For two centuries, literary historians have searched for the real-life origins of this German folk tale. Their research led them to the tragic story of Margaretha von Waldeck…
Who Was the Real Snow White?
Born in 1533, Margaretha von Waldeck was a German countess, the second daughter of Philip IV, Count of Waldeck-Wildungen, and his first wife. She was known for her exceptional beauty, with fair skin and red lips, but her hair was blond, not black.
At just four years old, Margaretha lost her mother. Shortly afterward, her father remarried Katharina von Hatzfeld, a vain but strikingly beautiful woman. Katharina spent hours admiring her reflection, and as a wedding gift, Philip gave her a large mirror—though it could not talk.
However, Katharina disliked her stepchildren, especially the beautiful Margaretha.
A Deadly Rivalry
When Margaretha turned 16, her father and stepmother sent her to the royal court in Brussels in hopes of securing a marriage. There, she caught the attention of Prince Philip of Spain, the future King Philip II. He fell in love with her, but Spanish authorities opposed the match—she was not of high enough rank to marry the prince.
Meanwhile, Katharina was furious at the idea that Margaretha might outshine her in both beauty and marriage prospects. However, she would soon be relieved:
At 21 years old, Margaretha suddenly fell ill and died in 1554. Her death was mysterious, and rumors spread that she had been poisoned—either by Spanish authorities or her jealous stepmother.
While the first theory is considered more plausible, the idea of a wicked stepmother made for a far better fairy tale.
The Moral of Snow White
The story of Snow White conveys several moral lessons.
- The Danger of Vanity
- The Evil Queen wants Snow White dead because she cannot bear the thought of someone being more beautiful than her.
- Her obsession with appearance ultimately leads to Snow White’s near-death.
- True Beauty Comes from Within
- The Queen is physically beautiful, but her heart is cruel and ugly.
- Snow White, on the other hand, is beautiful both inside and out.
- The magic mirror declares her the fairest not just because of her looks, but because of her inner goodness.
- Beware of Strangers
- Like Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White warns children not to trust strangers.
- Snow White accepts a poisoned apple from an unknown woman, which nearly costs her life.
Who Inspired the Seven Dwarfs?
The region of Germany where Margaretha von Waldeck was born was rich in copper deposits. Her family, the von Waldecks, owned seven mines.
At the time, children often worked in these low-ceilinged mines, which stunted their growth due to malnutrition and the constant bending required for their work. As a result, many of them never reached adult height, and their spines remained permanently curved.
The locals in the region referred to these child laborers as “dwarfs”—a tragic but likely inspiration for the seven dwarfs in the famous fairy tale.
This historical reality likely inspired the Seven Dwarfs in the fairy tale.