Film: The Little Mermaid
Year Released: 1989
So, what's wrong with the Little Mermaid??
Well, in a nutshell, plenty!
Before we get into my scathing review of Disney's "The Little Mermaid," I must first start with a disclaimer: I, like millions of other kids from the 1980's, LOVED this movie when it was first released. The underwater world was incredible--with all it's flashy fish, bubbles, and merpeople. The songs were super catchy, and there was a human prince and a mermaid princess to reaffirm the idea of "true love." So, you may be asking yourself, if I used to love this film, what's changed since I became and adult? Well, now I can watch something and look at the messages that it is sending me with a critical eye. I am no longer so distracted by cartoon fish and an obese octopus villain to see the flaws and terrible messages contained in this catchy little kids' movie. I can now look at Ariel and think about what my daughter might think if she saw this film.
So, let's take a critical look at "The Little Mermaid." I really want to emphasize that Ariel is 16 years old during this movie. Keep that in mind as you are thinking about the decisions that she makes. Ariel's underwater world is ruled by King Triton, the patriarch of the merpeople. He is the authority figure and the one with the power. Ariel, like many other 16 year olds, is somewhat rebellious. She is fascinated by the world outside of the ocean, and she collects "artifacts" from sunken ships. She also spends as much time on the surface as she can, despite the fact that King Triton has specifically forbidden her from going to the surface. It is during one of these "surface excursions" that Ariel falls in love with a human (a prince, no less) after she rescues him from certain death in the ocean. And this, my friends, is where the subtle sexism of the underwater world (inherent in any patriarchal society) becomes the full-blown anti-feminist, oppressive sexism that we should never subject our children to! I know that may seem harsh to many of you Disney Princesses Fans, but please keep reading to see how I justify my opinion.
"The men up there don't like a lot of blabberThey think a girl who gossips is a bore!
Yes, on land, it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word
And after all dear, what is idle prattle for?
Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can
But they dote and swoon and fawn
On a lady who's withdrawn
It's she who holds her tongue who gets a man"
Ariel, of course, agrees to the terms and signs the contract.
SO, to recap, Ariel agrees to physically and drastically change her body, give up her strongest talent, leave her family and her home (perhaps forever), and risk her personal and eternal freedom all for the chance to be with a man that she spent only a few moments with...yep, that's the message in this movie. No one with any sense would ever take a deal like that. And, yet, here's our heroine, the girl that the little girls watching the movie look up to, doing just that. Ridiculous!
So, now Ariel has legs and three days to make Prince Eric fall in love with her-- and, remember, this is without the use of her voice (her voice, incidentally, is all Eric remembers about the girl who rescued him). With the help of her sea creature buddies, Ariel nearly gets Eric to kiss her on a boat ride. Let me just share a few more lyrics from the catchy tune, "Kiss the Girl:"
"Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
It's possible she wants you, too
There is one way to ask her
It don't take a word
Not a single word
Go on and kiss the girl.."
Yep, the crab is telling Eric not to ask permission to kiss Ariel, to just do it. Remember, it's Ariel's voice that's gone....she still hears just fine. But why ask? Eric actually doesn't get a chance to force himself on Ariel because Ursula's minions capsize the boat and the moment is ruined.
Ursula now realizes that Ariel may actually succeed in getting the prince to kiss her, so she, too, disguises herself as a human and uses Ariel's voice to hypnotize Eric and turn his back to Ariel. Big confrontation on the water ensues. Ariel doesn't make her 3 day timeline and Triton resurfaces to save Ariel from her fate, by allowing Ursula to take him instead. Of course, that allows Ursula to take his powerful trident and try to kill Ariel with it. Luckily, there is still another man who can save Ariel. Prince Eric (a human in the water) is able to kill Ursula and save Ariel and her father (and all the other souls Ursula imprisoned).
Triton, grateful that Eric saved him, realizes that his 16 year old daughter loves Eric, and he agrees that they should be together. He transforms Ariel back into human form and allows her to be with Eric. Lucky girl--she finally gets all that she's ever wanted--a man!
Of course, Ariel is no longer a mermaid--she is now a child bride. She has had to leave her father, her sisters, and all of her sea creature friends, but she has her man. And, apparently, that's all you need to live happily ever after....
"Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
It's possible she wants you, too
There is one way to ask her
It don't take a word
Not a single word
Go on and kiss the girl.."
Yep, the crab is telling Eric not to ask permission to kiss Ariel, to just do it. Remember, it's Ariel's voice that's gone....she still hears just fine. But why ask? Eric actually doesn't get a chance to force himself on Ariel because Ursula's minions capsize the boat and the moment is ruined.
Ursula now realizes that Ariel may actually succeed in getting the prince to kiss her, so she, too, disguises herself as a human and uses Ariel's voice to hypnotize Eric and turn his back to Ariel. Big confrontation on the water ensues. Ariel doesn't make her 3 day timeline and Triton resurfaces to save Ariel from her fate, by allowing Ursula to take him instead. Of course, that allows Ursula to take his powerful trident and try to kill Ariel with it. Luckily, there is still another man who can save Ariel. Prince Eric (a human in the water) is able to kill Ursula and save Ariel and her father (and all the other souls Ursula imprisoned). 
