The Wicked Step Mother
When I ask you to think about a mother, what do you think of? Most would think
of their mother and all of the fond memories of their childhood. One thinks of nurturing,
softness, loving, and selflessness. Now, if I was to ask you to think about a stepmother,
what comes to mind? Most people think of cunning, crafty, conniving, selfishness, and
wickedness. Have you ever thought about how the stepmother gets this bad wrap? As
children we are practically brainwashed by Disney fairy tales that help us label stepmothers
as wicked or evil. In these Disney movies we never see the stepmother portrayed as
nurturing, soft, loving, and especially not selfless. This does a disservice to all blended
families today and to those of the future.
Walt Disney’s first full length animated movie was Snow White. In this film
Disney never refers to Snow White’s stepmother as anything but the “jealous stepmother,”
the “evil queen,” or just the “queen.” Disney never even gives her a name. In the original
version, Disney had planned to portray her as the comic relief, but that was not the version
that was decided upon (Windling). Instead, she was evil. This evil stems from her
jealousies. She covets the beauty of Snow White. She also is extremely jealous of the
loving relationship her deceased husband had with his daughter. Windling states, “Walt
Disney was fond of fairy tales, but he was not shy in reshaping them to suit his needs. His
love for Snow White, demonstrated at the very beginning of the Disney film, becomes the
spark that sets off the powder keg of the stepmother’s rage.”
Following in the footsteps of Disney’s precious Snow White was Cinderella. As
this fairy tale starts, Cinderella loses her father as well and is left subject to the harsh
jealousies of her wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine. Cinderella seems victimized and
trapped by the harsh, controlling nature of her stepmother. Disney
of their mother and all of the fond memories of their childhood. One thinks of nurturing,
softness, loving, and selflessness. Now, if I was to ask you to think about a stepmother,
what comes to mind? Most people think of cunning, crafty, conniving, selfishness, and
wickedness. Have you ever thought about how the stepmother gets this bad wrap? As
children we are practically brainwashed by Disney fairy tales that help us label stepmothers
as wicked or evil. In these Disney movies we never see the stepmother portrayed as
nurturing, soft, loving, and especially not selfless. This does a disservice to all blended
families today and to those of the future.
Walt Disney’s first full length animated movie was Snow White. In this film
Disney never refers to Snow White’s stepmother as anything but the “jealous stepmother,”
the “evil queen,” or just the “queen.” Disney never even gives her a name. In the original
version, Disney had planned to portray her as the comic relief, but that was not the version
that was decided upon (Windling). Instead, she was evil. This evil stems from her
jealousies. She covets the beauty of Snow White. She also is extremely jealous of the
loving relationship her deceased husband had with his daughter. Windling states, “Walt
Disney was fond of fairy tales, but he was not shy in reshaping them to suit his needs. His
love for Snow White, demonstrated at the very beginning of the Disney film, becomes the
spark that sets off the powder keg of the stepmother’s rage.”
Following in the footsteps of Disney’s precious Snow White was Cinderella. As
this fairy tale starts, Cinderella loses her father as well and is left subject to the harsh
jealousies of her wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine. Cinderella seems victimized and
trapped by the harsh, controlling nature of her stepmother. Disney
Cited: Disney. Cinderella. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., Dept. CS, Burbank, CA 91521, USA. 2012. Disney. Snow White And the Seven Dwarfs. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., Dept. CS, Burbank, CA 91521, USA. 2009. Tsujimoto, Aileen Miyuki. “Where Are the Mothers?” The Alan Review. 25.1 (1997). 2011. Windling, Terri. “The Story of Snow White (Continued)”. Journal of Mystic Arts. Endicott. 2007.