Disney's Snow White Remake: Addressing The Biggest Issue

Luna Greco

4 min read

Post on May 14, 2025

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The Prince's Problematic Portrayal in the Original and its Modern Implications

Analyzing the Original Prince's Passive Role

The original animated Prince is, to put it mildly, underwhelming. He's largely passive, a bystander in Snow White's journey until she’s in immediate danger. This passivity is a significant issue.

• He doesn't actively participate in overcoming the challenges Snow White faces.
• His primary function is to rescue her from the Evil Queen's curse, a classic "damsel in distress" trope.
• He shows little to no personality beyond being handsome.

This portrayal perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes, presenting the male character as needing to rescue a damsel instead of an equal partner. Modern audiences, accustomed to more nuanced and active male roles, will find this representation lacking and even offensive.

The Remake's Opportunity for Character Development

The live-action Disney's Snow White Remake presents a crucial opportunity to subvert this trope. However, there's a significant risk of simply replicating the original's problematic characterization. The remake can instead:

• Give the Prince a more active role in supporting Snow White, offering assistance and encouragement without diminishing her achievements.
• Develop a stronger moral compass, allowing him to demonstrate his own agency and courage independently of rescuing Snow White.
• Craft a more complex personality, providing him with depth, flaws, and motivations beyond his romantic interest in Snow White.

By showcasing a more progressive and well-developed Prince, the remake can reflect positive gender dynamics and create a far more impactful narrative. A well-developed Prince could significantly enhance the film's overall message.

The Impact of a Problematic Prince on the Narrative and Themes

Undermining the Empowerment of Snow White

A passive Prince directly undermines the narrative's focus on Snow White's agency and resilience.

• His lack of involvement diminishes the significance of Snow White's own accomplishments. She overcomes challenges, but the Prince's rescue takes the spotlight.
• It reinforces the idea that a woman needs a man to complete her story, hindering the message of female empowerment.
• This sends a regressive message to young viewers, particularly girls, about their capacity for independence and strength.

A modern fairytale needs to showcase a female protagonist who overcomes challenges independently, demonstrating strength and resourcefulness.

Diminishing the Film's Overall Message

A poorly developed Prince can weaken the film's overarching message, whether it's about female empowerment, overcoming adversity, or the importance of healthy relationships.

• A strong, supportive Prince would amplify the positive messages, enhancing the narrative's power.
• A nuanced and complex portrayal could add richness and depth to the story, creating a more resonant and meaningful experience for viewers.
• Disney has a responsibility to promote healthy relationships and gender dynamics; a poorly developed Prince contradicts this responsibility.

Potential Solutions and Expectations for the Remake

Reimagining the Prince's Role

The remake can reimagine the Prince's role concretely by:

• Giving him a supportive role, actively assisting Snow White with her tasks and challenges.
• Providing him with a unique personality, showcasing his strengths and flaws, making him a more compelling character.
• Integrating him into the plot in a way that complements and enhances Snow White's journey, rather than overshadowing it.

The Prince should be a partner, not a rescuer. A multi-dimensional character, charming yet supportive, showcases a healthy, respectful partnership.

Setting Expectations for Modern Audiences

Modern audiences have high expectations for representation and storytelling. Superficial changes won’t suffice. The remake must:

• Learn from positive male representations in modern media, drawing inspiration from characters who are complex, supportive, and avoid outdated tropes.
• Address the criticisms constructively, demonstrating that Disney is listening to its audience and committed to producing a more impactful and responsible film.
• Balance commercial success with positive reception by directly addressing the issues surrounding the Prince's character. Ignoring these issues is a missed opportunity.

Conclusion

The original Snow White's Prince presents a problematic portrayal, undermining the narrative's focus on Snow White's agency and diminishing the film's overall message. This is arguably the biggest issue facing Disney's Snow White Remake. A revised character is not merely a cosmetic change; it is crucial for the film's success and its impact on audiences. Let's discuss Disney's Snow White Remake and its Prince, and what are your thoughts on how Disney addresses this key issue in their Snow White Remake? The remake has the power to create a more progressive and empowering fairytale – let's hope it rises to the occasion.