Snow White

Walt Disney is a master of his art. He has changed fairy tales to meet what has defined as a fairy tale. The tales he re-mastered would not be known if he had not done so. Disney’s target audience for his tales of course are children, and with this in mind, he ensured his tale romanticized the storyline and was not too gruesome. Disney did not stray from his ideal fairy tale when he analyzed The Brothers Grimm “original” version of Snow White. Disney removed what he saw as too much for children to handle, and ensured the tale included the happily-ever-after ending. Although, Disney did not change the storyline of the tale he did end up making the hard to believe tale even more unrealistic. Jack Zipes made the argument that Disney did not change the tale for the sake of the audience, but for his own selfishness. As all Disney was intending to do was to “show off” his talent. Due to Disney and his one-track mind, the tale has transformed into a negative tale, which is teaching children life always has a “happily ever after ending.”
Disney tale varied from The Brothers Grimm version significantly. In the Grimm’s tale, the Wicked Queen attempts to kill Snow White three times (Grimm 86, 87, 88). While in the Disney version, the Wicked Queen is successful on her very first attempt. In Disney’s version, “The Victim of the Sleeping Death can be revived only by Love’s First Kiss.” (Disney 1:04:00) This of course happens at the end of the movie. While what awakens Snow White in The Brothers Grimm telling is, “It happened that they stumbled over a shrub, and the jolt freed the poisonous piece of apple lodged in Snow White's throat. She came to life.” (89) Also, in the Grimm’s tale, the Wicked Queen is not chased off a cliff, but she is forced to dance in a pair of red-hot iron shoes until she drops dead. “Iron slippers had already been heated up over a fire of coals. They were brought in with tongs and set right in front of her. She had to put on the red hot iron shoes and... [continues]

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