In Mirror Mirror there is a brilliant showing of this in one of the first scenes.
So Snow White is 18 today. She is sad, lonely and bored in her bedroom, a bird pops in and so Snow White feeds it, then she hears a fanfare coming from downstairs. Snow gets excited " it's a party. who knows maybe its for me!" She goes down "im sure the Queen wont mind."
It turns out the Queen is just playing a game of sorts, looking bored and just wanting the party to end, Snow white walks by her. The Queen is suprised, she asks if there is a fire in her room as she's not aloud out of her bedroom. Snow White asks if she is allowed to come to the party as it's her birthday. The Queen asks Snow to sit by her. Snow approaches her with excitement.
The Queen initially holds Snows hand with a grin on her face while snow looks at her back with a smile. "Maybe I am invited" snow thinks.
Then the Queen let's go and says that despite her causing no trouble to her that she is still irritating to her. Snow She doesn't know why then points out that its her hair. "I hate your hair" the Queen tells snow as she tugs it hard. She also points out that she doesn't care what her birthday is she must never come to her party uninvited again. Snow looks extremely depressed almost crying as she looks at the Queen. The Queen wins the game and tells snow "it's important to know when you are beaten" Snow wonders why she even bothered.
I love this scene because through out the whole scene Snow White just wants to fit in with the Queen, be a princess but the Queen just won't let her due to nothing but just existing. The relationship is toxic but Snow being innocent and kind simply accepts it.
She just about remains calm and sadly takes the Queens abuse. Despite her not being a scullery maid like in the Disney film she still gets treated like one despite her royalty.
There is another Mirror Mirror scene I would like to show exploring the relationship between the two characters so please comment if you agree or disagree with me. Are they toxic or just misunderstood?
