muntasir ali

The seven dwarfs in the story can be seen as a representation of the child’s own inner psychological development. Bettelheim notes that each dwarf has a distinct personality trait, which corresponds to a stage of psychological development that the child goes through. For example, Dopey represents the child’s playful and carefree nature, while Grumpy represents the child’s emerging sense of autonomy and independence. The wicked stepmother in the story can be seen as a representation of the internalized voice of the mother, which can be hostile and critical towards the child’s emerging independence. This can create an inner conflict in the child, which is reflected in Snow White’s struggle with the stepmother. Bettelheim’s psychologically oriented reading of “Little Snow White” provides a rich and insightful interpretation of the story, highlighting its relevance to the psychological development of children.