Children's literature boasts many striking examples that have found their place in the modern world. Who doesn’t know Rapunzel or the Bremen Town Musicians? Smart Elsa or Cinderella? For centuries, these tales have occupied bookshelves in almost every home, and their characters become prototypes in various fields of art. No less love won "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." It was written not by one author, but by two. Like other works, they all belong to German writers, William and Jacob Grimm.
The distant birth of a white-skinned brunette
The story of the beauty is not the only fairy tale of the Grimm brothers. But, of course, one of the most beloved and recognized among readers around the world. The image of a deprived girl, driven out of her house by an evil stepmother, is often subject to various interpretations, finding application in music, painting, sculpture and, of course, cinema. In 1812 was written, and a few years later supplemented by “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The main idea of its creators was deep in nature, which included many important aspects.
Key components
Any production, especially if it is intended for the younger generation, must carry a certain motive. By the way, often such tales are also to the liking of adults as well, because the inherent values do not disappear anywhere over time. On the contrary, such works have been tested for centuries and are rightfully considered heritage monuments. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was no exception, the main idea of which included aspects of good and evil, love and hatred, mythology and Christian theology, which can be found throughout the whole story.
“Snow White” is similar to the “Sleeping Beauty” invented by the Grimm brothers. The heroine also falls into a dream, and can be awakened at the touch of the king. Domestic literature can draw its own parallel - just remember the “Tale of the Dead Princess and the Seven Knights”, which A.S. created in 1833 Pushkin.
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”: content and main characters
The queen has long dreamed of a daughter. Her pleas were heard: a lovely baby with snow-white skin, ruddy cheeks and ash-black hair appears. After the death of the mother, the girl’s father marries a proud woman who should become her stepmother. The magic mirror suggests that there is nobody in the whole world more beautiful than Snow White. The stepmother in every possible way tries to get rid of the stepdaughter and even orders her to be killed.
But Snow White is saved by the forest gnomes from whom she settles. But they do not have time to protect them from their stepmother - the beauty falls asleep, the king who has fallen in love with her can wake her ...
The antagonist of the tale is the stepmother, who with Snow White makes the opposite duet. Snow White herself is represented by a romantic nature, dreaming of a prince and true love. Seven funny and not similar to each other gnomes act as independent characters, and secondary - other forest animals who came to listen to Snow White, as well as a magic mirror, which in the hands of a selfish mistress must constantly say who is the most beautiful in the world.
Interpretation of the plot. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”: the main idea
Analyzing the work, you can find several interesting facts:
- the presence of symbolic motifs, objects (a poisoned apple, a magic mirror telling the truth about beauty), as well as the contrast of key colors: red (blood) and white (snow);
- the number 3 is repeated several times: three drops of blood in the snow, three appearances of the stepmother and three transferred enchanted gifts (belt, apple, comb);
- the number 7 indicates the number of mountain peaks and the gnomes themselves, and is also a reference to other works of the Brothers Grimm;
- the image of the stepmother is a type of “black shadow” that is designed to destroy and absorb.
The antique subtext was also reflected in the fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”: dwarf heroes symbolize celestial bodies and seven days of the week. According to researchers, their harmonious tandem with a white-skinned beauty is a picture of a celestial device in which the Earth is surrounded by seven bodies that are its protectors. Also, as the story goes, Snow White stumbles upon the dwarves' home, tells her sad story, and they agree to help her, loving and protecting her.
And yet the main idea of the tale is quite simple: love and kindness. Even after more than one century, Snow White is identified with a source of light and sincerity, which she is ready to generously share with the whole world. Despite the fact that the stepmother unjustly acted in relation to the stepdaughter, this simple girl with a good heart found the strength not to become embittered. Such a delicate and profound work as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, whose main idea is this: do no evil, be friendly to the people around you, will not leave anyone indifferent. And the good will definitely come back to you!
Fairy-tale adaptation
The work was repeatedly transferred by filmmakers to the big screen. A well-known adaptation is the animated version of Disney's 1937 studio. Among the most recent is the 2012 feature film Snow White: Revenge of the Dwarfs, designed in the comedy genre.