In the Defense of Kayley

Whitney: Okay, so Kayley isn’t *technically* a princess, but neither is Mulan and that didn’t stop us (or Disney). She doesn’t marry a prince or anything, but she still becomes something really cool--a knight! Just like her father. Kayley defies all social conventions of her time: she wears trousers, goes on quests, uses a sword, rides horses astride, etc.

Becky: Kayley is awesome. She has this honor and loyalty that most of the time we associate with the princes of fairytales. But she proves that valor knows no gender, and her awesomeness is just contagious. I mean, Gareth was a recluse and a cranky-pants before she came along, and look how he turned out!

Whitney: She’s brave, leaving her mother behind with a mad man to find someone to help them, being faced with griffons, dragons, and enchanted forests on the way, with an army of hybrid people-weapons following behind her.

In the Defense of Anastasia

Becky: Anastasia is my favorite non-Disney princess ever. I even lump this movie in with my Disney movies because it is that good. Anya is a tough girl, having been forced into a very tough upbringing thanks to Rasputin’s machinations and that whole revolution thing that got her family killed… But she yearns for a real home and a family, and nothing is going to sway her from that. She doesn’t want riches or fame or the big house on the hill, just a home and a family. Simple and sweet, despite her tough and prickly exterior.

Whitney: Who doesn’t like Anastasia? The music is amazing, the animation cool, storyline great, and Dimitri is probably the hottest animated guy out there. Anya isn’t going to get bossed around either. She’s full of sharp comments and witty comebacks when it comes to dealing with Dimitri. But she’s also kind and a little naive, which is what gets people to like her so easily, like Vlad and the children at the orphanage. 

Becky: And when Dmitri offers her a new chance at a life, she jumps at the chance. She doesn’t know it’s for the money, doesn’t care about the “grand duchess” status. She just wants answers and a family. When she finds out what the REAL objective was, she bails completely. And I love that.

Whitney: Anastasia wasn’t ever tempted by the station it would give or money or anything other than making an old woman happy and maybe finding a family who loves her. 

Becky: Also AMEN to him being the hottest animated man. I mean, come on, no contest. Give this gal a glass of ice cold water for that one.

Whitney: *throws glass of water on Becky*

In the Defense of Odette

Exciting bit of news! By the glories of modern technology, we were able to watch part of this movie together--from opposite sides of the country!

Whitney: We really need to talk about how dense Derek is when it comes to women and how awesome it is that Odette totally didn’t fall for it. But of course she wouldn’t, she was raised to be strong and independent. Yeah, she’s beautiful (as Derek stupidly pointed out while proposing. Seriously “What else is there?”), but she’s so much more. She doesn’t mind stating her opinion and keeping up with the boys. She’s a reader and intelligent. And she wants Derek to recognize that.

Becky: UGH. His “What else is there?” is the absolute WORST. I hated him for a long time after that. Looking back on it now, it was an interesting statement for the “handsome prince” to make. How often have we assumed that and made that assumption? “Love at first sight” and all. Now, these two had seen each other several times, but he never really saw her until suddenly she was pretty. And he was willing to throw everything in the past that he hated about her aside just because suddenly he was all “Ooh, look, pretty!”. Terrible. But a great statement to make, and for Odette to not stand for it was awesome. She forces him to look deeper if he really wants her. Derek is a moron.

Whitney: At least he realized how stupid he was soon after. And he was kind of put on the spot. I think it’s kind of obvious that Odette sees something in Derek--a kind of potential--or else why would she love him? 

Becky: Why else indeed… I think Derek sees something in Odette, and always has, but he was so focused on not liking her and being irritated by her that he never really thought about it. But then when she was suddenly appealing, he started paying more attention. And Odette always saw something special in Derek, but it was his resistance that fueled hers. She knows he can be a hero, but he’s always just been “the prince”. It’s his desire to be something for her, to find her, to see the “what else is there” that turns him into a hero. But why am I going on about him for? We’re defending Odette… She rocks. Doesn’t give in to the bad guy, continues to live with grace and hope, sees what’s beyond the surface, and is willing to sacrifice for what she loves. She’s tough, she’s smart, and yet she’s still soft and ethereal. Love it.

Whitney: And despite spending most of her time as a swan, Odette still works to get back to Derek, with the help of her animal friends. They find the map and work out a way to get Derek to the lake so he can see her change into her human form.

Becky: I love the whole sacrifice theme that comes into play at the end. They might have started off rocky, but these characters grew so much by the end. Derek was a real hero with a real heart, who finally saw the truth of Odette as she was. And she, of course, is just fantastic. It's a story of growing and faith and the sort of strength that endures for a lifetime. So good.

In the Defense of Thumbelina

Whitney: I love that these last two non-Disney princesses are not only princesses, but fairies! (Eventually . . . SPOILER!) Fairies are awesome. They are little and have shimmering wings! And they fly! Thumbelina has a big challenge to overcome--she’s a thumb-sized person in a normal sized person’s world. And though she loves her mother and the small farm they live in, she wishes that there was somebody like her. Don’t we all want someone who understands us?

