In the Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs there are many hidden religious symbols throughout the film. After doing some research and watching the film over again it became very evident that the colours in the film, the apple, the dwarfs, the mirror, the number seven,and even the use of all the animals in the movie contain a huge role in religious symbols.
Three prominent colours exist in the story of Snow White; white, red and black. They are captured in different area of the movie, most obviously and mainly in the appearance of Snow White. She has skin “white as snow, lips red as blood and her hair is as black as ebony.” These colours are not only found in the appearance of Snow White but are also represented in the three methods that the Queen uses for her murder attempts in the film. She initially uses white lace, then a black poisoned hair comb and finally a red poisoned apple. Each of these colours has significant symbolic implications and represents a time of life. White, representing birth, is for purity, virginity, and innocence. Red, representing life, symbolizes action, fire, charity, spiritual awakening, joy of life and love and the Holy Spirit. Black, symbolizing death, indicates the absolute and eternity.
The poison apple that the evil Queen offers Snow White is inarguably the most religious symbol in the Disney film. It represents a comparable story to that of Adam and Eve, where Eve is tempted by the forbidden fruit and is corrupted by her acceptance of this fruit. Just as in the Bible, Snow White is tempted by the poison apple and ultimately suffers for it. Just as Eve was warned against accepting the fruit, Snow White knows she should not be talking to and accepting gifts from strangers. Her weakness for the apple results in a “sleeping death”, whereas for Eve, her acceptance of the fruit results in a spiritual death.
There is a scene in the movie where Snow White makes the dwarfs wash up before dinner, this scene in the film is also a representation of religion. This scene in the film is supposed to represent a sort of baptism. The dwarfs have been reborn with Snow White in their lives; they will struggle to become better individuals because of this.
The magic mirror in the movie is another important symbol. The mirror, though always telling the truth causes the Queen’s jealousy and insecurity. Although the face of the mirror is only seen by views as a mask, the voice is clearly male. In many ways, the mirror represents Satan, as the viewer is blatantly shown the fires of hell on its surface. The role of the mirror warns against the dangers and evils of narcissism. It represents how we see ourselves as well as how others see us.
The number seven is very noticeable in the movie of Snow White. It appears in the film most obviously as the number of dwarfs; however the dwarfs also live over seven mountains from the castle. The number seven is also a very important number in Christianity. It represents the Biblical sum of perfection in that God created the world in seven days.
Animals are traditionally very important in Christianity, as the Bible stresses God’s skilful creation of all creatures. Mark stresses in the Bible that it is important to “preach the gospel to the whole creation.” As part of God’s creation, the birds and the beasts must also be sacred. The scriptures end with all the animals worshiping Jesus. This loyal devotion to Jesus is mirrored in Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The animals adore the heroine. They comfort her when she is lost and afraid in the forest, lead her to the dwarf’s house and even help her clean the cottage. Later in the film, they alert the dwarfs to the danger that their beloved mistress is in.
Snow White is viewed as a Jesus figure and it is made obvious when she falls into a sleeping death after taking a bite out of the poisonous apple, but is resurrect in the end by a true loves kiss.
|
|