The Gilmore Book Club

How to Find the Paris or Lane to Your Rory: the Real story of snow white and red rose

I’m always willing to believe the fantastical, in talking bears that are guarding treasure, in god-like lions who rule countries hidden inside wardrobes, in dragon and elves and magic rings. Yet, when it comes to the everyday, I’m more skeptical.

The dream job? All jobs have their drawbacks. The perfect man? Nobody’s perfect, so he can’t exist. I read all the fine print and am always on the lookout for red flags. Fairy tale endings are for books, not for life.

When it comes to the real world, I’m more likely to believe the bloody and gruesome fairy tales like those of Hans Christen Anderson. I mean, have you seen the news lately? Aware of how different the stories of Cinderella and The Little Mermaid were from their Disney counterparts, I was preparing for the worst when it came to Snow White. Upon reading the short story “Snow White and Rose Red”, for the first time, I could feel my muscles clench each time I encountered a new character, just waiting for the one that would be the doom of Snow White and Rose Red. Yet the sisters simply stayed true to themselves and continued their lives as they knew how and all was well. That can’t be right, can it?

In “Snow White and Rose Red”, the two sisters live an idyllic existence with their mother until one day, a bear knocks on their door and asks to warm himself by their fire. They become friends with the bear, and he comes to their home every night for company and warmth. Eventually, when the Spring comes, the bear goes back to his cave to guard his treasure.

Yes, as much as this story conjures up images of talking bears and quaint little Snow-White type cottages, it also makes me think of two other girls who are sisters in spirt: Rory Gilmore and Paris Gellar. In this episode of Gilmore Girls, Rory randomly sits at a new lunch table which just happens to be the table of the not-so-secret secret Chiton sorority, the Puffs. The Chilton Puffs boast some of the world’s most powerful people as former members, Sandra Day O’Connor is specifically mentioned, and are the most powerful group in the school. However, when confronted by an outsider on their existence, they immediately brush it off as a myth. 

And just how similar is Paris and Rory’s story to that of the sisters in this myth? There are plenty of differences, but to see that the essentials of their journeys are the same, you have to know the rest of the story. While the sisters are going about their daily business, they repeatedly run into a dwarf who’s caught or trapped in various things. Snow White and Rose Red always help the dwarf, but he always responds with rudeness instead of gratitude. One day, during a particularly aggressive encounter with the dwarf that puts the sisters in danger, the bear arrives and kills the dwarf. And in classic fairytale style, the bear is a prince in disguise who ends up marrying Snow White and living happily ever after in a beautiful castle.  Rose Red marries the Prince’s brother. And the assumption is: they live happily ever after. 

The Puffs may be the focus of this episode, but it’s Rory and Paris that, to me, actually represent Snow White and Rose Red the most. One is compassionate and gentle, Rory, and the other is fiery and more likely to run around causing a disturbance, that’s Paris, of course. Though their relationship can be described as tumultuous, mostly because Paris is doing things like evicting Rory from their college apartment without notice, there are so many moments that are characteristics of a good friendship. They provide a shoulder to cry on when the other is down, push each other to be better and work harder, defend the other when under attack, and embrace or at least put up with the annoying quirks that would drive anyone else away. Just like real sisters, their bond carries them through the celebrations and hardships in life. Paris and Rory’s journey lasts through the entirety all seven seasons and even continues into the Netflix miniseries, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. And I have no doubt, their friendship will be one that lasts, even when there’s no TV show to document it.  

It’s true, both Rory and Paris do not seem to be having the “happily ever after” experience in the original show or the miniseries, but the point it is, they’re still together, and they’re still best friends.

Maybe fairy tales and folklore aren’t telling us that you’ll end up marrying into a royal family and living in a castle. I believe that this one in particular is telling us that a lasting friendship is the true treasure.

Recommended Reading

If you liked this blog post and the story of “Snow White and Rose Red”, here’s what to read next.

References:

The Brothers Grimm. “Snow White and Rose Red”.Classic Horror Tales. 2013. San Diego: Canterbury Classics, 2013. 171-176.

Sherman-Palladino , Amy, and Joan Binder Weiss. “Like Mother, Like Daughter.” Gilmore Girls, season 2, episode 7, 13 Nov. 2001.