Becky: I think that was something I loved the most. And her mother loved her exactly as she was.Whitney: When she meets Cornelius, she’s really happy, but then she has to go through several trials in order to get back to him. But it really could be that those experiences teach her more about how much she loves the prince. Just like we all need life experiences to teach us what it is we really want.

Becky: I really appreciated that they weren’t happily ever after right away. They had to fight to be together, going through so many things, and it only strengthened and deepened those feelings. Granted, they initially came on fast, but doesn’t that initial attraction come on fast? Love comes later, after you’ve been through things together and with time. And that’s what happened here. So I’m good with that.

Whitney: Sure, she gets a little distracted, but she doesn’t have very many experiences about the world, and we all make bad decisions or mistakes throughout our lives. The thing is that she learned from them, corrected them, and kept her eye on what she really wanted. 

But the best thing, I think, is what her mother cautions her (and what she learns): “Don’t ever wish to be anything than what you are.” And what a great reminder for all of us!

Becky: Amen!

In the Defense of Crysta

Whitney: Crysta is a curious, like Ariel, but unlike Ariel she has a wise person to help her understand the world beyond Ferngully. She wants to know more about the world that surrounds them, to better understand hers--she is perfectly happy living where she lives. I would say that her interest in Zak is more curiosity than anything else. She doesn’t just want to know about the human world, but to share about her world too. But, like all the other princesses we talked about, Crysta is kind and wants to help others, which is how she ends up with Zak in the first place. And let’s be honest, Zak is kind of a doofus anyway.

Becky: Zak is totally a doofus, but he has his uses. Crysta is a very Ariel-like character, and I think she might be just a little more naive. Not necessarily a bad thing in anyway, but it needs to be said. She is full of hope and good natured, and doesn’t know how to access the potential within her. I think that rings true for a lot of us.

Whitney: So true. Magi has been teaching her, but it isn’t until she needs to that she actually can use her magic to her full potential. And speaking of Magi. Another great thing is that a woman is the leader and wise person of the fairies. Magi is the person who knows about the humans and their world, she’s the one they turn to, and she’s teaching Crysta to become that leader. Though unsure if she can do it, Crysta finds the courage to protect her people and their home from the humans and from Hexxus.

In the Defense of Irene

Whitney: From the first time we see Irene in The Princess and the Goblin, we can see that she’s an independent, mischievous girl. But she’s young, and easily frightened. It isn’t that she depends on being saved, but that she knows she needs help sometimes. There is nothing wrong with needing help, as her great great grandmother tells her. And she didn’t even know about goblins or how to protect herself from them until Curdie told her.

Becky: I think Irene was pretty dang sheltered. Not in a bad way, necessarily, she just knew what she needed to, and didn’t know much else. She’s a curious girl, so she discovers some things on her own fairly quickly. And thanks to Curdie, she learns some fairly important things that she never would have otherwise. What I loved about Irene is that by the end of the film, she is courageous. I mean, absolutely fearless when it comes down to it. From being a naive, scared, skittish little girl who didn’t know what was out there, she became a strong heroine, well aware of the dangers in the world, and still forging into them, saving Curdie, facing goblins… She really grows a lot.

Whitney: I agree. I love stories when people save each other, which I think Irene and Curdie do. Curdie teaches Irene about goblins and how singing frightens them away and Irene uses the string to rescue Curdie. Being strong doesn’t mean you have to do everything on your own.

Becky: Plus this one has goblins. I mean, come on. That’s classic.

Exhibit B

We are back with our next round of princesses! The official Disney princesses aren’t the only princesses that we have as role models when it comes to animated movies. In fact, sometimes we forget that Disney doesn’t have a monopoly on princesses.

Our next set of princesses are those that we watched as children, but maybe haven’t come back to since we’ve grown. Or maybe you never saw them. However it is, these princesses still show kindness, gentleness, and courage. They all overcome something in the course of their story, and it’s not because a prince “saved them,” it’s because they were good enough that someone wanted to help them, and they worked hard enough that they could have made it without that help.

In the Defense of Elsa

Frozen (Elsa)

Becky: Elsa is probably the most complicated Disney princess yet. She has a promising beginning, with tender, loving parents and a sister who is her best friend. A fantastic future is before her. Then her powers, never seen as much of a threat before, become exactly that and she and her parents aren’t sure how to deal with them. They are all so afraid of what could be and how bad it can get that they are ruled by that fear. Elsa never learns how to cope and balance her life with the powers, she just lives in fear and tries everything to hide it, which makes her anxious and more out of control than before. She has the best of intentions, she doesn’t want to hurt her sister or anybody else, and she wants to be “normal”. Who doesn’t want the same thing in their lives?

