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.