What compels a Man to serve a Woman? 

Delving into the depths of feminine ideals, one cannot help but ponder: What exactly does it mean to epitomize femininity? Revisiting Disney's iconic 1937 adaptation of the timeless fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, we can unearth an unexpected treasure trove of wisdom to answer the preceding question. Despite its anachronistic appearance, this film holds valuable insights regarding the essence of the ideal feminine, particularly from a traditionalist framework. Although some may dismiss Snow White as antiquated, the qualities portrayed by Snow White and the malevolent Queen are perennial. Inspired by a video in which Jordan Peterson interviews Johnathan Pageau, briefly touching upon the fairy tale, I felt compelled to examine Disney's classic film. Dissatisfied with Dr. Peterson's limited perspective, I endeavor to present a fresh and enlightened understanding of the enigmatic figures of the evil Queen and Snow White. By the conclusion of this discourse, I aspire to unveil a novel conception that seemingly transcends conventional interpretations.

The plot of Snow White may not be notably intricate, but let me summarize it. The story revolves around the evil Queen's discontent with Snow White's captivating allure, leading her to diminish Snow White's status to that of a scullery maid. Despite this demotion, Snow White continues to radiate unparalleled beauty, preventing the Queen from being the fairest of them all. As a result, the Queen ostracizes Snow White and plots her demise. However, the man assigned to carry out the murder is captivated by Snow White's beauty and spares her life. Fleeing through the woods, Snow White stumbles upon the dwelling of seven dwarfs. With the assistance of friendly critters, she diligently cleans their home before succumbing to exhaustion and falling asleep.  Returning from work, the dwarfs discover an intruder and uncover Snow White slumbering in their beds. They, too, spare her life due to her beauty and allow her to stay and care for them. After a series of misadventures, the evil Queen learns that Snow White is alive and still surpasses her in beauty. To deceive Snow White, the Queen concocts a potion, disguises herself, and poisons an apple with which she intends to seduce her, causing her to fall into an eternal slumber and eventual demise. Only true love's first kiss can awaken Snow White from this slumber. As the dwarfs are away, the Queen seizes the opportunity to attack Snow White, but the loyal animal critters sense something amiss. While Snow White remains hospitable to the disguised Queen, the animals seek the aid of the dwarfs, who come to Snow White's rescue after she bites into the poisoned apple, mistakenly believing it will grant her wishes. The dwarfs arrive too late, witnessing the horrific scene as the evil Queen escapes. Pursuing her through a heavy storm, the dwarfs corner the Queen, who plans to throw a boulder at them from a cliff. Yet, a fortuitous lightning bolt strikes, causing the Queen to meet her demise. However, Snow White remains in an eternal slumber. The dwarfs construct a magnificent golden and glass coffin, preserving her body for several seasons while she sleeps. Eventually, her true love discovers her and awakens her with a kiss, allowing them to live happily ever after.

Although the plot of Snow White is not intricate, the film's enduring appeal lies in its artistry and symbolism. The evil Queen, the first character we encounter, serves as a clear portrayal of a vain and narcissistic woman. Her relentless desire for self-dominance and control is evident throughout the story. To achieve absolute power, the Queen relies on a magical mirror. The mirror's frame incorporates zodiac symbols, suggesting it contains a representation of the Cosmos. This cosmic persona or mask is the Queen's slave, never deceiving her and providing her with the answers she seeks. The mirror serves as her means of perceiving and communicating with the world. However, when we combine this mirror's cosmic symbolism with the symbolisms of the Queen's throne, revealed as she addresses the Huntsman assigned to kill Snow White, a fuller image of the Queen emerges. The Queen's throne is adorned with the majestic image of a peacock and its numerous feathers. The combination of cosmic symbols, peacock symbolism, and the Queen's vengeful and callous nature draws a compelling parallel to the Greek goddess Hera.

Snow White's character possesses a greater depth and nuance. Although there are evident parallels between her and the evil Queen, Snow White exhibits a distinct nature of her own. Unlike the Queen, who relies on arcane magic to communicate with a representative of cosmic truth, Snow White effortlessly connects with Nature or the World. As the film progresses, the world surrounding Snow White comes alive through her verbal interaction with it. Snow White's interaction with the world transforms it from a lifeless backdrop into a vibrant and animated environment. By interacting with the world and the animals, Snow White reveals that Nature is intelligent and expressive. She breathes life into her surroundings and is moved by them, showcasing her unity with Nature. In stark contrast, the evil Queen seeks to control and dominate Nature, imposing her artificial and tyrannical will upon it. After being spared by the Huntsman, Snow White flees through a shadowy vale, and it is here that her true power over the Queen's illusory control of Nature becomes evident. The menacing forces within the forest are shown to be nothing more than endearing creatures of the woods. These charming and telluric creatures actively assist Snow White on her journey, engaging in abundant communication with her. Their actions demonstrate Nature's inherent intelligence, harmony, and dynamism when in the presence of a figure like Snow White.