Whitney: That’s so true, but I really want to address the big controversy surrounding Elsa and it has to do with that big number “Let it Go”. A lot of people viewed the song, and Elsa’s actions as she sings it, as sexual. She changes her dress to some slinky number, some people think of the words of the song as being about being sexually free. Here’s what I thought when I first saw the film: Elsa is finally facing her fears. She’s letting go of her anxieties surrounding her powers and what people would think of her because of them, and she’s embracing what she can do. Before running away, her hair was pulled back tight, her dresses were constricting--early every inch of her was covered, hiding her from everyone else just as effectively as her bedroom door. But she changes into clothes that she can move freely in, something she can feel comfortable in. Instead of being uptight, she’s relaxed. She is embracing the person she is, with everything that comes along with that. Once she lets go of those fears and relaxes, she can do amazing things. The bad stuff happens when she lets her fear take over again.

Becky: Excellent point! Elsa’s gown at the beginning was very Arendell traditional. Covering every inch of herself like the gloves covered her hands and helped to “conceal” her powers. And if all people get out of that song is her change in wardrobe and the slinkiness, let’s remind them of Jasmine’s outfits. Or Ariel. She wasn’t going to transform into a pair of yoga pants or a powersuit, guys. Let go of the dress and focus on the message. Let it go, let it go…. Anywho, the idea of fear being so powerful is a great one. Fear changes everything. Once Elsa embraces herself, and her powers, she is not only free, but even more powerful than before! And the end all of the story? Love will thaw a frozen heart. But love also conquered fear. Love saved the sisters’ relationship. Love drove them both to make sacrifices for each other. And love was everywhere in this story. Elsa and Anna, Anna and Kristoff, Elsa and herself, Olaf and….everyone…..and everything……

Whitney: It’s so great to see love seen as more than just romantic too. Sisterly love saves the day this time around. No prince needed.

Becky: But let us not diminish Kristoff for that. He was willing to do so much for Anna… Sigh. Anyways.

In the Defense of Anna

Frozen (Anna)

Whitney: We’re going to take the Frozen sisters one at a time, starting with Anna. Anna isn’t like any other princess. I think just about anyone can see themselves in Anna. She’s energetic and imaginative. She daydreams, rambles when she talks, and is a little bit of a klutz. And just look at her hair when she first wakes up! So realistic!

Becky: Anna wants to be exactly what the “typical” princess is and has. Grand adventures, true love, a fairy tale ending… She wants it all! And again we get the innocence and naivete of someone who knows nothing of the world or of herself, really. So she falls for the first handsome guy to pay her attention, thinking it is exactly what she is supposed to have. Everything is exactly as she imagined it! Are we going to fault her for that? No! Without knowing any better, how can we? She is a trusting soul, and that’s not a bad thing to be.

Whitney: And she had a pretty lonely childhood. Her sister wouldn’t come out and play with her, and her parents died when she was still a teenager. She had ten years or something to keep herself occupied, so of course she fall for someone who actually pays attention to her. She’s a dreamer. How many of us think we’re in love with the first guy who seems interested? But she goes through this journey to get her sister back and she meets someone who gave her a really bad first impression, and apparently a second one as he left his mountain man/reindeer smell behind.

Becky: I love Kristoff. He’s a real guy. And the end of this movie leaves things fairly open for them, which I love. But we all know how it will go! And he loves Anna for who she is and knows her well enough for the love to be real! But this movie isn’t really about romantic love. It’s about family. Despite the isolation of her life, Anna risks her safety to go after her sister and to make things right. She believes in her sister without knowing the facts or questioning the separation of her childhood.

Whitney: Anna never loses her impulsiveness, but she does learn about the time and place for it. And, just like everyone else we’ve talked about, she’s kind and cheerful no matter her circumstance. She doesn’t want to ruin Olaf’s dream of summer, and she found ways to occupy her time when she was a kid. She’s willing to try to climb mountains and fight giant snowmen to get her sister back.

Becky: Anna may be a dreamer, but she is definitely a doer too. She’s not one to sit idly by and wait for life to happen. And she is obsessed with chocolate, so…..

Whitney: My kind of girl!

Becky: Amen!

In the Defense of Merida

Brave (Merida)

Whitney: My big thing about Merida is that when there IS a princess who is independent and doesn’t want a man, people start complaining about that. It’s like they can’t be happy either way.

Becky: Seriously. Why can’t we just enjoy the fact that her story doesn’t revolve around finding love? It’s a completely different type of story!

Whitney: Right. One, I’m pretty sure Merida is the youngest of the princesses. Let’s not start marrying off children, okay? And it’s so obvious that she worships her father, so she wants to be like him. She doesn’t want to fit into the stereotypes that her mom tries to push her into--she wants to be her own person! Which she’s still trying to figure out. She’s trying to prove how strong she is, but at the same time showing that she needs her parents. And don’t most people need their parents their entire lives?

Becky: Let us also point out that Merida is one of the only princesses who actually has both of her parents AND has siblings, too.

