Analyzing Themes In The Movie 'The Little Mermaid'

If you were ever to mention the name Disney in a conversation, it is safe to say that one of the foremost thoughts to cross a majority of listener’s minds would be the image of the classic Disney princess movies. Of these movies, one of the most well-known is the 1989 classic, The Little Mermaid. Growing up, this movie was a very prominent part of my childhood, and I vividly remember dancing around my living room to its songs, happily singing along. However, over the course of time, I became less interested in the movie, and could not remember the last time I had watched it. Therefore, viewing it once again as a college student, it not only brought about a feeling of nostalgia, but I also became more aware of themes in the movie that I did not comprehend in my adolescence. These days, the older classic Disney princess movies are seen as predictable and repetitious with their plot centering around true love and the need for a prince to save the princess. The Little Mermaid, at first glance, seems to follow this pattern with Ursala’s requirement that Ariel needs a “true love’s kiss” in order to stay a human and live “happily ever after” with her prince. Accordingly, having Eric save Ariel during the climax of the film where Ursala has subdued King Triton and all hope seems lost, it appears

As a teenager, Ariel is experiencing the typical symptoms of wanting to gain independence and believing that her dad does not understand her and her feelings. Ariel wants to be understood, and at the same time, wishes to be granted the freedom to pursue what she loves, as is the case with most teenagers. Her acts of defiance against her father only worsened her case though, as she endures the consequences by trusting Ursala and losing her voice. Therefore, by having Triton’s aid in helping Ariel in her fight against Ursala, it shows that Ariel still needs her father, despite her previous mindset of