The Messed Up Origins of Snow White (REVISITED!) | Fables Explained - Jon Solo

Jon Solo18 minutes read

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves tells the story of a beautiful princess saved by dwarves from an evil queen's attempts on her life. The tale explores themes of envy, rescue, and a happy ending, drawing inspiration from earlier stories like "The Young Slave."

Insights

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, originally published by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, went through 17 editions from 1812 to 1857, highlighting its enduring popularity and cultural impact over several decades.
  • The tale of Lisa, influenced by Snow White and other narratives, delves into themes of mistaken identity, mistreatment, and eventual redemption, showcasing parallels with Snow White's story while adding unique elements to the broader narrative landscape.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What is the origin of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves?

    The story was published by the Grimm brothers in 1812.

  • How does Snow White end up with the Seven Dwarves?

    Snow White finds refuge with them after escaping her evil queen mother.

  • Who saves Snow White from the poisoned apple?

    A servant dislodges the apple from her throat, reviving her.

  • What happens to the evil queen in Snow White?

    She dies a gruesome death as punishment for her wickedness.

  • How does the story of Lisa relate to Snow White?

    Lisa's tale draws inspiration from Snow White's themes of mistreatment, disguise, and eventual redemption.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Grimm's Snow White: Envy, Rescue, and Love

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was originally published by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in 1812, with 17 editions released until 1857.
  • The story begins with a queen pricking her finger, wishing for a daughter as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as ebony.
  • Snow White grows up to be adored by all, causing jealousy in her mother, the queen.
  • The queen, envious of Snow White's beauty, orders her death by a huntsman, who spares her life and brings back a boar's organs instead.
  • Snow White finds refuge with the Seven Dwarves, who allow her to stay in exchange for cooking and cleaning.
  • The queen, learning of Snow White's survival, attempts to kill her thrice with a tight bodice, a poisoned comb, and a poisoned apple.
  • Snow White is saved by the dwarves each time, until the poisoned apple causes her apparent death.
  • A prince discovers Snow White's body, becomes enamored, and takes her to his castle, where she is revived by a servant dislodging the apple from her throat.
  • Snow White marries the prince, and the evil queen, attending the wedding, dies a gruesome death as punishment for her wickedness.
  • The Grimm brothers likely drew inspiration from earlier tales like "The Young Slave," featuring similar themes of exile, threats on life, and rescue, to craft their version of Snow White.

11:54

Deception, Banquet, and Happy Endings: Lisa's Tale

  • Lisa, after being mistaken for her uncle's mistress by his new wife Dolores, is mistreated, beaten, and disguised to be unrecognizable. When her uncle Larry returns, he is deceived by Dolores into believing Lisa is a slave sent as a gift. Despite this, Larry treats Lisa with respect and eventually recognizes her true identity.
  • Larry overhears Lisa threatening to kill herself, prompting him to confirm her identity and send her away to recover. Upon her return, looking beautiful, Larry throws a banquet for her, exposes Dolores, and sets Lisa up with a handsome gentleman, leading to a happy ending for all involved.
  • The story of Lisa, influenced by various tales including Snow White, addresses questions about her aging in the casket and her fitting into the young slave role. The tale, part of Snow White's broader narrative, showcases the Grimm's writing and the lost manuscripts that connect to it.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.