Whitney: Exactly. I think that makes a little bit of a difference. She had a happy and fulfilling home life, so there wasn’t a reason for her to find it elsewhere.

Becky: The point is that Merida wasn’t ready to get married. To find love. And that was the whole point of the story. She wanted more for herself than to be forced into marriage, and she wanted love. She didn’t want to be rushed. So maybe, just maybe, Merida is a true romantic. The main relationship we need to focus on in this story is the parent-child relationship. That is the crux of it all. Merida and her mom had grown distant and somehow didn’t understand each other anymore. Bizarre circumstances allowed them the chance to rekindle their relationship. That’s the point. It’s a movie for parents AND kids. Go hug your mom. More importantly, TALK TO HER. The end.

In the Defense of Rapunzel

Tangled (Rapunzel)

Becky: Rapunzel is a kidnapped princess who doesn’t know her identity, is locked away in a tower, dreams of exploring the world, and takes the chance with the first attractive man with a smolder she meets. Crazy, right? Sounds like…..something I might do. ANYWAY. She possesses this sense of innocence and energy that poor Flynn Ryder [seriously, best name ever] finds absolutely fascinating. She doesn’t really know what the world is like, and as such, she has no preconceived notions of it. Think about that inn they go to. The Snuggly Duckling was hardly the Ritz or even Motel 6. Those were some hardened characters in it, and she had every right to be nervous with them. Yet within moments she’s seeing them for the secret hopes and dreams they have, and not judging them as Flynn or anyone else would. She sees the good in Flynn when he can’t even see it in himself. And what does she want most? To see the floating lanterns she’s watched from her window for years. That is the sweetest, most innocent dream ever. Do we really have to talk AGAIN about why it’s okay that she needed saving at the end? Let’s skip over that part and go right to the bit where SHE GAVE UP FIGHTING TO SAVE HIM! Holy heroine move right there. She was going to face an eternity with the woman who used her shamelessly and lost any of the pretend maternal nature she once had just to save the man who tried to save her. Basically, Rapunzel is a rock star.

Whitney: I LOVE Rapunzel. She is innocent, adventurous, kind, and good. There is a reason that all those unsavory fellows at the Snuggly Duckling warm to her almost instantly. And why Flynn gives up his selfish ways. And, let’s be honest, if you are with someone for nearly 72 hours straight, you’re either going to hate them or start falling in love with them. And because of the things that Rapunzel and Flynn (or should we be calling him Eugene?) went through, they were brought closer together than would be usual. And I love that they save each other. As you mentioned, Becky, she was willing to give up her freedom to save Flynn, and he was willing to give up his life to give her her freedom. Flynn needed Rapunzel just as much as Rapunzel needed Flynn. Some people might complain about Flynn being the “bad boy” and that it isn’t realistic for girls to think they can change someone, but was he REALLY a bad guy? All he wanted to do was have adventures, and in order to do so and to get money to live, he turned to thievery. He became hardened. But I think really he was still little Eugene Fitzherbert, dreaming of an adventure and Rapunzel gave it to him and showed him that the world isn’t nearly as rough as he had come to believe.

Becky: I think what needs to be pointed out is that Rapunzel didn’t go after the “bad boy”. She sort of blackmailed him into helping her, and the friendship grew and then became more. He changed all on his own, she had nothing to do with it. He saw how she saw the world and that triggered it. He had to WANT to change. He could have stayed the same and gone back to his ways. But he didn’t. Is there a good person under every bad boy? Sure, probably. Will he change? Well, that’s up to him, isn’t it? Also a good whack with a frying pan might help.

Whitney: The frying pan is the best thing ever.

In the Defense of Tiana

Whitney: It’s time to move on to the 21st century princesses. A lot has changed from when Snow White first came on the scene, but then again, some things haven’t changed. Now, I’m not a huge fan of The Princess and the Frog as a movie, but I think Tiana is a great character. She works hard (just like Cinderella or Mulan or Belle) for what she wants and she’s kind to the people she meets. I mean, she does have a hard time connecting to Naveen at first, but he turned her into a frog, so who could blame her?

Becky: Plus Naveen was an idiot. Hardly a likable character at all. The thing with Tiana is she was so focused on her goal [not a bad thing!] that she was forgetting to live. Mama Odie made that point fairly clear with her epic gospel number that really SHOULD have had a reprise, but nobody sang along with Ray, so that’s that. Tiana is a strong woman. No one had to save her, because what she faced was a bit harder to deal with. She lacked money to make her dreams come true. But she would work night and day for it on her own, so there was nothing that anyone HAD to do for her.

Whitney: I like that instead of them moving back to Naveen’s country, they stay in New Orleans and open the restaurant. This means that Naveen grew up and learned about what is important and was willing to make sacrifices for Tiana. Tiana didn’t have to sacrifice her dream in order to marry the prince.

