Does Snow White Die In The Original Story
Okay, so let's dish. You know Snow White, right? The princess with the skin as white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony. We all grew up with her story. Disney definitely made it a big deal. But there's a little question that always pops up, right?
Did Snow White actually, you know, die in the original story? It’s a juicy bit of gossip, isn’t it? And honestly, it’s way more interesting than you might think. Forget the pretty songs and the seven adorable dwarves for a second. The Grimm brothers, they weren't exactly known for keeping things sunshine and rainbows.
So, let’s dive in. No, she doesn't exactly die and stay dead. But oh boy, does she get close. Like, really close. The version most of us know? The poisoned apple, she falls into a deep sleep, and then Prince Charming’s kiss wakes her up. Sweet, right? Classic fairy tale stuff.
But the original, original Grimm brothers' tale? That’s a whole different kettle of enchanted apples. Think less “sleeping beauty” and more… well, let’s just say a bit more permanent sounding. It’s the kind of detail that makes you go, “Wait, what?!”
The Grim Grimm Truth
So, the wicked queen. She’s still evil. Still obsessed with being the fairest. Still trying to get rid of Snow White. The poisoned apple? That part is pretty consistent. Snow White takes a bite. She falls down. Everyone thinks she’s dead. The dwarves are devastated. They build her a beautiful glass coffin. It’s all very dramatic.
But here's where things get… interesting. In the Grimm version, they don't just leave her there hoping a prince will stumble by. They actually carry her coffin around. Yes, you read that right. They lug her around. For ages. They can't bear to bury her. She's just too beautiful, even in her apparent death. This is one of those quirky facts that just makes you chuckle. Imagine the dwarves, grumbling about the weight. “Hefty Snow White today, eh, Grumpy?”
Then, along comes Prince Charming. He sees her. He’s instantly smitten, obviously. Who wouldn't be, even if she’s… well, not breathing? And here’s the kicker. He doesn't kiss her awake. Not in the initial tellings, anyway. What he does is he demands the coffin. He’s basically like, “Yeah, no, I’m taking her. Give it up.” The dwarves, bless their hearts, are so grief-stricken and, let’s be honest, probably tired of carrying her, that they agree. They let him have the coffin.
The Not-So-Gentle Wake-Up Call
Now, how does she wake up? This is where the Grimm version really shines in its… shall we say, less romantic approach. The prince orders his servants to carry the coffin. And as they’re jostling along, or maybe stumbling on a tree root, a piece of the poisoned apple dislodges from her throat. Boom! She wakes up. Just like that. No magical kiss needed. Just a good old-fashioned royal shake-up.
How’s that for a wake-up call? Forget a gentle nudge. It’s more of a… traumatic expulsion. It's the kind of detail that’s so bizarre, it’s brilliant. It definitely injects a dose of dark humor into the whole affair. It's less a love story and more a story about a very persistent prince and a very inconvenient piece of fruit.
So, does she die? Technically, no. She’s in a death-like state. But the intention of the queen? Absolutely to kill her. And the wake-up call? It’s far from the sweet, romantic gesture we’re used to. It’s a bit more… violent. A bit more accidental. It’s a reminder that fairy tales, in their original forms, weren't always about fluffy bunnies and happily ever afters in the modern sense.
The Wicked Queen's Fate: A Real Cliffhanger
And what about the wicked queen? Oh, she gets her comeuppance. And it’s not pretty. In the Grimm version, Snow White, now awake and clearly not holding a grudge about being nearly killed and then shaken awake, invites the queen to her wedding. Classy, right?
At the wedding feast, the queen shows up, still clueless, still evil. And then, the king, who is apparently Snow White’s father in this version (adding another layer of "wait, what?"), presents her with a gift. It’s a pair of iron shoes, heated red-hot in a furnace. Yes. Red-hot iron shoes.
The queen is forced to put them on. And then… well, she has to dance. In those shoes. Until she drops dead. Talk about a final, fiery exit. It’s not a gentle fading away. It’s a brutal, agonizing end. It really drives home the moral: don’t mess with Snow White. Or her dad.
Why We Love This Gory Gossip
So, why is this all so fun to talk about? It’s because it takes something we think we know inside and out, and then flips it on its head. It’s like finding out your favorite childhood movie has a secret, much darker sequel. It adds a whole new layer of appreciation for the story.
It also highlights how stories evolve. Disney, of course, polished up Snow White for a wider audience. And thank goodness for that, in some ways. But knowing the original adds a certain… edge to the tale. It makes you think about the people who first told these stories. What were they trying to say? What fears and lessons were they trying to impart?
The fact that Snow White doesn't die but has a near-death experience followed by a rather unceremonious awakening is, frankly, hilarious in its own dark way. It’s a testament to the resilience of the princess, and perhaps a nod to the sometimes chaotic nature of life. And the queen’s punishment? It's a classic fairy tale "eye for an eye," but with a much hotter twist.
So, the next time you watch Snow White, or tell the story, remember the little details. The coffin that gets a workout. The prince who’s more forceful than romantic. The apple shard that plays a starring role in the awakening. It’s these little quirks, these hints of a darker, grittier past, that make fairy tales so endlessly fascinating. Snow White survived. Barely. And her story is all the more captivating for it.