Structuralist Analysis of Snow White Literature is full of binaries, which create meaning and function. Classic fairy tales are full of patterns, symbols, and binaries that use opposites to promote certain ideologies and convey certain messages. In Snow White's tale, the structure followed is that of a sheltered beauty whose kind heart and attractiveness make her a "pure" heroine placed in unfortunate circumstances by a bitter antagonist - here, her stepmother who envies her youth and beauty. She undergoes difficulties and trials and in the end is saved by a handsome prince who, fascinated by her beauty, marries her. Here the function of the beautiful and the 'good' is prominent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay History contains binaries such as good and evil, beautiful and ugly. These binaries represent ideologies about beauty and ugliness, about what is considered good and bad. We see the prince fall in love with Snow White for her beauty, the same reason she falls for his charm. As characters, Snow White and the Prince also both embody beauty, kindness, and generally attractive qualities that represent good, in direct contrast to the greedy and ugly antagonists who embody evil. In this story the Queen is ugly inside and uses beauty to stay in power, demonstrating her perceived value. In Snow White, the Queen is jealous of Snow White's beauty and orders her to be killed. It is her beauty that endears her to the dwarves she meets and what attracts the prince in the first place. Thus, beauty is not only the cause of the problem but also the solution – the one that ultimately proves to be its salvation and leads to a happy ending. In the same way that beauty is attributed to good, ugliness is attributed to evil. Although the stepmother is beautiful, inside she is described as an ugly witch. Later she becomes that ugly woman and dies unhappy. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Another binary that exists is that of nobility and commoners. Snow White immediately falls in love with the handsome man dressed in rich clothes, the beautiful horse and the promise of a good life. However, characters such as the hunter who saves her or the dwarves who help her represent the common people, the "secondary" characters who do not receive the same importance or attention as the prince. This reflects class ideologies, the idea of associating wealth and status with happy endings and using ordinary people to highlight the positive characteristics of the protagonists and her boyfriend. These types of structure result in the internalization of the value of beauty, status, and wealth.
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