Monday, July 11, 2011

Disney Heroines: A Girl, A Curse, And A Kiss

Sleeping Beauty was Disney’s third animated film featuring the fairy tale princesses. Though there are various stories that tell of the girl who was cursed to sleep forever Disney choose Charles Perrault’s La Belle au bois dormant as the basis for Aurora’s story as we know it today. It was released in 1959 and was nominated for both Academy and Grammy Awards in 1960, though it did not receive them.

Before any animation began every shot of the film was done with live-action reference, with live actors in costume serving as models for the animators.


Aurora/or Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty):
1.      When you know you love someone, then there’s no going back: When you know you know.
2.      Be kind to everything.
3.      Prince Charming sometimes isn’t always the Prince Charming we wish or think should we have: Never assume.
4.      Listen to your instincts: They know the right more often than not.
5.      Listen to your loved ones: They love you and only wish the best for you.

Sleeping Beauty is one of those stories that seems to captivate, but is hardly looked upon with gratification. Something that troubles me so. I understand that this is because of the low ranking physical part for Aurora. This leads me to my discussion for this heroine; the theme that she let the man do all the work, and therefore, girls are only to be seen and are to let the men handle everything.

Even though this theme has standing (superficial only) on the surface, it is hardly what is being said. The situation that befell Aurora was never of her consent. When it was bestowed upon her, she was only a baby, incapable of making any choices, or doing anything for that matter, on her own.

When she was older she didn’t understand why her aunts treated her like a child, but when it came down to it she choose to obey them. She wanted to meet new people and make her own decisions (to take action), but understood that her aunts knew what was best for her. You’ve probably already guessed that I believe that Aurora would’ve done something more if she was able.

Looking at her story (as well as all the other fairytales in the world) for what lays on the surface is very much ignorant and rude. We always forget that they stories that we deem as fairytales were created for the sole purpose of telling morals. And if we forget this then we forget why we even have literature, which is one of the single most important things on this Earth.