The Duality of Innocence and Violence: An Analysis of White as Milk, Red as Blood

However, white also carries a chilling connotation: the blankness of a void. To stay "white" forever is to remain unformed and stagnant. In the narrative of the "forgotten" fairy tale, white often represents the porcelain-like expectation placed upon women or the fragile ego of a young protagonist who has not yet been tested by the world. It is a beautiful state, but one that is inherently unsustainable. The Necessity of Red: The Blood of Experience

If white is the preservation of life, red is the evidence of it. "Red as Blood" introduces the themes of menstruation, injury, passion, and death. In the original, unvarnished versions of European folklore, the "red" moment is usually the catalyst for change. It is the prick of the finger on a spindle, the wolf’s kill, or the sacrifice required to break a curse.