Forest vs Leshy
In my first example of how slavonic pagan death traditions have been incorporated into Disney films, I have chosen to discuss the scene in the forest where the trees take on an anthropomorphic state. They resemble the idea in Slavic mythology of a lower creature called a "leshy". Leshy's don't normally harm people but they like to play and kidnap women. A leshy can transform from a piece of grass into a giant tree and sometimes he resembles an old man. " Leshy whose name is derived from les, the forest, was the spirit of the forest" (p.290) In this example the Leshy is acting out in a mischeivious nature and although not a traditional role of death he is sometimes known to kill people and kidnap, therefore representing an unknown and darker figure in the film.
Queen vs Baba Yaga
My second example of death in slavic paganism in snow white is the clip of the witch. In slavonic mythology the witch would be representive of in the spirit Baba Yaga. She is a witch who traditionally is represented as living in a hut in the woods made of wood and chicken bones. She sometimes is known to eat small children and is able to offer spiritual guidance. I think the witch in Snow White is a presentation of Baba Yaga because they both bring about death and evil. They have similar physical attributions after the potion and both of their abilities for potion making and witchcraft.
Birds vs Cikavac
For third and final example of death in Snow White through a slavic paganistic lense is the scene where the witch/ queen is making her potion for her transformation and for the poisoned apple. I think that the element of witchcraft and practices is a strong association with more pagan rituals and beliefs. The two images I wanted to focus on are the two vultures in the film who follow the witch around and the raven present in her chamber while she performs the spells. The birds to me represent the cikavac. The bird is said to be an animal that can understand humans and allow them to understand animals. It will do bidding for their masters and influence people in their ways. They are not set though in the masters way. In this is film they show the influence of evil on the world in the form of the witch. They are also presented as evil in this film and when the witch dies the vultures swoop to her to eat her. The view of the witches death is shown in a form of natural progression and life cycle because she represents the forest witch and they are spirits too. Rather than humans killing her, nature kills her and she becomes one with nature again.
