Snow Brown and the Seven Detergents

Having read through the story ‘Snow Brown and the Seven Detergents’, I was very amazed as to how the story was rewritten to fit the then-mentioned scenario and context. As mentioned at the start, it is a metanarrative on science and the scientific method, and that intention seemed to be portrayed well. I gained a lot of insight into the writing style and learned plenty from the thought process of the storyteller. I, unfortunately, feel like I resonate with the first ending the most, ‘And Injustice Prevails’. If I think about the ending in terms of what makes sense with the current practice of science in India and the world, it seems as though even if there may be little talks about the loss of ‘Snow White’ and the book written by her, most of it would be forgotten and ignored soon. I feel that even though we’ve come far ahead from the past, there’s not too much talk about the implementation of new ideas until and unless one has a large audience and influence over them.

The storyteller seems to be indirectly talking about the biases and injustices in society against practitioners of science. The result turns out with sympathy or even empathy in some cases but soon everyone forgets about it and there’s no action taken against small lives that are lost. The last line of the first ending indirectly alludes to the happenings in society today. They poured the last detergent on her. There was nothing left. No pathetic face, no ugly reminders, no evidence. It feels as though Snow Brown is being compared to all those small contributions to science that are covered up and hidden from society. The ones in authority pour the last left layer over it and completely make it invisible to the eyes of the world. Once that happens, there is nothing left to look at or dig into, there is no face to look at, no reminder about it anywhere and no evidence to put forth.

Another thing the writer brings up through the medium of this story is the problems faced by people of colour in the field of science, especially women. Everything is stereotyped according to the white male perspective and that is exactly what is portrayed and judged by the mirror as an important contributor in the story. It judges and provides advice to all characters according to its standards for being an apt scientist with the proper scientific method. These stereotypes are all portrayed at the end when ‘Snow White’ faces an unfair death without achieving either her true identity or her dreams.

The end feels like it’s directing the readers to think about this present world scenario. It shows how things will be difficult especially if you are a woman of colour but the way to survive is to keep latching on to your origin. It is your roots and the true self that will guide you in times of need, if you lose that one day you won’t be able to recognize what you’ve become.

Overall, it was a pretty apt story by the science and scientific method of today. It hinted at a lot of other issues of concern in the world such as stereotypes in the field of science, sexism, racism, ignorance, etc. This story was a very interesting and unique take on this modern world context as well as regarding using a children’s fairy tale to portray it. This story is highly recommended for all science and storytelling enthusiasts.