The new live-actionSnow Whitemade some huge changes to the original—some of which have caused huge controversy. However, amongall the negative dialogue, there is one big development that adds much-needed heart to a fairly flat and stereotypical story, and that is the new focus on Dopey and Snow White’s (Rachel Zegler) relationship. In the original, Dopey is very much used as comic relief;he is laughed at by his fellow dwarfs, and the audience is encouraged to do the same. However,this modernized version of the storyasks more of Dopey and looks beyond his name, which allows him to have an actual character arc that portrays a positive message of confidence and the importance of having someone believe in you.
Dopey’s Portrayal in the Animated Classic Has Aged Poorly
InSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs, each dwarf personifies the name given to them. When Snow White first meets the group, she is able to match the names on each bed to the individuals in front of her with limited interaction, which serves to emphasize just how archetypical they are.Dopey is characterized by oversized clothing and big doe eyes, presenting an absent look. He is clumsy, often walking into things and slacking behind his fellow dwarfs. This is always played for laughs in the original,almost as if the movie is pointing a finger at Dopeyand encouraging the audience to find his pitfalls.
Despite all his characterizations, his defining trait that is almost synonymous with him is the fact he doesn’t speak.His muteness has raised dialogue around learning disabilities,withacademic studies looking at his mannerismsand their likeness to medical models of disability. However, the major issue that arises surrounds how disempowered he is. Despite the fact the movie stresses that Dopey has never spoken—not because he doesn’t know how to, but simply because he has never tried—there is definitely a sense of acceptance among the other dwarfs.It is as if Dopey was born one way and no one has ever given him the encouragement to grow. On the surface he appears asjust a lighthearted side character to a standard fairytale.But the original version of Dopey is actually tragic and regressive.
Dopey Speaks in the New ‘Snow White’ — And It Makes Perfect Sense
The remake ofSnow Whiteexplores Dopey’s insecurity and how he has never tried to talk, particularlythrough the way he is infantilized by the other dwarfs.We see them laugh at his incompetence, such as when a bowl of porridge falls on his head. The others don’t offer support or comfort; they merely ridicule his mishaps.The updated lyrics in “Heigh Ho” only serve to heighten this, implying the dwarfs accept their names as factwith the repetitive lines such as, “I’m Sleepy/Yeah, we know.” The movie sets up the dynamic of the group to allow Snow White’s influence to be a force for good. It takes the princess to come along and encourage Dopey to be more than his name, starting off small by teaching him to whistle, which he excels at.
When theother dwarfs see Dopey proudly whistling, it feels like the first time they have seen him as more than fatuous, and it acts as the turning point for the dwarfs. By placing Dopey and Snow White’s relationship at the center of the story, it brings logic tothe dwarfs' ability to stop fighting with each other and laughing at Dopey’s shortcomings.However, it is right at the climax when Dopey finally speaks that Snow’s impact is truly felt, as he shows courage and bravery in wanting to help Snow in any way he can. The main reasonDopey wasn’t given a voice in the originalwas because Disney couldn’t find someone to fit his personality, so the new movie’s decision to give Dopey a voice became an even bigger challenge. However, he was perfectly portrayed byAndrew Barth Feldman, who provides a gentle tone that encapsulates the quiet assurance of Dopey.
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The emotional depth in Dopey and Snow White’s friendship reimagines the whole dynamic between the dwarfs and the princess. She isno longer a damsel in distress, but instead she is a representation of kindness, so her seeing the good in Dopey despite his outsider status makes logical sense. It alsoallows Dopey to serve as the major connector between the dwarfs and the princess—her ability to get through to Dopey makes the other dwarfs truly believe in her and what she stands for. They want to fight with her because of what she has done for them. This updated relationship iscemented by the reveal that Dopey has been the movie’s narrator all along, he is not just the connection between the dwarfs and Snow White, but he is also the link between the story and the audience.
Snow White
A live-action adaptation of the classic fairy tale. The film follows Snow White as she escapes into the forest and seeks refuge with seven dwarfs to elude her jealous stepmother, the wicked Queen, who is threatened by Snow White’s surpassing beauty.
