Introduction

Snow White is a fairytale written by The Brothers Grimm and published in the year 1812. The fairytale is widely known across the Western world for its fascinating story. Among the elements that are featured in the fairy tale are the magic mirror, the poisoned apple, as well as the characters of Queen and the seven dwarfs. The first edition of the fairy tale was titled in German and numbered as Tale 53. From the same storyline, the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937), and the Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) are adapted. Although many people believe that these two films and the fairy tale by Brothers Grimm have much in common, they are very different from each. There may be some Similarities between the two, but the differences in terms of characters, plot, conflict, and resolution exceed them.

Comparison between Characters and Situations

Queen

The two films and the book portray the characters differently. To start with, Snow White’s stepmother, the Queen is portrayed as having different personalities from the two films as well as the fairy tale.  The Brothers Grimm’s version and the Disney’s version, the Queen, is portrayed as evil, wicked, vain and a witch. In the Brothers Grimm, Queen is obsessed with her beauty and thinks she is the fairest of all the women. She becomes jealous when the magic mirror reveals to her that there is someone else who is prettier than she is. This is not the case in Huntsman’s where the Queen is portrayed as a responsible and a kind person. She is not excessively proud of herself, but instead, she is worried about the overall progress of all other characters.

Apart from the personalities of the Queen, some situations involving the character of Queen and others are portrayed differently. For instance in huntsman’s version when she commands Finn to bring Snow White to her, she refers to her as the “King’s Daughter.” On the other hand, in the book, she says bring me “Snow White.” In another instance, in the Huntsman’s and Disney’s version while in the battle, she is hurt three times: across the palm, in the chest and gets burnt. All these cuts heal quickly. In the book, Queen gets injured once-in the chest, and she does not heal.

Another difference between the three versions is evident in the attempts to solve conflicts. In Disney’s version, the Huntsman failure to eliminate Snow White makes Queen take matters in her hands. In an attempt to snow white, she poisons the apples that Snow White was to eat. In this regard, she had to transform herself into an old peddler woman to avoid being caught. This is different in the book Queen used a different trick in the bid to kill Snow White. After transforming into an old peddler woman, Queen laced a bodice lace and tied it tightly across Snow White living her lifeless.

Snow White

The character of Snow White is also portrayed differently in three versions. In the book, Snow White is described as the princess. Despite being working as a maid and been dressed in rags, Snow White is described as the fairest. Brothers Grimm indicates that by the age of seven, Snow White was a thousand time prettier than Queen. The Disney version does not bring out these aspects. She is portrayed as blending well with animals.

In Huntsman’s version, Snow White is portrayed as a vampire with pale skin. Her eyes are green while in the book; her eyes are brown. In Huntsman’s version while in the battle, she is getting hurt in the jaw and bleeds. In the book, she does not get hurt. Another difference is seen in after the troll attack where Snow White does not get hurt in both the Disney’ version and the Huntsman’s version. This is not the case in the book where she sustains a strain across her face after the troll attack. In the movies, while in the village, she sleeps inside the hurt and is she wakes after an arrow lands in a post by the bed. In the book, she sleeps in the deck outside the hurt, where she is woken by someone screaming.

The Dwarfs

In Disney’s version, the names of the seven dwarfs are provided. This is not the case in the book. Their names were based on their personalities. Unlike in the film, Brother Grimm portrays the seven dwarfs as organized, orderly and clean. The book suggests that the Dwarfs were of different tallness. This is evident from the comments made by Snow White concerning the size of the Dwarfs bed. The response of the Dwarfs after they figured out that an intruder had gained entry in the home was different in the movie and the book. In the book, they did not panic and traced the marks left by the intruder. In the films, they panicked, and we’re terrified.

Conclusion

It is clear for everyone to see that even though the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937), and the Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) adaptations of the Snow White by Brothers Grimm, the three are different pieces with each based and founded on its own. The storyline seems like the only similarity between the three versions. The character of Queen, Huntsman, and Snow White has been portrayed differently in the three versions. The books stand out the most since it portrays the original intention of Brothers Grimm.

References

Chang, C. L. (1937). Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

White, S. (2012). The Huntsman. Directed by Rupert Sanders. Roth Films.

Grimm, B. (2018). Snow white. NorthSouth books.