With the assistance of the forest critters, Snow White showcases her nurturing abilities. Upon discovering the dwarfs' home, she realizes it is in a state of profound disorder. This depiction contradicts Grimm's description of the dwarfs' impeccably organized dwelling. Nevertheless, Snow White reveals her inherent inclination to care for, organize, and purify the world around her. Furthermore, her capacity to bring order to the world is evident in her ability to accurately name all the dwarfs once she realizes they are not children. However, her care comes with conditions. If she is to tend to the dwarfs' needs, i.e., if she's to provide them food, they must cleanse and purify themselves. Snow White's demand that the dwarfs cleanse themselves implies a holy or divine quality within Snow White, as the dwarfs are only permitted to fully enter her presence after purifying themselves. Additionally, Snow White possesses the ability to harmonize the dwarfs' personalities. By tidying their musical instruments, she enables them to play music for her enjoyment and their own dancing. The music, with its rhythm and the dwarfs' melodic voices, serves as a testament to Snow White's ability to unify and infuse life into her surroundings.

Regrettably, Snow White's inherent purity becomes a vulnerability exploited by the evil Queen. As mentioned earlier, the Queen, disguised as an old woman, tempts Snow White with an apple that promises to grant her every wish. Snow White's consumption of the apple draws parallels to two mythical figures. Firstly, it mirrors the story in "Genesis" where Eve eats the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Snow White's indulgence in the Queen's offer reflects Eve's downfall after consuming the forbidden fruit. However, the connection between Snow White, renowned for her beauty, and the apple can also be interpreted as an allusion to the Hesperides. In its singular form, "Hesperis" can be translated as "Evening's Daughter" or "Evening Star," which commonly refers to Venus, the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of Beauty. By drawing this association, the link between Aphrodite and Snow White becomes more apparent, further emphasizing the contrast between Snow White and the evil Queen, who parallels Hera.

Snow White's eternal slumber epitomizes her ideal beauty. Refusing to abandon her, the dwarfs construct a coffin adorned with glass and gold. The transparent glass allows them to perpetually admire her beauty, while the presence of gold, recognized as one of the noblest and purest metals, signifies the perfection of her beauty, akin to a heavenly state. When awakened by her prince charming, who discovers her in the rejuvenating embrace of spring, they embark on a journey to live happily ever after in a celestial kingdom above—a realm of gold—symbolizing her power as a perpetually fecund force and her heavenly abode or nature. This sublime realm suggests that her beauty, nurturing qualities, and love possess a divine essence.

Snow White and the Evil Queen exhibit distinct relationships with the masculine. As previously stated, the Evil Queen's totalitarian and tyrannical nature is reflected in her treatment of men. Whether it is the dwarfs, who fear neither her violent threats nor her dominance, or the huntsman, who ultimately succumbs to her coercion, the Evil Queen consistently employs intimidation, violence, and abuse to exert control over others, particularly men.

In contrast, Snow White willingly sacrifices herself for the sake of men. She finds joy in caring for the dwarfs, organizing their lives, and improving their well-being. However, she places certain conditions on her care. By requiring the dwarfs to cleanse themselves before approaching her and receiving her assistance, she taps into a vital and masculine force: male aggression. Although Grumpy, who embodies this aggression, initially resists Snow White's influence, he eventually reveals his concern for her by issuing a condition: she must not allow strangers into their home. He intends to ensure her safety, though he may not openly express it like the other dwarfs. This injunction also parallels God's command to Adam and Eve not to consume the Forbidden Fruit, reinforcing biblical themes.

Through her self-sacrifice and the betterment of men's lives (the dwarfs), Snow White earns their respect. Consequently, they are willing to defend her and pursue the evil Queen. In contrast, the evil Queen remains devoid of male protection, falsely believing in her self-reliance. Ultimately, her demise results from a lightning strike —a symbol associated with Jupiter or Zeus, the Roman and Greek gods of cosmic justice and law.

