The Role of the Seven Dwarves in Snow Whites Initiation Process The fairy tale Snow White and

the Seven Dwarves uses different archetypes to show Snow Whites process of becoming a fully mature woman. One of the most important archetypes found in the story is the number seven, which represents perfection, and in this case, the completion of the main characters maturation process. This archetype is reinforced in the story by the seven Dwarves. The Dwarves not only serve to make up for the absent father figure in the heroines life, but they also teach Snow White to be independent and prepare for adulthood, which in turn contributes to her becoming a fully mature woman at the end of the story. The number seven is very important for the development of Snow Whites character. This archetype is first introduced in the beginning of the story as it mentions that when she was seven years old she was as beautiful as the day and more beautiful than the Queen herself (Grimm). Thus, at the age of seven Snow Whites beauty and potential sexual attractiveness becomes more evident, stirring the anger and envy of her stepmother. However, at this stage the heroine was only at the threshold of the passage into puberty and adult married life and had to under go the necessary tests and training for becoming a fully mature woman (Giradot, 283). Snow Whites initiation process, part of the hero archetype, then takes place once she is taken into the woods and finds herself separated from her home and family. According to Giradot, Snow White must seclude from the group in order to mature from a child to an adult (Giradot). Once in the woods, Snow White finds the seven Dwarves house, and on mutual agreement, she decides to live with them. The number seven is once again introduced in the

story. As stated before, the number seven is symbolic and it represents the completion of the main characters maturation into adulthood, in which the Dwarves therefore play a major role. The Dwarves help Snow White become a mature woman in two ways. First, they help the heroine achieve her personal growth by allowing her to build up the inadequate masculine father (Flynn). The Dwarves show Snow White how to have a nice relationship with them, which in turn allows her to have a future healthy relationship with a man, namely the prince. It is the nurturing male qualities of the Dwarves, that lacking from Snow Whites father, that make this possible. Second, the Dwarves teach Snow White to become more independent, and while living with them, she learns the responsibilities of adult life and the skills that are expected of her. Since the Dwarves do not try to overshadow Snow White like her stepmother did, she is able to develop her sexuality in a healthy way, too. (Cohen, p 8-10). In conclusion, the number seven is an important element in understanding Snow Whites development process. This archetype serves to mark the two phases the heroine must undergo in order to become a fully mature woman: her physical maturation at age seven, and her psychological, social, and spiritual maturation during the time she spends living with the seven Dwarves.

Works Cited

Cohen, Betsy. The Snow White Syndrome. Jan. 1987, p 8-10. Flynn, Stephen. Analysis of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 2005 Giradot, N.J. Initiation and Meaning in the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Journal of American Folklore. Vol. 90, N0.357 (Jul-Sept, 1997), pp 274-30.