Triton, grateful that Eric saved him, realizes that his 16 year old daughter loves Eric, and he agrees that they should be together. He transforms Ariel back into human form and allows her to be with Eric. Lucky girl--she finally gets all that she's ever wanted--a man!Of course, Ariel is no longer a mermaid--she is now a child bride. She has had to leave her father, her sisters, and all of her sea creature friends, but she has her man. And, apparently, that's all you need to live happily ever after....
Other Points:
Although I feel like I really tried to critically look at this film while I was watching it, there were a few things that I missed. In doing research for this blog, I found that there are more sexist and stereotypical images in this movie then I was aware of. I would like to share some observations from other authors who have also come to be disappointed in Disney's popular mermaid. These ideas contribute to the opinion that this movie is terrible for teaching young girls about strength, self-confidence, self-reliance, and independence.
Although I didn't focus on appearances, many people discussed how Ariel looked and dressed (which I thought was pretty typical for a Disney Princess). She is thin and beautiful by conventional standards. Of course, her purple shell bra does help to objectify her (Mirandafilmstudies blog). But, other authors also pointed out the way that Ursula looked and dressed. "And who is the villain in this story? Why, it's Ursula, of course, a single, powerful woman who lives in a cave below the sea. Ursula despises love, but recognizes that she can get what she wants from those who are in it. Ursula is overweight, unattractive, and bitter. Because any woman who has power, lives alone, and is a threat to the king of the sea is probably an ugly old sea witch, yeah?" (Hortense Smith, Jezebel).
Another article pointed out that Ariel plays the part of the "helpless female." When she and Eric first meet, she allows him to rescue her and bring her back to the castle (Linda Agrin). I thought that, despite Ariel's rule breaking, she was very much presented as a "helpless female" throughout the movie (even when she wasn't trying to be).
Although I feel like I really tried to critically look at this film while I was watching it, there were a few things that I missed. In doing research for this blog, I found that there are more sexist and stereotypical images in this movie then I was aware of. I would like to share some observations from other authors who have also come to be disappointed in Disney's popular mermaid. These ideas contribute to the opinion that this movie is terrible for teaching young girls about strength, self-confidence, self-reliance, and independence.
Although I didn't focus on appearances, many people discussed how Ariel looked and dressed (which I thought was pretty typical for a Disney Princess). She is thin and beautiful by conventional standards. Of course, her purple shell bra does help to objectify her (Mirandafilmstudies blog). But, other authors also pointed out the way that Ursula looked and dressed. "And who is the villain in this story? Why, it's Ursula, of course, a single, powerful woman who lives in a cave below the sea. Ursula despises love, but recognizes that she can get what she wants from those who are in it. Ursula is overweight, unattractive, and bitter. Because any woman who has power, lives alone, and is a threat to the king of the sea is probably an ugly old sea witch, yeah?" (Hortense Smith, Jezebel).
Another article pointed out that Ariel plays the part of the "helpless female." When she and Eric first meet, she allows him to rescue her and bring her back to the castle (Linda Agrin). I thought that, despite Ariel's rule breaking, she was very much presented as a "helpless female" throughout the movie (even when she wasn't trying to be).
Chloe Angyl summed this movie up nicely in her post on Feministing. She writes, "It’s about a young woman forced to choose between her father’s world and her husband’s world, and there is nothing in between."
References Cited:
1. Ågren, Linda: Linguistic sexism in mermaid tales: A study of linguistic sexism involving the mermaid figure in films. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:696768/FULLTEXT01.pdf
2. Angyl, Chloe: Consuming Pop Culture While Feminist: Disney's The Little Mermaid: http://feministing.com/2010/03/08/consuming-pop-culture-while-feminist-disneys-the-little-mermaid/
3. MirandaFilmStudies: Sexism in Disney Movies: The Little Mermaid, Princess and the Frog, and Snow White. http://mirandaflimstudies.blogspot.com/2013/06/sexism-in-disney-movies-little-mermaid.html
4. Smith, Hortense: Sleeping Beauty May Be Safe, but Ariel has Some Explaining to Do. Jezebel: http://jezebel.com/5062161/sleeping-beauty-may-be-safe-but-ariel-has-some-explaining-to-do
1. Ågren, Linda: Linguistic sexism in mermaid tales: A study of linguistic sexism involving the mermaid figure in films. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:696768/FULLTEXT01.pdf
2. Angyl, Chloe: Consuming Pop Culture While Feminist: Disney's The Little Mermaid: http://feministing.com/2010/03/08/consuming-pop-culture-while-feminist-disneys-the-little-mermaid/
3. MirandaFilmStudies: Sexism in Disney Movies: The Little Mermaid, Princess and the Frog, and Snow White. http://mirandaflimstudies.blogspot.com/2013/06/sexism-in-disney-movies-little-mermaid.html
4. Smith, Hortense: Sleeping Beauty May Be Safe, but Ariel has Some Explaining to Do. Jezebel: http://jezebel.com/5062161/sleeping-beauty-may-be-safe-but-ariel-has-some-explaining-to-do
