Initiation and Meaning in the Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Initiation and Meaning in the Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

N. J. Girardot

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The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 90, No. 357. (Jul.- Sep., 1977), pp. 274-300.

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N.J.

GIRARDOT

Initiation and Meaning in the Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The psychology of Snow White: What does she hope for? "Someday my prince will come.'' By this Snow White means that she lives her own being as incomplete, pending the arrival of one who will "complete" her. That is, she lives her own being as "not-with" (even though she is in some sense "with" the seven men, Bill, Kevin, Clem, Hubert, Henry, Edward and Dan). But the "not-with" is experienced as stronger, more real, at this particular instance of time, than the "being-with." ... [or J in the area of fears, she fears...