The One Who Gave Away Her Voice: Ariel

Let's discuss about The Little Mermaid (Disney's version).

(Walt Disney Pictures)
Looks so comfy. I love her nightgown.

Deep down, the fair and empathatic me understand that Ariel is the way she is mainly due to her circumstances and upbringing. Moreover, she's only 16, so I'm going to cut her some slack due to her age. I was an idiot at 16 too and still am. Her father is a narcissist and forces her daughters to worship him. Ariel is stuck in the sea, in persistent darkness and always damp (Getting out of bath and having wet sticky hair is so uncomfortable, can you imagine being that way your whole life? 

(Walt Disney Pictures)

From the start, we know Ariel has a fascination with the world above the water. She has a secret grotto full of objects she found, things such as screwdrivers and forks (I actually would love to get a tour ) and she always swims to the surface of the water to check humans out despite being prohibited by the King himself. But what made her finally seek for Ursula to become human? Prince Eric. Her crazy father destroying everything she loves certainly doesn't help. I would go berserk if anyone touches my collection of tickets.

(Walt Disney Pictures)
I wish I look that cute admiring my collections. 

(Walt Disney Pictures)
I can hear this picture. What's the word?

She wants to run away from her life and will give up anything in the name of love, even herself. She gives up her voice for a pair of legs and to live in a different world, which actually seems like a good bargain since she was told that she can get back her voice if she succeeds in getting the prince to fall in love with her. She's either very confident or desperate (I think it leans more towards the latter) to think that she has a very good chance of getting someone to fall in love in 3 days! But then again, she's depicted as extremely beautiful and she would have succeeded if Ursula did not cheat. 

(Hirsch and Westheimer, PC)
Ariel is a minor, the contract should be void. They should have consulted a lawyer. Dumb King.

Eric, with the perfect eyes, perfect nose, perfect hair and the list goes on. A prince with a castle. And he has a cute dog. I get it why Ariel falls in love with him at first sight. We are all shallow, we like people with good looks, but we don't marry them for that! And not to forget, Ariel is a princess of the sea and gorgeous too.

Even after three days with him, what do we actually know about him? I don't see any personality. The only thing interesting during their time together is how Ariel finds basic human things exciting. There isn't anything romantic! The part where Eric and Ariel are in the boat, I find that an extremely creepy date. At that point, Eric doesn't even know her name. Imagine this, you have no voice, at night alone with a stranger, on the middle of the lake, with things lurking in the water. Seems like a good crime scene to me.

(Walt Disney Pictures)
Oi, no touchy touchy. 

There are certain things about Ariel that I actually like, such as the fact that she goes after what she wants. Maybe due to strong determination and character or just stubborn dumbness without thinking about the consequences, but still, I've always been very fond of a go-getter. She's also kind and pure like every other princesses. An example of her being kind, she forgives Eric for wanting to marry another girl. I know I know, he was under a spell but if I am Ariel, I'll be salty for a long time. How dare you not fight the spell. I should learn these good traits from her but I find myself liking Ursula. Yikes, I shall defend Ursula on another day. 

(Walt Disney Pictures)

I intended to criticise Ariel when I started writing this. But writing puts things in perspectives, doesn't it. Now I can see it clearly that many of her actions can be kindly labelled as pure naivety, which should be easily forgiven. I actually like the story but I might like it better if Ariel does not give up being a mermaid for a guy, but for freedom from the clutches of her father and to satisfy her longing for adventures. The ending is a no-no to me too, she's just 16 and again, like Elsa from Frozen says, you can't marry a man you just met.

Do I think children should be allowed to watch this? Of course. It's still a good disney movie with awesome songs but maybe an adult should point out where things are messed up then let them watch Frozen or Brave so that they get a better understanding. There's nothing wrong with Ariel except that she's too young.

(Walt Disney Pictures)
'Part of Your World' is one of my favourite songs.

I wonder how Ariel is as an adult. I always wonder what happens after 'Happily ever afters'. I should write a fanfiction, maybe a dark one.