Snow White is the third most popular Disney princess but enjoyed fame before Disney adapted it. Have you wondered where the name of the princess comes from? Let us tell you.
The Brothers Grimm introduced the original story in the 1800s, and the name was inspired by Snow White’s mother, who saw snow, blood, and a black window and wondered if her child could look like that. She later gave birth to the protagonist, who appeared white as snow.
However, in other adaptations, Snow White symbolizes innocence, purity, and peace. For more on the story’s origins and folktale, please continue reading.
Who Is Snow White?
We have all heard the name and probably distinctly remember it, too, but let us give you a refresher on who Snow White is and the tale that follows her.
A fictional character and a princess in the fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Snow White is the protagonist.
After her mother dies and is replaced by a wicked stepmother jealous of Snow White, she is made to leave the castle and then stranded in the forest. Her stepmother orders the huntsmen to bring back her heart, but the huntsmen spare her and take back an animal’s heart, leaving her alone in the forest.
Here, she finds refuge in a cottage owned by seven dwarfs and makes it her home.
Upon finding out about Snow White still being alive, the wicked stepmother takes matters into her own hands, disguises herself as an older woman, and poisons Snow White with an apple. Snow White is presumed dead until a prince restores her life with a kiss.
The story is a classic tale of good versus evil, with Snow White representing purity, innocence, and beauty, while her stepmother represents jealousy, vanity, and evil.
Historical Origins Of The Story
Like most other old tales, the tale of Snow White has also evolved. It has been adapted over the years, given different angles, with varying character descriptions. The origins of the story can be traced back to several sources.
The most ancient record of the tale was discovered in the literature of the Italian poet and writer,
Giambattista Basile. This version dates back to the 16th century and is titled “The Young Slave.” The protagonist is not a princess in this tale but is poisoned by her jealous stepmother and brought back to life by a kiss from a prince.
The second and most widely known version of the tale is by The Brothers Grimm in the early 1800s. They are widely known for their collections of many renowned fairy tales and were the first to call the protagonist “Snow White” and title the story. We briefed you on this story at the beginning of the article.
Several other variations have been found across different cultures. The story has also been adapted into a film with further variations and details added to it.
For more, watch this Youtube video: The Messed Up Origins of Snow White (REVISITED!) | Fables Explained – Jon Solo.
Why Is Snow White Called Snow White?
The name Snow White comes from the Grimm Brothers’ version of the tale. This version was written in German, and the protagonist was named “Schneewittchen,” which translates to “Snow White” in English.
The choice of this name is very intentional, is related solely to her appearance, and is described in the story. The story goes over an instance when the protagonist’s mother, the Queen, is sewing, and it begins to snow.
She looks at the snow through a window that has a black window frame and pricks herself with the needle. The blood falls on the snow, and she wonders if she would have a child as white as snow, red as blood, and black as the window.
She later gives birth to Snow White, who has skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony.
In later adaptations, other meanings of the name have been explored. White is often seen as a color of peace, innocence, and purity. To reflect the good side that Snow White is on, she is given a name that overtly describes her goodness to the reader.
However, the name Snow White is originally based on the appearance of the tale’s protagonist.
Significance Of The Story
It may seem like a harmless fairy tale to most of us, but the extent of its impact is hard to measure. Below we have discussed a few ways the story holds significance and has shaped years of media and literature.
White German Folktale
The tale of Snow White holds immense importance in the cultural heritage of Germany. The tale was introduced as a folktale and was passed down for generations. It shaped the culture, values, and future tales presented in the coming years.
Moreover, literature was influenced heavily by the tale of Snow White. Many poets wrote poems about the protagonist and her difficult life. Painters were also inspired by the tale and produced work that reflected the themes of the tale. Some attempted to paint characters from the story and describe the story.
Children’s Books
Introducing Snow White and other fairy tales was pivotal in developing children’s literature. More fictional tales with likable characters depicting good and characters designed to be unlikable depicted as evil began to be made.
These tales began to be introduced into school curriculums for children to read. Most age groups saw these tales as timeless, enjoyable, and a fuel to enhance children’s imagination and literacy.
Media
The tale of Snow White has withstood the test of time. While there have been variations in character descriptions, interpretations, storylines, plots, and more, the essence of the story has stayed the same. It has been turned into several movies, theater plays, and animated movies.
The numerous adaptations are hard to track as they have varied across cultures and the age group the story aims to cater to. Some popular ones include Snow White and the Huntsman, featuring Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, which featured another movie in the same universe.
Not only has the story been adapted on screen, but writers have created numerous retellings of the story – some of which feature Snow White as the villain.
The impact of Snow White on general media is huge and needs to be credited. Such tales also gave rise to newer stories with even more intricate plot lines to create better and more pleasurable content for the audiences.
Final Thoughts
We are sure that the story will become even more enjoyable to read and savor after knowing the historical origins of the title, the name of the main character, and the storyline. From the Brothers Grimm to recent developments in the story, we have an immensely enjoyable genre-within-a-genre to follow, with plentiful adaptations to compare and peruse.
