The title Mirror, Mirror seemly derives from the words that wicked Queen uses to address her
magic mirror. Judging from this caption, audiences can presume a story mainly
focuses on Queen instead of Princess Snow White. With modern and creative
plots, this film triggers reflections on feminism, body image, and ageism.
I read so many
stories about prince saving princess in the end,
And I think it’s
time to change the ending.
In the forest,
Snow White tells Prince Alcott “I read so many stories about prince saving
princess in the end, and I think it’s time to change the ending.” Besides the
ending, this film actually changes lots of stereotypes, especially on those female
characters. In conventional fairy tales, almost all princesses patiently wait
for someone to rescue them. Yet in Mirror, Mirror, Snow White becomes a
leader of the bandit against Queen, and even kills monster. Moreover, her
initiative kiss to Prince Alcott breaks both Queen’s spell and the traditional
image of a passive female. As for villain Queen, she spares no effort to
maintain her throne by transforming her husband King into a monster, and
sending it to kill Snow White due to her identity of legitimate heir. Just like
Queen, nowadays some women in high position with misandry may discriminate and
pose threats to men. They become as resentful as chauvinist whom they hated
before. (Similar to the Black Riding Hood discussed in class)
Mirror, Mirror
on the wall,
Who’s the
fairest of the all?
Although Snow
White is the fairest of the all, Queen still endeavors to improve her
appearance. In one scene, Queen orders maids cover her body with bird
excrement, meal worms, scorpions, and milk paste. This might be an irony to
people who receive plastic surgery, arousing an awareness of body image.
Everyone under health condition should be satisfied with their figures.
Obsessively pursuing skinny beauty portrayed by media will only lead to
destroy. Karen Anne Carpenter in Carpenters band is the most distinguished
example. In her twenties, she cared more about her beauty but consumed less,
finally suffering from anorexia nervosa. In 1983 she died at age 32 from heart
failure caused by complications related to her illness. Carpenter's death led
to increased awareness of eating disorder and body image, and made people
introspecting what kind of beauty they pursue.
Age before
beauty
In the end, clever
Snow White slices the poison apple to Queen in disguise, and says “Age before
beauty.” This is a jocular and slightly rude way of encouraging elderly be
given precedence over the younger. However, audiences can sense ageism in this
line. No matter in stories or in nowadays society, old people suffer
discrimination physically and inwardly. In Taiwan, over 90% owners of houses
secretly refuse elderly renting their suites. Other ageism cases lie in
animations (See how Disney portrays the transformation of wicked Queen) and daily
conversations, stereotyping the aged as proud, vulnerable, and unable to
consume new information. Yet ageists seemly forget someday they will become
old, and live in the discrimination they set in their youths.
