Disney's Adaptation Of Grimms Fairy Tales

The original story of the beautiful girl with fair skin and a wicked stepmother originated in Grimms’ fairy tales in 1812 as a morbid tale of the beauty and vanity that fit with the culture of the time. However, modern adaptations have evolved to reflect the state of the audience. Disney’s more recent adaptation in 1937 was meant for a much softer generation of children than those raised in the 19th century, while Universal Pictures adaptation moves back to dark origins to appease an adult audience that has grown from its predecessor.
When the Grimms’ Brothers published their tale of Snow White in the early 19th century, it was during the initial start of the Industrial Revolution globally. This time period brought many people out of the rural
countryside and within close proximity to each other. This mass urbanization bred disease, larger birthrates and worst of all brutal conditions for workers in factories, many being young children. The children of this time period were subject to everyday atrocities that molded their consciousness to be tolerant of the wickedness of the world. It is not difficult to see why the Grimms’ fairy tales were fitting in the time period, with their gruesome punishments, such as the wicked stepmother dancing herself to death in shoes made of burning coals, or odious plots that allowed for a stepmother to be so consumed by envy that she would try murdering her seven-year-old stepdaughter not once, but four times in the original tale. Yet, as horrific as that seems to us, children under the age of 12 who worked in mills and factories were constantly exposed to “accidents.” They were familiar with losing limbs and copious amounts of blood. They were often exposed to hatred as they would fight in factories while adults would bet on them. By 1800, 25% of cotton mill workers were under the age of 15 with more than half of those being under the age of 12(Yellowitz para 4). Harsh conditions and a difficult way of life was a norm. So the graphic quality of this story was there for the lessons it taught to the children.It was not to terrify its audience literally but morally.
In 1937, Disney released it’s very first in a long lineage of Disney princess, none other than our fair maiden, Snow White.
Yet while this story followed all the major points in the story plot, it lacked the undertones of horror that was so prevalent in the Grimms’ Brothers’ tale. This was to appease an audience of much softer children. Child labor was barred at the time due to the Fair Labor Standards Act and no one under the age of 15 could be employed if it was considered hard labor. This was also during a time of peace in the US. The Great War had ended 15 years prior and the beginning of WWII had not yet begun. The Great Depression was ending and the economy was on the rise(McCalister para. 1,2). Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was there to reassure children that the wickedness of the world would never prevail. During this time in U.S. history, everyone was on guard for the next war or economic disaster. This new film was meant as a reassurance to children everywhere that no matter what love and friendship would always win, even if the friends were dwarfs. This new version came with catchy tunes, shiny diamonds, and a protagonist that was double the age of her previous self in the Grimm’ version, making the overall story much more inviting to a softer generation of children. Each of these cultural aspects led to a film that comforted it’s audience in a time that it needed it
most.
As time went on and new adaptations were made we see a shift in the way that Snow White films are portrayed.
The films go back to it’s darker origins. Snow White and the Huntsman produced by Universal Studios in 2012 grossed over 400 million worldwide(Mojo”Box Office”). This terrifying tale may even surpass the horror shown within the one written by the Grimm Brothers, but that was from the result of changes within the target audience. This new version was aimed at teen and adult audiences. The film and Grimms’ story begins with very similar opening scenes including the drop of blood in the snow from a Queen, which makes her want a child white as snow and red as blood. This in itself is a bit disturbing considering that is what made her think of having a child. As the story progresses, however, the similarities diminish as the queen murders her husband, taking over an empire and imprisons Snow White until she is 17 years of age, only to release her to murder her. This is a much more complex story than the previous attempts by Disney and the Grimms Brothers’. Yet this development of the story is necessary in order to captivate an older audience. Our generation not only watched this film but loved it. Critics couldn’t help but mention,"Snow White and the Huntsman" reinvents the legendary story in a film full of astonishing beauty and imagination.” or “the treasure of this film is in two of its locations: a harsh, forbidding Dark Forest, and an enchanted fairyland”(Ebert para.
1 ,6). There are many more reviews like this mentioning how they loved the gothic style of the film and dark additions. What caused the change in the film industry to go back to the darker origins of this classic story? The cultural aspects of the 2000’s are much different than those found during the original film adaptation from the 1930’s. The culture that brought out the darkest parts in this new version arose from a generation that had grown up around the classic Disney version of Snow White, they had become adults now. These adults had already learned that the world is full of horrors and that these fairy tales barely hit the surface of the true evil within the world. Going back as an adult to see this story grow into a much more complex one must have felt like a natural shift. The fairy tale grew up alongside them. Both to reveal the exorbitant amount of evil that the real world brings. Our modern culture also lacks the barrier of media that the previous era struggled with.
The story of Snow White has forgone many changes throughout time to mold into our culture. It has stood the test of time to teach us valuable lessons about envy and compassion. Only time will tell what new adaptations will bring. We can live in comfort knowing that our fair maiden with blood red lips will always be just what we need when the time calls for it.