What should be evident, but is often overlooked, is that Snow White's beauty transcends mere superficiality. The evil Queen mistakenly believes that true beauty is solely based on appearance. However, Snow White demonstrates that genuine beauty is revealed through the way a woman treats herself and others. The dwarfs were willing to sacrifice themselves to protect and preserve Snow White precisely because she had shown them care and kindness. If Snow White had neglected her duties to the dwarfs, it's uncertain whether they would have been motivated to shield or safeguard her. It is highly probable that the evil Queen would have easily tracked her down and inflicted fatal harm had Snow White failed to care for others. Thus, Snow White's beauty is affirmed and preserved through her selfless devotion to others. Due to her cruel and abusive behavior, the evil Queen's beauty is transient and superficial.

In a video attempting to portray the evil Queen positively, Cracked, a purported comedy website, claims that "being happy with yourself is the most attractive quality you could possess." The skit strongly suggests that the Mirror on the Wall tricked the evil Queen into thinking she wasn't the fairest of them all. However, within the film's own logic, this assertion is absurd. Cracked seemingly aims to criticize male behavior by attributing vainglorious tendencies to male manipulation, using the film's context as a backdrop. Nevertheless, "Snow White" explicitly conveys that women can be villains and that their vain inclinations are likely self-imposed. The Queen also refers to the Mirror on the Wall as her slave, implying she perceives the Mirror as a mere tool. She fails to recognize the Mirror's persona as a representation of the Cosmos or Reality. Through her self-obsessed reflection, she demands that the Mirror reflect her desires. However, because the persona in the Mirror represents the truth of the Cosmos or Reality, it can only provide her with the truth. Reality is not manipulating her. Instead, the evil Queen is ultimately self-deluded due to her self-obsession. The incoherence of Cracked's analysis of Snow White is evident in their failure to grasp this fundamental fact. According to Cracked's argument, if being happy with oneself is the most attractive quality one could possess, and one's happiness is contingent upon being the fairest of them all, then one will not be content until one achieves that status. Thus, Cracked's principle appears to excuse the evil Queen's abusive actions as long as they contribute to her self-satisfaction since it deems that to be the most desirable quality. Ultimately, even if one wishes to critique the traditionalist portrayal presented in Snow White, as Cracked attempts to do, it is essential to provide a meaningful alternative. Unfortunately, Cracked fails to offer such an alternative, validating the evil Queen's behavior.

Snow White raises profound ethical questions concerning the behavioral expectations for an ideal woman, her interactions with men, and the principles she should abide by. Through the creation and symbolic portrayal of Snow White, Disney conveys the message that women should aspire to emulate her. By embodying Snow White's character, a woman can cultivate nurturing qualities that breathe life into her surroundings, rejuvenate and purify men, and prove herself deserving of a man's self-sacrificial tendencies. Drawing upon my research on Foucault, Snow White's injunction to "care for ourselves by knowing ourselves" emphasizes the importance of embodied self-care and caring for others while allowing nature to take its course. The film targets young girls and women, and its ethical statements differ significantly from those about masculine ethical behavior. Consequently, we should not conflate the nature of care exemplified by Snow White with the kind of care men should demonstrate for themselves and others.

While I found Snow White to be a relatively simple film, I dedicated considerable time to exploring others' perspectives on the film. Although some individuals recognized the narcissistic traits of the evil Queen, very few delved into her resemblance to the Greek goddess Hera. Additionally, many reviewers criticized the film for its anachronistic portrayal of the ideal feminine. However, I argue that this perceived anachronism stems from a superficial analysis of the film's symbolism. Despite targeting young audiences, Snow White incorporates complex themes and symbols that appeal to mature and sophisticated traditionalist sensibilities. Drawing from my study of Julius Evola, it becomes evident that throughout history, women have played a mythic role in serving men, a notion also emphasized in the Bible. By fulfilling this role appropriately and ensuring the purity and cleanliness of the masculine spirit, the feminine force can facilitate the proper development of man, enabling him to serve her in return. In this manner, the masculine can demonstrate genuine love by preserving and safeguarding true Beauty and Love. Given the Hellenic influences present in Disney's Snow White, although definitively establishing it is challenging, we can reasonably assert that a demigod rescues Snow White. Her Prince Charming, who represents the union of mortal and divine, can assume this role only when Woman embodies true Beauty, the ideal and divine feminine. Had Snow White not engaged in self-sacrifice, Prince Charming would not have been able to save her. Hence, Disney's Snow White explicitly conveys that for a woman to attract a prince charming, she must -- to some extent (while still susceptible to temptation and desire, as illustrated by the poison apple) -- embody the divine feminine. If she fails to do so, she must bear that burden, not Man, as he has no obligation to preserve that which serves only itself. Her feelings of loneliness, ennui, purposelessness, and insecurity are her responsibility. By embracing the divine feminine, Snow White and True Beauty can flourish, revitalized by the love of the Solar Man, a demigod.