Snow Child: The Feminist Viewpoint

How far do you agree that ‘Snow Child’ is a story that supports a feminist view point?

As a feminist author Carter criticises the position of women. Carter uses the theme of status and marriage to expose the true nature of patriarchal society. Carter herself was a feminist which influenced the way she wrote the story and the ideas involved in the story. The anthology was published in 1979 which was a time period where men had more power than women, which still happens today. Carter shows the control men have over men through the interactions the Count has with countess and the Snow Child.
In the story Carter highlights the count abusing the power he has as a man. This is seen when the count repeats ‘I wish I had a girl’ three times, which implies that with the power he has anything he wants he gets. It creates an allusion that the Count is like a God, he can make anything happen by just commanding it. Furthermore the Count’s selfish desires to have full control over the snow child. Mirrored the authority and dominance men had over women at the time. Carter shows the Count will is undisputed by the Snow Child appearing as soon as the Count finished his description of what he wanted her to look like.
In addition carter also shows how women are just seem as objects for men whenever they are wanted or needed. This is seen when ‘the furs sprang off the countess’s shoulders and twined round the naked’ snow child’s body. This portrays the idea of male dominance of clothing and unclothing to their desire. Within moments the innocent young girl was undressed, Carter personifies the clothing by making it seem magical as though the count used special powers to get what he wanted; the naked young girl. There is also an implication that neither the Countess nor the Snow Child have the control which the Count possesses.
Throughout the story Carter portrays the Snow Child as an innocent naive girl. Who doesn’t have a voice and says nothing. Feminists would argue that women not having a voice is something that is very common. In that era young girls were made to believe that they should only speak when spoke to, be pure and sacred. They were also expected to conform to men’s obligations.
By the Snow Child pricking herself on the ‘rose’ shows her innocence. The blood that comes from her finger can be a symbol of her losing her virginity to the duke. Carter describes the blood as being ‘like a fox’s kill on the snow’ the use of simile emphasises how much the child bled. In addition the rose is a symbol of femininity which is what essentially killed the Snow Child. Carter is showing that being a female comes with suffering with or without social privilege.
After the Snow Child picks the rose she ‘bleeds; screams; falls’ feminists would see this as the vulnerability of young girl. The child was only being obedient y listening to the count and countess which were her elders. She didn’t think they had any intention of harming her. Furthermore the Snow Child bleeding may also be an imagery of her turning into an adult, she has reached her stage of puberty.
The way in which the Snow Child died suggests that Carter wanted to emphasise on the fact that the young girl couldn’t live in a world of equality as a female. She would always be oppressed by the patriarchy and dominance of men.
Throughout the story it seems as though the Countess was very passive. The countess watched the Count ‘narrowly’ when he has sex with the Snow Child in front of her. She doesn’t seem to see anything wrong or unusual with it. From a feminists point of view this would be an example of women having to abide by men’s desires and choices. Additionally there is an insinuation that maybe the Countess sees herself in the Snow Child and stares at what is happening, as she remembers that it once happened to her.
On the other hand it seems as though the countess had some envy towards the Snow child. This is seen when Carter explains the Snow Child was ‘the child of his desire and the countess hated her’ this is probably why the Count told the guileless child to pick the rose of thorns. However the countess was definitely not allowed to express her hatred for the child in the Counts presence. ‘How should I be rid of her?’ the countess thinks of ways to get rid of the Snow child but knows she cannot interrupt or get in the way of the Count’s wishes. As a woman the Countess’ requirements were to be subordinate to her husband, the Count.
Carter suggests that the child and the Countess swap roles; which shows the importance of the females at the time. ‘The countess was bare as a bone and the girl furred and booted’ this implies that the most important person to the Count at the time was the child which is why she was covered and the Countess was bare. This is a symbol of male patriarchy that women are homogenous and ‘toys’.
In conclusion, the Snow Child is a story that supports feminist’s viewpoints of women being conformed to the actions of men. They are made to accept that men have more power over them and there is not much they can do about it.