Saturday, August 09, 2008
An Apple--Just an Apple
The poison apple.
The image fascinates me.
The old witch in disguise, offering the young nubile beauty a taste, a bite, of something so delicate and delicious. What goes on in her head as she sees the offering from this person she has just met? Can she see herself in the reflection of the apple? Does she envision the crisp crunch as she bites in and her teeth pierce the slightly resisting skin, into the sweet meat underneath?
What does Snow White, if that is her name, really want from the apple? This delicious, tempting treat is pulled out from the hag's basket. Her eyes fixate on it. She wants it. She licks her rosy lips in anticipation. No thought of her own safety. No thought of why this old woman has such deliciousness and why she would share. Snow is desiring the taste. She is hungering for it. She wants it on her lips, her tongue, maybe the juice sliding down her throat or her chin. Wants, desires, needs controlling her actions.
She has no idea this witch has been after her. Watching her. Learning what she wanted. Learning what her heart desired. Not for Snow White's benefit, no matter how much she wants the apple, but only for the witch's own desire.
She wants to meet her own desires and needs. She wants to be the fairest, the prettiest, the best. She wants to be what everyone wants and desires. She wants to be Snow White. She wants to be to the rest of the world what the apple is to Snow White--an object of desire.
So she sets out to get what Snow White has. She tries taking it with the woodsman but that way was clumsy and it failed. Now she will have Snow White give it to her of her own free will. Snow White would never know what was in store for her, in fact, she would thank the witch for the gift of the apple.
And it comes down to the apple. And a girl. Her wants. Her beauty. A trade she is willing to make because she doesn't realize what she has. Giving into desire. Is that so bad?
And it comes down to a woman, a witch, a Queen. Ruled by her desires. She sees what Snow White has it and desires it. It that so bad?
I can't answer this because I was just thinking about the poison apple.
Laterzzz...
Labels: apple, queen, snow white