Becky: Yeah, poor Tiana. She got her dream restaurant, got to stay in New Orleans, and oh yeah, she got a prince who worships the ground she walks on. I bet she was really bitter when they had to go to...where the heck was he from again? Maldonia? Wherever. When they had to go there and do the whole royalty thing, I bet she was really hating it. I think the point of this story was when the royalty was stripped aside, when the working girl was stripped aside, and everyone was a frog...and could conceivably have been frogs forever, they found themselves, and that enabled them to find the good in each other. And it took WORK. They didn’t like each other at first. Hello, real relationship storyline…..

Whitney: No love at first sight this time around. It’s pretty easy to show when the prince is around the whole movie. Maybe we should be defending the princes . . . they get a bum rap.

Becky: Well, you’d have to forgive Snow White’s Prince Charming if we did that.

Whitney: Right . . . maybe not then.

In the Defense of Mulan

Mulan

Whitney: Mulan is completely different from any princess we’ve talked about so far. She’s not really a “princess,” but Disney counts her as one, so we are too. Mulan kind of sparks the change into the stereotypical “strong” woman that I think so many women expect to see nowadays. She has already felt awkward in her own skin, not doing anything right, but to save her father, she decides to take his place in the army and go to war. She cuts her hair, binds her breasts, and tries to act like a man. And she proves herself, she works hard and becomes just a strong and skilled as the other men in her troop. But when she’s revealed as a woman, suddenly everything she had worked for is gone. And she has to prove herself once again. Not only does she do that, but SHE SAVES FREAKIN’ CHINA! She saves a whole country! But at the end, all she wanted to do was bring honor to her family and gain the respect of her father.

Becky: And Shang is just helpless to resist her, and goes to her home, and presumably they live happily ever after. I imagine they have an interesting life together, what with her being bold and independent and free-thinking and him being the fairly traditional good Chinese warrior. But that’s what he likes about her. She’s different. Are we seeing a trend here? Literally all of the princesses so far have been liked for WHO THEY ARE. For being different. Not for fitting a mold, but for NOT fitting the mold. Whatever the mold happens to be.

Whitney: That’s so true. They are also kind and and sacrifice for others. That is the kind of person I want my future daughters to grow up to be.

Becky: And none of them are like each other. There is no cookie cutter princess. Just like there is no cookie cutter woman.

Becky: Also Mulan’s grandma is one of the best supporting animated characters ever. It needs to be said.

In the Defense of Pocahontas

Pocahontas

Becky: So Pocahontas is an interesting princess. And yes, she is a princess. Her dad is the chief, she’s a princess. She’s not poorly treated, she’s not unhappy, her life is pretty good. But she’s curious and intelligent and wants to know what else the world holds. She wants to explore and have adventure. “What’s around the riverbend?” She yearns for change, but she doesn’t know what change she wants. She has the option of marrying a warrior her father wants for her, who she acknowledges to be a good man and a fine warrior, even if he doesn’t smile very much. He is a steady man, and there’s nothing wrong with that. She doesn’t yearn for a great love or anything of the sort. She just wants...more. More out of life. Enter John Smith. The strangest Englishman to land on Virginia’s shores. He opens her eyes to a world she didn’t even know about, and he’s just as fascinated by her. To a girl who’d always had the same sort of looks and expectations and plan for life, that must have been pretty exciting. They risked safety and security to keep meeting, and after John gets captured, she has a huge internal battle about what to do. Saving him and possibly risking her life, or his, or both...or letting things take their course and go back to the way things were. She chooses to take a chance, and winds up being the change she wanted. Now, John leaves at the end, but Pocahontas is changed. And I doubt anyone would say that she lost anything in the process.

Whitney: Totally agree. Pocahontas’s story is a little different because she DOESN’T end up with the “prince” in the end. But she still has a choice to make: should she forsake her family and culture for the new life and excitement that John Smith can promise her? In the end, she kind of chooses both. She decides to save John, which may have resulted in banishment or death. Fortunately, her father was wise enough to see the goodness in his daughter’s actions and calls for peace. Then when John Smith is hurt and has to go back to England (which I never quite understood--the boat ride back to England seems much more dangerous to an injured man than staying in an “uncivilized” country, but that’s against the point) she chooses to stay with her people and family, to create a bond between them and the new white men.

Becky: Pocahontas somehow defies the princess stereotype and yet is the epitome of it as well. She’s proof that you can have both… It’s not HER fault the “prince” sails away. I’m a bit biased, I’ve never really liked John Smith that much. Sue me.

Whitney: I always preferred Thomas myself.

In the Defense of Jasmine

Aladdin (Jasmine)

Whitney: This is a different one because the princess isn’t the main character. It’s a little bit of a twist on a theme, where Aladdin is the one that has the “fairy godmother” and is, in a way, “saved” (or promoted in his station) by his princess. But let’s talk about Jasmine. Jasmine is lonely, kept in the palace with only her father, Jafar, and the tiger for company. She wants to know more and see more. So she goes for it, climbing the palace walls and making her way into the city. She meets someone exciting, who is dreaming of a different life just as she is. She isn’t impressed by princes and riches, but instead is searching for someone who she can have a relationship of equality and love with. Someone who can give her adventures.

