A Deep Analysis of Disney Movies Essay Example

she becomes frightened and breaks down in tears. It seems evident that she lacks personal strength and courage.

Snow White, after recovering and continuing her journey, seeks a secure location as she ventures through the forest. Eventually, she stumbles upon a quaint cottage hidden among the trees and chooses to reside there. Upon entering, she encounters an untidy dwelling and resolves to tidy it up, revealing her domestic skills.

Although it is not her house, she willingly cleans it, as if it is her responsibility. Upon the dwarves' return, they invite her to live with them and she assumes a maternal role in caring for them. Snow White's stepmother serves as her sole adversary. In Disney movies, there is consistently a antagonist, occasionally in the form of the protagonist's stepmother, as seen in Cinderella.

Now, in Snow White, the evil stepmother poisons Snow White with an apple and she falls into a deep sleep, where she will not be awakened until kissed by a handsome prince. Soon, the prince comes to the rescue and sweeps Snow White off of her feet and they ride away into the sunset to live their “happily ever after”.

There were videos after Snow White that had given the same perspective. For example, Cinderella and/or Sleeping Beauty. Cinderella lived in a mansion, though was treated as a slave by her wicked stepmother, quite similar to Snow White’s situation. Soon Cinderella was given a Fairy Godmother that granted her wish to go to the ball.

The story of Cinderella revolves around her meeting and falling in love with the prince, resulting in their "happily ever after" ending. Similarly, Sleeping Beauty (also known as Aurora or Rose)

experiences a comparable plotline. On her sixteenth birthday, she falls into a deep slumber, similar to Snow White's fate. Only true love's kiss can awaken her from this trance. Prince Phillip arrives and fulfills Sleeping Beauty's dream of riding off into the sunset together. These repetitive themes can be observed in Disney movies and have gained notoriety.

There is a common belief that young and attractive women possess an inherent ability to manage household chores such as cleaning, doing dishes, and laundry. Many people fantasize about finding a man or prince who will rescue them and offer a satisfying life. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that a woman's existence should not rely solely on a man. Unfortunately, this misconception often gets reinforced in movies, influencing younger generations.

The text highlights the belief held by young girls that one day their prince will come. Until that moment arrives, they patiently wait and observe life passing by. The examples provided show that although princesses are the main characters, they contribute very little to the overall story. These women are essentially powerless pawns who await rescue from their handsome prince, thus reinforcing the stereotype of women in insignificant roles and passive observers. They serve as objects of desire, used for decoration to fulfill men's desires. Disney has acknowledged the changing dynamics of women's power in recent years and made some adjustments in their films, but not entirely abandoning old patterns.

"The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast", and "Aladdin" exemplify the notion that although their princesses possess some strength and independence, they ultimately rely on men. These princesses have their own objectives and strategies to achieve them, but ultimately require

assistance from men. In 1989's "The Little Mermaid," Ariel sacrifices her underwater life and voice to become human in order to be with her beloved man. She pursues love from a man while also encountering personal challenges and following her individual path towards him. Nevertheless, there remains a level of dependence on the male character.

Prince Eric saves Ariel, defeating Ursula and undoing her curse on the people of the sea. Ariel could not accomplish this alone and needed her Prince's assistance. In 1991, the film "Beauty and the Beast" was released, where Belle sacrifices herself to free her father, becoming a prisoner of the Beast. Although Belle plays a significant part in "taming" the beast, it is ultimately the beast who ensures their "happily ever after" by defeating Gaston.

Disney's 1992 film Aladdin displayed Jasmine's desire to escape her privileged life in the palace by transforming into a peasant. Unlike traditional princesses, she prioritized neither finding love nor relying on a prince but instead embraced an imperfect life. Despite her cleverness and resourcefulness, defeating Jafaar and freeing herself from his clutches required Jasmine to seek Aladdin's assistance. These Disney princesses from that era symbolize the changing perception of women and their pursuit for equality with men. Although they are no longer subservient to male authority, they still lack complete independence. Towards the end of the 90s, Disney released two movies featuring strong female characters: Mulan and Pocahontas.

These two female characters, Pocahontas and Mulan, defied societal norms and expectations by showing that women could exist independently of male influence and superiority. In 1995, Pocahontas saved the English captain John Smith from execution. She faced a difficult decision

of leaving her tribe and family to be with Smith in England or staying with her people. Surprisingly, she chose to stay with her people, going against the typical happily-ever-after ending found in Disney films. Released in 1998, Mulan tells the story of a Chinese woman who disguises herself as a male soldier to take her sick father's place in the battle against the Huns.

Despite starting off as a failure for not conforming to the societal expectations placed on women, Mulan gradually proves herself to be just as capable, if not more so, than men. She perseveres through rigorous military training and ultimately saves the Chinese dynasty with her cleverness and strength. The ongoing question of whether media merely reflects or actively shapes society is relevant here. Disney's portrayal of Mulan demonstrates a dynamic interplay between documenting feminist ideals and promoting them.

Over the years, Disney has improved its views of women, transforming princesses from weak and passive beauties into smart and strong-willed heroes. The portrayal of women has evolved from helpless damsels waiting for their princes to independent individuals who do not need a man to complete their lives. In the 21st century, there are numerous successful women who have achieved success on their own and continue to flourish without relying on a man by their side.

Then we gradually progressed towards a more positive perspective, where women had their own thoughts and desires, although they required some support to fulfill them. Ultimately, we arrive at the present time and the ongoing transformation, embracing the notion that women have the capability to be entirely self-sufficient and do not rely on a man to fulfill their lives

or make choices; women can accomplish this independently.