The original Snow White story, most famously collected and published by the Brothers Grimm in their 1812 edition of Children's and Household Tales (or Kinder- und Hausmärchen), is a dark yet captivating fairy tale focused on themes of beauty, envy, and the triumph of good over evil. This version is widely considered the foundational narrative for countless adaptations.
The Birth of Snow White and the Queen's Wish
The narrative begins with a queen, who, struck by the sight of three drops of blood upon freshly fallen snow while sewing, wished for a child with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. Her wish was granted, and she soon gave birth to a beautiful daughter whom she named Snow White. Tragically, the benevolent queen died shortly after childbirth.
The Arrogant Stepmother and the Magic Mirror
After a year, the king remarried a woman of striking beauty but immense arrogance and vanity. This new queen possessed a magical mirror, which she frequently consulted to affirm her beauty, asking, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" For many years, the mirror faithfully confirmed her status as the fairest.
A Tale of Jealousy and Escape
As Snow White grew older, her beauty surpassed that of her stepmother. When the queen again asked her magic mirror, it declared Snow White to be the fairest. Enraged by this pronouncement, the envious queen ordered a huntsman to take Snow White into the forest, kill her, and bring back her lungs and liver as proof. However, the huntsman took pity on Snow White, instructing her to flee deep into the woods and bringing the organs of a young boar back to the queen instead.
Life with the Seven Dwarfs
Lost and afraid, Snow White stumbled upon a small cottage belonging to seven dwarfs, who worked in a nearby mine. She found the house tidy and welcoming, eventually falling asleep there. Upon their return, the dwarfs, touched by her story, offered her a place to stay in exchange for her looking after their home. They warned her never to open the door to strangers, as her stepmother would surely discover her.
The Stepmother's Persistent Treachery
Despite the dwarfs' warnings, the wicked queen, learning from her magic mirror that Snow White was still alive, made several attempts to kill her. She disguised herself as an old peddler and first tried to suffocate Snow White with a tight lace, then poisoned her with a comb. Each time, the dwarfs returned to revive Snow White. Her final, and seemingly successful, attempt involved a poisoned apple. Snow White, despite her caution, took a bite from the poisoned half and fell into a deep, death-like slumber.
The Prince, the Coffin, and the Happy Ending
Believing her to be dead, the dwarfs placed Snow White in a glass coffin. A prince, riding through the forest, saw Snow White and was immediately captivated by her beauty. He convinced the dwarfs to let him take the coffin. As his servants carried the coffin, they stumbled, causing the piece of poisoned apple lodged in Snow White's throat to dislodge. She awoke, much to everyone's joy. The prince declared his love and proposed marriage.
The evil queen, once again consulting her mirror, was informed that the new queen was far fairer. Unaware that this was Snow White, she attended the wedding, only to be horrified upon recognizing her stepdaughter. As a punishment for her wickedness, the queen was forced to dance in red-hot iron shoes until she dropped dead. Snow White and the prince lived happily ever after.
Key Elements of the Brothers Grimm's "Snow White"
Element | Description |
---|---|
Origin | Collected and published by the German linguists and cultural researchers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, in their renowned collection Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children's and Household Tales). |
Protagonist | Snow White, named for her striking beauty: skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. |
Antagonist | The vain, beautiful, and cruel stepmother queen, obsessed with her own beauty and driven to murderous envy by Snow White's superior looks. |
Magical Item | A magical, truth-telling mirror that acts as the source of the queen's insecurity and triggers her malevolent actions. |
Recurring Motif | The stepmother's repeated, disguised attempts to kill Snow White, often involving seemingly innocent objects like a lace, a comb, and an apple. |
Resolution | Snow White is revived by a twist of fate (the dislodged apple piece) and marries a prince, while the stepmother faces a severe and fitting punishment. |
Enduring Legacy of the Original Tale
The Brothers Grimm's "Snow White" profoundly influenced subsequent interpretations and remains a cornerstone of Western fairy tale tradition. Its vivid imagery, memorable characters, and stark moral lessons have resonated through generations, ensuring its place as one of the most beloved and impactful stories in folklore.