Katie (1St) Slide 1-3
Katie (1st) Slide 1-3
Article Thesis: The meaning of a true lady or a “good woman” lies in her ability to be submissive, passive, innocent and angelic. This woman is also supposed to be domestic, and allow herself to be ruled by the male gender
Note:
If a woman should deter from this idea, she is then seen as an “evil madwoman” which is shown in the character of Snow White’s stepmother who is also the queen.
Often times, this purity is shown through symbolism in stories such as by using white or “pure” colors in her description.
Snow White’s passiveness is shown through her quiet nature and submissiveness is shown through her domestication by the seven dwarves, therefore showing that a woman should allow herself to be controlled by anyone from the male gender, even the smallest of them.
As for the queen, she is calculative and aartful, which are described as male characteristics in the article.
Women are meant to please and listen, men are meant to act.
Therefore the stepmother becomes the evil madwoman, which is portrayed by narcissistic attitudes and behaviors, as well as being described with dark coloring.
Video clip
Note:
In the pilot of the show “Once Upon a Time” the queen is dressed in all black which exemplifies mischief and evil while Snow White is dressed in all white showing her purity and passiveness.
In this clip, the queen shows her power as she walks through the room with confidence and the crowd parts for her. She also stands up to Prince Charming and Snow White.
Note that when Snow White does try to stand up to her, Prince Charming steps in her way and tells her not to lower herself to the queen’s level, which she allows.
This returns her to her submissive position behind the prince; the place that is seen as the right place for a “good woman,” while the queen is being reprimanded by the male for standing out.
Samantha (2nd) Slides 4-5
Central Claim #1:
Snow white and the queen (Her stepmother) represent one person
The two characters are polar opposites, which the authors suggest are the two aspects of a woman.
The story is meant to represent the internal struggle between a woman’s true desires, and what she is supposed to act like according to the rules set by the male gender.
Notes:
They are polar opposites
Snow White = pure, fair, sweet, ignorant, passive, and submissive
The Queen = fierce, artful, active, manipulating, and assertive.
The queen is the part of a woman that is thought to be unfeminine. She is everything that the male gender uses to describe themselves.
Snow White is the epitome of the male definition of a “good woman.” She allows herself to be observed like a piece of artwork and to be controlled like a possession while the queen acts against what she dislikes in order to prosper on her own.
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This claim is shown in the Queen’s desire to rid herself of Snow White. She wants to kill the purity and submissiveness within herself, in order to replace it with the excitement, drama, and power that she truly desires.
However, the goodness in the Snow White side of the woman prevents the evil side from taking over. Everything that is used against her turns into something that helps her keep the evil at bay.
Notes:
This claim can also be seen in the description of the mirror. Snow White can always be seen in the background of the mirror, looking outward; showing that she is selfless and passive.
The Queen on the other hand, is always seen looking inward, exemplifying her narcissistic, self-obsessed attitude. She is concerned with herself and her power.
Though the two women are very different, polar opposites in fact as previously mentioned, they are seen in the same mirror. This shows that they are two parts of one thing aka one person.
There is the part of the woman that wants to fulfill her own desires and be powerful, while there is another part of the woman who is selfless and wants only to please others. These two parts are conflicted by the gender roles set for them by the male gender.
Natasha (3rd) Slides 6-7
Central Claim #2:
Bonding between women is extremely difficult
In a patriarchal society such as the one in “Snow White,” women are often put against each other in the fight for male attention and love. Therefore, forming bonds with other woman is extremely difficult due to the competition associated with that desire
Notes:
Women desire beauty, youth, sexuality, and pureness in order to satisfy the desires of men. They want the attention that other women have, or they want to the protect the attention that they have. This fight for male approval is often the main cause of conflict between women.
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This claim is demonstrated in the relationship between Snow White and her Stepmother (the Queen). The conflict between them arises over the attention of the King. Snow has always been his pride and joy, and the queen is jealous of that love. When the king is not in the story any longer, the two women are still unable to bond because of the lingering competition.
Notes:
The authors of the article also suggest that the father’s voice is still present after he leaves which helps to urge the queen to want to rid herself of Snow White, her competition.
In this theory, he is the voice of the mirror; constantly reminding the queen that she will always be second to Snow because she is already corrupted and Snow White remains pure.
Patricia (4th) Slides 8-9
Central claim #3:
Women view the things that they do to maintain the image that makes them a “good woman” as harmful
The article suggests that women do things that they don’t want to do in order to maintain the image that men desire. Men created an image that is thought of as a “good woman,” which requires a woman to have minimal power and be domesticated.
Notes:
Things such as being domesticated often go against what a woman who desires power feels that she needs to do. She is forced to act in a way that does not feel normal to her, and denies her what she really wants.
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This claim is shown in the article when the authors talk about how the queen plots to kill Snow White.
Because she is an artful, manipulative person, she sees female devices (which are harmful to what the queen wants) as a way to rid herself of Snow White. She uses a comb and laces, which exemplify maintaining beauty, and an apple, which represents domestication. All of these things to her are things that hold a person back.
Notes:
Ironically, for a person like Snow White, these things are the exact opposite of harmful when it comes to maintaining the type of person that she is.
She is the ideal “good woman” therefore these tools are crucial in keeping that image. Because of this, these items help her in becoming an even more ideal woman.
In the time that Snow White was written, these items represent the only things that women did have control or power of. They could purchase combs or laces in order to make themselves prettier and they could work in a small, secluded kitchen and be themselves while they are there.
Ultimately, they were the woman’s only escape from being the admired piece of artwork that they had to be for men, while also helping them be just that.
Lauren (5th) Slides 10-12
First slide:
Is the argument strong?
We think that the argument is strong in regards to the story of Snow White.
This is because the evidence used to support the argument and the claims is strong.
All of the qualities that are portrayed in the image of a “good woman” are that of the female hero in the story, while the opposite, or unfeminine, characteristics are portrayed by the villain (the evil madwoman).
Ultimately this is because they are fighting for male approval throughout the story, and therefore need to follow their regulations on how to behave.
Notes:
Each one of the claims also has many examples throughout the article in addition to those mentioned, making the argument stronger.
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In relation to other scholarship that we’ve read
This article relates to many of the scholarship that we have read in the class thus far, because it discusses the gender roles portrayed in the fairy tales that we have read. Though the stories may be different, one common factor is that they usually portray a “good woman” being one that is pure, submissive, and passive.
Notes:
For example, in the Fay article on “Sleeping Beauty” group 11 suggested that one of the central claims was that women who withdraw themselves from societal order must die.
Though it is not the same argument, it suggests that those women that go outside of the norms are dangerous (aka the villain).
Also, Briar Rose portrays the image of a “good woman,” she is pure, beautiful, and submissive and therefore she ultimately survives.