First, Bettelheim sees the story of “Little Snow White” as a story about the psychological struggle of complex maturation, especially in overcoming the Oedipal complex. He believes that the stepmother represents the child’s fear of separation from the mother and the desire to eliminate the father. This can be seen in Oates’ “Where are you going, where are you from?” through the character of Arnold Friend, who represents the fear of sexual awakening and the threat of male authority. Similarly, Sexton’s poem “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” highlights the psychological tensions of young girls through the protagonist’s attempts to cope with the world of adult sexuality.<\/p>\n
Second, Bettelheim argues that fairy tales provide a safe way for children to cope with anxiety and fear. In “Little Snow White,” the forest represents the subconscious, while the dwarf symbolizes aspects of the mind. Oates’ stories and Sexton’s poetry also use symbolism to explore the psychological tensions and fears of their characters. For example, Oates uses the car as a symbol of freedom and danger, while Sexton explores themes of jealousy and aging through the role of the evil stepmother.<\/p>\n
Finally, Bettelheim argues that fairy tales offer a sense of hope and resolution as the protagonists overcome obstacles and achieve personal growth. In “Little Snow White,” the character eventually triumphs over the evil stepmother and lives happily ever after with the prince. Similarly, in Oates’ story, the character of Connie must face the fears of adulthood and sexuality, but ultimately chooses to face them head-on. Sexton’s poetry also offers a sense of resolution as Snow White accepts her finitude and the inevitability of aging<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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