Becky: Jasmine was going to be forced into marrying just for the sake of her dad’s comfort, and all she wanted was a marriage of love. When she leaves the palace, she isn’t looking to find someone else to love. She just wants her life! She happens across Aladdin, and they don’t even fall in love. They become friends and allies, and they find a shared background, and perhaps a hint of what could be. But she gives up her disguise to save his life, and basically resigns herself to going back to her old life and the past she left behind. And then, impossibly, Aladdin is alive, and he wants to get to know her better. And let’s give Jasmine the credit, she doesn’t like the man Aladdin pretends to be. But once he is himself, and she finds him out, she also finds herself wanting to know him better, and falling for him. She loves him for who he is. And so does he. Probably the truest love story of the Disney realm.

Whitney: Excellent point. Being yourself is how you will fall in love. And yes, Aladdin comes back at the end and gets rid of Jafar, but Jasmine definitely did her part.

Becky: Jasmine rocks. She's smart, she's brave, and she's got a really good heart. And her dad finally realizes it and lets her marry the man she wants anyway. So everybody wins.

In the Defense of Hans

Becky: Today we’re taking a break from princesses to talk about a prince, because they deserve some defending too. We have chosen to focus on one particular prince. One who is very badly treated and grossly misunderstood…. Prince Hans. Look at that face! He’s such a good guy! He’s the 13th son in his family...13! He’s always been pushed around and ignored because he wasn’t going to be anyone important, he was just the baby of the family. Yet through it all, Hans keeps his good heart and his one true desire...love.

Whitney: I mean, with 12 older brothers, he probably got picked on a LOT. He has a lot to live up to. And when he first meets Anna, he didn’t KNOW that Elsa was going to leave. He probably just thought, hey, she’s cute, she’s a princess, not bad. I’m not saying it was true love or anything, but can we realllllly say that he had plotted out this whole “Take over Arendell” thing? I think that someone got to him while Anna and Elsa were gone. Maybe the Duke?

Becky: Oh, the Duke so would! And Hans was probably terrified about running Arendell while the girls were gone! And he doesn’t know Elsa, he didn’t know if she was nice or good, and with the evil Duke prodding him on, no wonder he didn’t trust her! And Anna was with that guy who talks to a reindeer and lives with trolls…. Hans is a prince! He deserves a princess who really loves him!

Whitney: You are so right! I mean, I don’t know if Hans was exactly the most  . . . strong willed . . . prince, so he may have been taken over by the Duke pretty easily. And maybe he got scared at the show of Elsa’s power. I just don’t know if we can honestly say that he is the “villain.” He was exactly what Anna wanted, “A beautiful stranger, tall and fair”.

Becky: I can’t do this anymore. 

APRIL FOOLS! 

Hans is a whole lot of horrible, awful, really bad things I can’t say and that’s that. We hate him. So much.

Whitney: Phew. That was hard! Back to the princesses tomorrow!

In the Defense of Belle

Beauty and the Beast (Belle)

Whitney: First, Belle is brunette with brown eyes. Yay! Second, she improves her mind by extensive reading! Yay! Third, she knows that there is so much more out there than what is available in the town she lives in. She isn’t willing to marry Gaston just because he’s “handsome”. She has a FANTASTIC relationship with her father, so much so that she offers herself as a trade for his life, thinking that she will be trapped in the dungeon of a horrible beast. But because of her kindness, she starts to bring the human side of the Beast out, to show him what kindness can do. And she starts seeing that things aren’t always what they seem.

Becky: I love Belle. I dare anyone to find fault with her. Bold woman, different from her surroundings, yet she stays because she loves her father. She dreams of a great life somewhere else, but she is limited by circumstances and situation. And because she is different, and knows that strength and beauty lie within, she can do the same for others. And when she finds herself falling in love with the Beast, when she realizes how other people see him, she risks her safety and probably her life to try and save him. The only person who saved Belle was a teacup on her father’s invention. Everything else Belle did on her own. She’s an adventurous dreamer with a big heart and fierce loyalty. 

Whitney: Well said. What I get out of Belle is that we should be intelligent, and seek to continue learning. We should love our parents, in spite of their eccentricities, and we should be self sacrificing for the good of others. We should also be kind and stand up for ourselves when we need to. And, again, to make the best out of our situation. I mean, she gets locked up with a Beast that she knows nothing about, and yet she makes friends and is kind, and goes through the effort of trying to get to know the Beast. She gave him hope when he didn’t have any.

Becky: And I'll say it..... THAT LIBRARY.....

In the Defense of Ariel

Whitney: Ariel appeared on the scene 30 years after Sleeping Beauty, and I think is kind of the “turning point” of the newer, “stronger” princesses. But she is still criticized. Mostly for giving up her identity, her body, and her voice (something that women long fought for) for a man she had never spoken to. So, Becky, what are your thoughts on Ariel?

