The novel “El padre de Blancanieves” by Belén Gopegui revolves around various themes such as power and politics. Susana is seen narrating the occurrences of the night before the assembly. She is a daughter to the lady to whom these disastrous activities happened. The delivery guy faces the wrath of the organization he works in, and since he is an immigrant, luck is not on his side. After failing to deliver the food to the correct address, the Ecuadorian immigrant is fired with an instant effect. Since Sussana’s mother was the one responsible, in a way, for his retrenchment, he pours his laments onto her. He now wants her to get him another job or haunt her forever, even if arrested. This act raises a question about storytelling as a tool for manipulation and control.
Additionally, the novel examines the power dynamics related to people and institutions and how language and stories can intertwine to shape public opinions and views. The social and political issues addressed in the novel reflect those of contemporary Spain (Usoz de la Fuente, 2020). Furthermore, the book examines the themes of originality and resistance. Similar to Sussana’s ethical dilemmas and those of personal gratification, people’s struggles in dealing with multifaceted political landscapes are shown. The novel, therefore, calls the reader to reflect on how stories shape people’s understanding of the world and how individual choices challenge the varied narratives available.
Polyphony is shown through the character development shown in the novel. Each character embodies a peculiar worldly perspective, enriching the story with personal stories. Susanna strives to create narratives while maintaining originality, thus representing Bakhtin’s concept of internal and external dialogue (Angay-Crowder et al., 2023). Through the interactions of all these characters, the audience is given a living mosaic view, which generates reasonably stimulating debate. Apart from that, dialogism forms the place character of the story. The author, Gopegui, instigates conversations full of tension, reflecting the fundamental cadence of the speech. Susanna’s conversations with the assembly show generational differences, from which dialogism is a link that connects past and present ideologies. The interrelationships and affiliations of various opinions make a mockery of social discourse. Therefore, the reader can reflect on the dynamism of the language.
The novel “Snow White’s Father” is political due to incorporating some social and political themes. The novel analyzes political themes such as power dynamics and the effects of some political decisions on a person’s life. For example, as the daughter of a busy mother, Susanna is confused by the Ecuadorian’s request to her mother after he is fired from his job. It shows how personal motives and dissatisfactions impact other people’s lives without our knowledge. The protagonist’s experience prompts readers to think about how power shapes people’s decisions and social trajectories. In addition, it analyzes some social issues, such as social inequalities. The interactions between Susanna and the Ecuadorian offer insight into the disparities between people of different generations, economic levels, and ideologies. These discussions form a basis for broader social debates, thus creating a space for their audience to engage in crucial contemplation. Linking these interpersonal discussions with comprehensive social commentary makes the novel stand out as a reflection of the disparities in the real world (Noens, 2019). Including these themes in the novel aligns with the principles of a political novel, which often works to examine and offer critiques of the sociopolitical terrain. Likewise, the novel incorporates a robust political consciousness. With the interactions of several characters in the novel, the story highlights justice-related issues. Furthermore, it highlights issues related to the distribution of resources and the effect of organizational policies through various character interactions.
The title of the novel, “Snow White’s Father,” is not only a reference to the classic fairy tale but also has significant meaning in the novel. The title shapes the reader’s anticipation for a narrative that offers a different vision associated with the character of “Snow White’s Father.” The novel’s story revolves around the Ecuadorian with Susana, who presents a peculiar case to the assembly. However, the author’s emphasis on Snow White’s father in the title shows a change in the author’s focus. The shift in focus could indicate the author’s need to examine the assembly’s view and even offer insights into its struggles and experiences. The title of the novel provokes even more curiosity among readers. It makes readers question the author’s reasons for focusing on the assembly and the amount of untapped information available. The title suggests a story that goes beyond familiar paths to new paths through the power of storytelling. Focusing on the assembly prepares the reader’s mind to accept the likelihood of unexpected revelations. Aside from that, the assembly’s ability to narrate untold stories and even offer silent dilemmas offers an opportunity to present a space for storytelling. Following this language, the author presents the subtle power dynamics that exceed human relationships (Liu et al., 2019). Lastly, the author uses the type of language of intertextual references. The characters in the novel depend on external sources such as ideologies and historical events in their references. These references connect the story to a more diverse cultural and intellectual discourse. Through this language, the novel summons readers to go beyond its pages and connect with other words and ideologies, including historical events.
Conclusion
The novel “Father Snow White” revolves around a supermarket delivery guy, an Ecuadorian immigrant, fired after failing a customer by confusing addresses. Susana, the daughter of the lady whose food is spoiled, faces a dilemma of maintaining ethics or satisfying her gratification. This novel presents various themes, such as the dynamics of power and justice. The author uses polyphony and dialogism throughout the novel. These two concepts are seen through the various interactions between the characters. Also, the novel is political. It shows how organizational agencies use narratives to manipulate and control to obtain individual gratifications.
Furthermore, the novel’s title emphasizes the assembly’s role in individual lives. This change triggers curiosity within the reader’s mind about the assembly and allows the reader to anticipate the possibility of an unexpected revelation in the novel. Finally, the author uses various types of language in the novel, as explained above. Each type of language presents its meaning throughout the novel.
References
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