Image credit: Landsbókasafn Íslands
Marcia Lieberman’s “Some Day my Prince Will Come” explained the messages that young children receive about gender roles and the superficial values that they are taught even before they understand what it is that they are really learning. The process of acculturation.
This understanding made my re-review of many versions of the classic tale of “Snow White” made it all the more entertaining.
Some of the recurring themes and messages I found while reading "Snow White", were women, (even Queens) actually like to do domesticating chores like sewing; that women are so indecisive that even after they get what they ask for they will still find some measure of dissatisfaction. Extreme vanity is a priority, being the most beautiful in comparison to those around you is of the upmost importance at all times. There was a lot of narcissism abound and I’ve figured that “the mirror” wasn’t telling the Queen she was not the fairest but perhaps it was her own honest reflection (based on her insecurities) that made her feel that way.
The stories also reiterated that women were the shallow, weaker, loveless souls who would kill their own children if it meant that the spotlight would remain on them. That they are vindictive and conniving and almost down right dim-witted (after all, how many times did the dwarfs have to tell her not to open the door to anyone and under any circumstance). This also helps to establish that women are very disobedient even when, what they are being told is for their own protection and that bad things happen when they do not comply with what they are told.
The males were far more compassionate than any of the female characters.
Mother-daughter (female) rivalry. Ageism. And that marriage should be the ultimate goal for any woman.
Works Cited:
Germany, Jacob and Grimm, Wilhelm. “Little Snow-White” Kinder- und Hausmarchen. 1.53. Berlin: Realschulbuchhandlung, 1812. pages 238-50.
Lieberman, Marica. “Some Day My Prince Will Come”: Female Acculturation through the Fairy Tale College English.34.3.National Council of Teachers of English, 1972.pages 383-395
Image found: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs_2.png
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