Becky: Ariel is independent. She didn’t want the same things her family wanted, let alone the expectations her father had set for her. She didn’t just dream of another world, of something more, she yearned for it. Secretly and desperately, and she was willing to do anything for it. I think something important to remember is that Ariel was just 16. She’s a teenager, for all her claims of not being a child anymore. She’s short sighted and willful. But she is also good and full of love and energy and hope. She has her heart broken by her father, destroying everything she clung to. She makes a mistake, going to the sea witch for a last ditch attempt to have a chance at what she wants--ultimately, to be human. Yes, Prince Eric is a big part of that, but she also wanted to experience that life and that world. And she didn’t realize what she was giving up until she got there. She had no idea how significant an impact it would have. And then what does she do? She makes the best of it. She loves every minute and soaks it in, despite having no voice and being awkward and ungainly. And I think it needs to be pointed out that she had a voice, despite not being able to speak. She had the ability to communicate everything she hoped for and wanted without speaking a single word. And you know what? Eric knew. He knew she was independent and strong and unlike anyone else he’d ever meant. And she didn’t have to shout at him for him to see that. He wanted her just as she was, despite the fact that she did not have what had initially captivated him, and what everyone under the sea thought her greatest attribute.

Whitney: The thing is, she went for what she wanted. Yes, she made mistakes, but that’s how we learn. And I’d just like to point out that ARIEL saved ERIC. He was going to marry the sea witch, so she jumps in the water (though she couldn’t swim with her legs) and attempts to save him. Then they work together to defeat Ursula after Triton sacrifices himself for his daughter. And speaking of Triton, he made a mistake too. Which helps kids know that everyone is still makes mistakes, even grown ups. And, yes, at the end of the movie, there’s a wedding and a “happily ever after,” but really it’s about Ariel learning to trust herself and go for the things that she wants.

Becky: Brilliantly said. And Ursula has to change her plans because she underestimated Ariel. She intervened herself and literally forced her way into Eric’s path, using Ariel’s voice, all to keep Ariel from that happy ending she would have had, which she did all on her own. WITHOUT her voice. The story is about Ariel breaking free and being true to herself, taking chances, and living her dreams.

In the Defense of Aurora

Becky: Aurora. By many accounts, no one really thinks of anything much of that poor girl. Which is upsetting. It’s not HER fault she was threatened by a sorceress as a baby and the only way the adults and fairies could think to save her was by hiding her away in a forest and not telling her who she really was. But let’s pretend we’re Aurora. She lives in a rough and tumble house with quaint features in the middle of a forest, the only other people she knows the three “aunts” she lives with. So 1) she’s a bit sheltered. Okay, a lot sheltered. 2) She’s bound to be awkward. Social interaction was nill. Unless you count the forest creatures, who are big fans of hers. All of that out there, Aurora sings and dreams of something more. Can you blame the poor girl? And yes, it involves a man. Why? Well, because WHO DOESN’T WANT ROMANCE? She doesn’t want to be alone forever, and honestly, who does? She’s not exactly sitting around and waiting for him to come, she has no idea who she is or that such a man even exists! She’s not complaining about her life, aside from the slightly overbearing but lovable relatives [we all have them, don’t pretend], but she DREAMS. Again, where is the weakness here?

Whitney: And, so maybe she needed a man to save her, but come on, she was practically in a coma. She was put under a spell, forced to prick her finger, and she fell into a sleep that only true love’s kiss can wake her from. Which brings me to something: TRUE LOVE. It’s not like it was just some random person, she wasn’t just kissing every ol’ guy who came into the forest--it was true love. And people who don’t think true love exists is a little too cynical for me.

Becky: The complaint I hear most is that it was too fast. No way it could be true love that fast. Thoughts?

Whitney: Yes okay, one day is really fast to fall in love. We all know this. I don’t believe in love at first sight. But let’s face it, it is a Disney movie. We couldn’t exactly expect kids to sit around for four hours as we watch the more nuanced parts of their relationship. But, at least they talked--unlike a certain someone else we just talked about. I think that we are doing kids a great disservice by saying that they are going to believe everything they see in film. I think that by the time they get to an age where marriage/relationships are a possibility, they will know that love takes more than a day to grow.

Becky: I agree. Can we talk about the fact that Aurora was giving him up? She finds out she’s not only a princess, but already betrothed. And this wasn’t the time period where she could go against that. She was doing what was right, according to her time period and birthright and all the responsibilities associated with that, meeting parents she’d never known about, learning her “aunts” weren’t anything of the sort, and taking up an entire life she’d never wanted. The first interesting guy she’s ever met--the only one, okay--and she’s never going to see him again or have anything she’s dreamed of. And then the bad thing they were trying to save her from happens anyway, and she couldn’t get out of it herself.

Whitney: She didn’t even WANT it.

Becky: At least Prince Philip is an interesting character. Doesn’t want the betrothal, finds a pretty girl with a lovely voice and a way with animals in the forest, tells his dad he’s going to marry her instead, goes to meet her, and....gets kidnapped and put in prison.

