In this story by Angela Carter, a dominating Count riding along a snowy road with his wife wishes aloud for a beautiful girl. When the naked “child of his desire” miraculously materializes, the Countess plots to be rid of her. Two failed attempts result in the Countess’s furs and boots springing to the girl, leaving her naked. The third attempt succeeds. When a prick from a rose kills the snow child, the Count’s masculinity and dignity are stripped away as he weeps while defiling her body. Themes include patriarchal power, objectification of women, lust, jealousy, humiliation, depravity (necrophilia).
