Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" presents a dark and satirical retelling of the classic fairy tale, exploring themes of vanity, innocence, and the destructive power of envy. Sexton uses her characteristic blend of modern language and vivid, often grotesque imagery to deconstruct the familiar story, exposing the underlying violence and obsession that drive the characters.

The poem begins with a reflection on the figure of the virgin, described as a "lovely number" with "cheeks as fragile as cigarette paper" and "arms and legs made of Limoges." This imagery sets up Snow White as an idealized, almost artificial figure of purity and beauty, embodying the societal fetishization of virginity. The comparison of her eyes to "china-blue doll eyes" further emphasizes her objectification; Snow White is less a person than a doll, a symbol of perfection to be admired and controlled. Sexton immediately questions this idealization, hinting at the underlying violence with the phrase "shut for the thrust / of the unicorn," a metaphor that suggests the inevitable defilement of innocence.

As the poem shifts to the story itself, Sexton introduces the wicked stepmother, whose vanity and fear of aging drive the narrative forward. The stepmother's obsession with beauty is portrayed as a "simple passion" that ultimately leads to her downfall. The mirror, which functions as a modern equivalent of a weather forecast, symbolizes the societal pressures and expectations placed on women, dictating their value based on physical appearance. When the mirror finally proclaims Snow White as the fairest, the stepmother's envy becomes all-consuming, leading her to plot Snow White's death.

Sexton vividly describes Snow White's journey through the wildwood, where she is surrounded by dangers that mirror the threats posed by her stepmother. The wolves, snakes, and lewd birds represent the predatory nature of the world, particularly toward young, vulnerable women. However, Snow White's arrival at the dwarf house provides a brief respite. The dwarfs, described as "little hot dogs" and "wattled like small czars," are both comical and ominous. Their decision to keep Snow White as their housekeeper underscores her continued objectification and the transactional nature of her relationships.

The repeated attempts by the stepmother to kill Snow White highlight the relentlessness of envy and the lengths to which the stepmother will go to maintain her status. Each time Snow White falls victim to the stepmother's tricks—whether through the lacing, the poison comb, or the apple—she is revived by the dwarfs, only to face the threat again. This cycle of death and resurrection suggests the persistence of societal pressures and the difficulty of escaping them.

The final twist in the poem comes with the prince's arrival. Unlike in the traditional tale, where the prince is a noble rescuer, Sexton portrays him as obsessive and grotesque. He refuses to leave Snow White's glass coffin, even as his hair turns green, a detail that emphasizes his unnatural fixation. When the coffin is dropped and Snow White revives, her fate is sealed not by love but by accident. The poem's conclusion, with the stepmother's gruesome death and Snow White's ascension to the throne, underscores the superficiality of fairy tale endings. Snow White, now a queen, continues to gaze into the mirror, perpetuating the cycle of vanity and self-obsession.

In "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Sexton subverts the familiar fairy tale to critique the societal pressures that shape women's identities. Through her use of modern language, dark humor, and striking imagery, she exposes the destructive nature of envy and the dangers of living according to rigid ideals of beauty and purity. The poem ultimately challenges the reader to reconsider the narratives we tell about women, beauty, and power, revealing the dark undercurrents that often lie beneath seemingly innocent stories.

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