We live in complicated times
We live in complicated times where "right" and "wrong" have become subjective and depending on what lens you use something could be good or bad. Add in phones everywhere which show an image but don't tell a story...it makes things more complicated still. One picture with a different caption can give a very different take.
Just for fun lets look at Schneewitchen which was published in 1812. You may know it by its more common English name. Little Snow White. Or more commonly : Snow White.
In the original story Snow White's mother is the one who repeatedly tries to kill her daughter because she is more beautiful than she. Hmm... Kind of grim when a mother wants to kill her own child but then again monarchs at the time could be brutal The prince? Didn't wake Snow White with a kiss. He just fell in love with the beauty of a dead woman and wanted to take her home. Big ick factor there. She awakens when her glass coffin slips, the poison apple dislodges and the prince is delighted...he gets to marry a live beautiful woman instead of taking home a dead beautiful woman.
I'm old, but not old enough to have been alive in 1812. By today's standards that is a pretty dark story. In 1812? Perhaps it was a social commentary on the monarchy or about vanity overcoming traditional values. The prince? Loved beautiful things...tracks. Married a beautiful woman...sure. Also at the time marrying well was kind of the whole thing for women. Different time--Different values.
Fast forward a hundred years
If you go to 1937 we get to the Snow White that more people know. A handsome prince rescuing a maiden under a curse. The mother was changed to step-mother because...well, jealousy plays better when its not going against a mother-daughter bond. The prince? Falls in love with someone who appears beautiful yet cured to slumber. Seriously, falling for someone who you don't know. As a father I'd tell my son's that never ends well. Stealing a kiss without consent, also icky. Then again, she was doomed to death if the curse wasn't broken. Maybe it was a case of two wrongs make a right. However at the time it was seen as romantic or charming. Didn't raise any red flags. Even coined the phrase "Love's true kiss" probably because the phrase "Kissed by some lustful rando" didn't market as well 😉
Different times...different standards
Would Snow White Die
It might sound like a stupid question but let me give you a scenario.
Instead of Snow White being poisoned or cursed let's give her a more plausible reason for being unconscious.
Show White drowned in a swimming accident.
A truly beautiful woman is lying unconscious on the beach. Then what?
Does a handsome young man come up and give her CPR? What happens if it was an unattractive, balding, middle aged man? Does it make a difference?
Well, Snow White wakes up and some guy is on top of her either kissing her (Mouth to Mouth) or pushing on her chest (Chest compressions). Is her first thought : Wow, I'm rescued. OR Get off me creep?
Honestly? I have no idea. Of course consent is important. Can an unconscious woman give consent? Nope. Does the rescuer assume consent? Does he waste time trying to rouse her first? Does he just walk by and hope she is simply sunbathing? Don't ask me, I don't have the answers.
Bystanders and watchers
Honestly? I have a sneaky situation a would be rescuer would just kind of look over and think...not my problem. Too much potential for things to go sideways. Not going to get involved. Then it happens.
One persons indecision and "watching" the situation allows others to stand by and take note. However, if the first person isn't doing anything why should they do something? A crowd forms. People take pictures. Everyone things someone else should do something or maybe they just wonder if this is a publicity stunt. Maybe a YouTuber looking for reactions and views. With this many people with cameras out it can't be a real emergency, right?
Meanwhile...Snow White is unconscious from drowning and her chances to live are slipping away.
First Aid
Now as a Pharmacist I am trained in First Aid. I know the Heimlich. I know CPR. I even know about compression on wounds and doing bandages. I know enough to not move someone who may have injured spine. Not to remove something impaled in them to avoid more bleeding.
####....And all of this is book knowledge.
My wife? She is a nurse and she not only knows it, she practices it. Every two years she takes a refresher course. Every day she works hands on with patients.
####....My wife will do a much better job than I ever could.
Besides as a Pharmacist I'm wired differently. I'm trained to look at a prescription. Look at every interaction, every system, and the possible outcomes. To make sure everything is correct then go ahead. In a word: Analytical. Yes, I try to help people but my method takes time.
My wife as a Nurse? She is trained to triage. Look at the situation quickly, act quickly, and take charge. In a first aid situation? I'll still be assessing and analyzing while she's getting things done.
It isn't that I don't want to help but I'll be analyzing everything. I'll be thinking about consent. I'll be thinking about the optics of the situation. If I act I'll be acting on book knowledge and not practical knowledge. If I was Snow White I'd way rather be rescued by my wife than myself.
A few bad apples
And to make matters worse? There are scammers out there. What is Snow White is a scammer? What if she has a friend hiding and taking pictures. A well meaning bystander comes by, asks for consent but the woman is unresponsive. Starts CPR and the accomplice takes a picture. Then the woman claims assault and the man is in big trouble.
Good Intentions turn into jail time.
Sound far fetched? In some places it is the reality and men just walk away and leave the person to fend for themselves. Not because they don't want to help but because they have no desire to go to prison in case they guess wrong.
As I said before:
We live in complicated times.
I'll ask the question again? Would Snow White die?
Tough to say. If you go back to 1937 I'm sure that anyone who knew CPR would just breathe life into the unconscious woman. In 2025? I'm not so sure they would do the same thing.
However, that's just my take on things. There are good samaritan laws. There are people who don't think before they act and just do what's right...or what they think is right. But thanks for reading this far and I'd love to get feedback on what you think Snow Whites chances are.