Teddy Discussion 15

For me the analysis of the work Blanche-Neige by Bettelheim is the one most linked and close to the details presented in the poem written by Anne Sexton. The poem begins with Snow White’s stepmother hiring a hunter to kill her. Bettelheim in his analysis interprets the role of the hunter as “not a figure who slays friendly creatures, but a person who dominates, controls and subdues wild and ferocious beasts”. (Bettelheim page 205). Then in the poem, the purity of Snow White is highlighted by the details of her appearance. The repetition of the color “white” is significant and is even included in the maiden’s name “She was undefiled…beautiful virgin” (Sexton lines 12-14). White representing the symbol of purity, the hunter could not bring himself to kill Snow White. Conversely, he preferred to lie and deceive the mother-in-law by giving her a boar’s heart because her character was associated with that of an animal. Second, the analysis of the naivety of Snow White is another of the observations related to the poem. We tend to associate too much beauty with stupidity. In the poem, despite being given very detailed instructions from the dwarves not to open the door for her safety, she continued to open the door and hurt herself every time. In his analysis Bettelheim, highlights the stereotype that is associated with beauty and its adolescent character. The innocence of the character is incredible because despite the fact that her stepmother wants her dead she still remains clueless about the dangers surrounding her.