually she is saved, but she was only lucky that the dwarfs didn't want to bury her and that the prince found her. Otherwise she would have been asleep forever.
Conclusion
So, now that we have analyzed Snow White's journey and looked at the events of the movie, let's summarize her character.
Good Traits: Kindness, Nurturing, Making the best of a bad situation, Resourceful (comes up with a plan to survive very quickly)
Neutral traits: Animal Lover, Dreamy, Romantic
Bad Traits: Naive, Gullible
So, while not being considered a layered character in the movie, I think there is at least a start if you really think about it. She is not perfect, even though she comes off as that. And the most fun is that if you'd consider writing a character like her, or use her in a fanfiction, you can flesh her out with your own twists. A character based on Snow White (or even a story based on Snow White for that matter) would need some creativity of your own. But honestly, that is what all retelling need.
---
So this was the first in the Disney Princess series. I am planning on going through them all, maybe even in order. So if you want your favorite princess to be analyzed, then don't worry, she will come eventually!
What do you think of this analysis? Any traits you consider her having? Let me know in the comments!
----
No comments:
Post a Comment