Whitney: He’s definitely one of my favorite Disney princes. He actually TALKS.

Becky: Let’s cut the socially awkward and naive princess a break. She’s a dreamer. Why are we faulting her for that? Sleeping curse aside, I think she would have done just fine on her own. Situations arise, and she deals with them. Sort of…. Lesson: Sometimes you CAN’T do it by yourself. And there is nothing wrong with getting a little help from others. And she gets the best prince, so…something was working there.

Becky: But sure, let’s say the princesses are weak and poor examples for girls of today. Because obviously, they have nothing to offer them.

Whitney: Nope. We definitely don’t have to teach girls how to make it through those tough times with the hope that something good will come.

Becky: Nope. Patience is not a virtue anymore, didn’t you get the memo? If you can’t seize the day RIGHT NOW, you are not strong enough, powerful enough, or good enough. If you aren’t bold and brazen and wildly independent, you might as well be wallpaper. And HEAVEN FORBID there is a man to help you through it. If a woman can’t save herself, can’t be enough by herself, then what good is she?

Becky: Honestly, that whole line of thinking is EXACTLY what I DON’T want girls of today to pick up on. Be good and honest and full of hope. Be patient and kind. Be powerful and strong. See the good around you, despite the hard times. Dream of love and better days and changing your situation. Accept help if you need it. None of that will make you weak. And sing while in your hard times. Just a little.

In the Defense of Cinderella

Cinderella

Whitney: I have a special place in my heart for Cinderella. I always say my favorite princess is Belle, but my secret favorite princess is probably Cinderella. When I was a kid, I would pretend to be Cinderella while I was doing my chores. So, I’m a little defensive about her. Of all the early princesses that we will discuss, I think Cinderella is probably the best role model for young girls. She lost both her parents at a young age and is left with a stepmother, who--like the Evil Queen in Snow White--abuses her emotionally and verbally and forces her to become a servant in her family’s home. But Cinderella makes the best of the situation. She gets up early and makes sure the animals are fed, that breakfast is made, the laundry done, the floors mopped, and yet through it all she keeps a sense of humor and sings and remains kind. And when it comes to the ball, she attempts to make it so she can go. I don’t think it’s because of the prince, but because who wouldn’t want to go to a party at a palace? So she gets a dress, though not as fashionable as her step sisters, and gets ready to go. When she is prevented (and her mother’s dress ruined) she finally breaks. And this is where being a good person rewards her. She gets a fairy godmother. Because she stayed good and kind through her hardships, because she worked hard and did all she could to go to the ball, she was rewarded in the end.

Becky: I always wanted that fairy godmother… And I love that Cinderella is just patient and good, despite the horrible situation she is in. I’m sure it wasn’t easy. I feel quite positive she would have liked to complain several times about her step-sisters and stepmother and having to do the tapestries in her own home… But she is making the best of a horrible situation. Where else could she go? She had no one else, and no money of her own, and opportunities were limited. I doubt she even knew what her future held for her. But she didn’t let that get her down. And the prince is a very smart guy, he likes her right away. There had to just be something special about her that he could see at once.

Whitney: And I think it’s important to note that the fairy godmother didn’t change her entire life. After midnight, everything went back to normal and Cinderella had to return home. It was because of Cinderella that the prince wanted to find her. She could have just had to live with her stepmother for the rest of her life otherwise.

Becky: I love that he searched far and wide for her. He knew that she was different, she was special, and okay, yes, we’re dealing with a very fast romantic turnaround, but let’s consider the period the story is set in, and let’s give the Prince a little credit. There was a very good chance he was never going to see her again, never even know her name. But she sparked something in him and he wanted to know more. And let’s also not forget that Cinderella’s stepmother locked her in the tower when she found out about the ball, effectively ruining Cinderella’s one chance at some form of a happy ending. That may be the only time that Cinderella fought back in any way. Because she had a chance to do something else, to be treated well, and to be happy. If she’d had that prospect before, she just might have been every bit the fiery character people wish she was.

Whitney: But I love that her strength was more that she could keep a good attitude through the awfulness of her childhood into her adulthood. That is such an underappreciated kind of strength.

Becky: Cinderella is a soft and gentle woman. Living her life with dignity and optimism despite being in rags and abused. Someone please tell me how that makes her weak in any way. Is it because she, too, needed to be rescued? Sorry, some things you just can’t do by yourself. And she wasn’t simpering around waiting to be saved. She lived her life the best way she could and would have kept on living.

Whitney: Exactly. She didn’t ask to be saved. She asked to go to the ball, to have some fun for once in her life.

Becky: Lucky for her, the Prince didn’t like his situation either. He was looking for something different. And voila! He found it! No dragons to slay in this story. Just the real and more terrifying villain of neglect, abuse, and torment. And the indescribable power of hope, goodness, and quiet strength that no one can take away.