Growing up I had loved Disney, more so Disney princesses like Ariel, Tiana, Mulan, and Bell.
I had loved watching them go through a journey to find honor, love and a brighter future for themselves. All of them had fought for what they wanted in life, and I love that about these women.
A friend and I had decided to rewatch Disney Princess movies after listening to Pocahontas’s “Color of the Wind,” and realizing all that we had misinterpreted and ignored.
We thought “Hey how cool would it be to compare our thoughts as a child and as an adult now!”
So, I had chosen to rewatch The Little Mermaid and compare my childhood views with all that I know now about both Disney and society.
First off, I will always love Sebastian. Although when I first watched him as a kid, I was frequently annoyed by his need to control Ariel.
I remember saying “Oh gosh, just leave her alone!!”
He always raised my blood level from 0 to 100 real quick. However, I see him now as someone (or shall I say sea creature) that wants the best for Ariel and to protect her from the dangers of the human world (being half fish and all).
Now that I realized this, Sebastian was more of a father figure than her own dad. Yes, he was controlling, but he looked out for her. He gave her fatherly love, advice, support, and wanted all the best for her.
There were lines in the movie where King Triton acted more like a king and not Ariel’s father. For example, when King Triton was taken to Ariel’s collection, he had authority over her and not the parent type. All you hear is Ariel repeatedly saying “daddy” and King Triton’s response, “ I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed” (The Little Mermaid 35:00). Maybe I am reading too much into it, but it seems to me King Daddy was talking to Ariel as if she were his follower and not his daughter. Who knows *insert emoji shrug.*
Note: I am not saying King Triton is not a good father. He truly does love Ariel.
Another thing I noticed about Sebastian was his accent and his uniquely sized bottom lip.
Six-year-old me: *annoying lobster*
Me now: not another stereotype about Black people.
Of course, people now know Disney has a long history of racial and ethnic stereotypes targeted toward people of color. Even in the 21st century, the company still struggles with representation. Yet I had not noticed his Jamaican accent and big lips (associated as a Black characteristic. Untrue by the way), I mean why would I notice? I was only a child and had yet to learn about the racist world I lived in. I didn’t know how society viewed people that looked like me.
Rewatching the movie and seeing the one character that was supposed to bring representation to the Black community got me thinking about Joe Gardner from Soul who spent an odd amount of time as a cat, or Taina and how the majority of her screen time in The Princess and The Frog, was spent … as a frog. Along with prince Naveen (which is reasonable). The only other Black characters that were human was an old blind lady who lived in the swamps talking to and having a unique relationship with a toothless snake. Coolios. Along with Dr. Faciliter, who performed voodoo: dark magic that today is rarely talked about and looked down upon. I won’t complain too much about the lack of screen time Taina had as a human, (or the animals’ representation) because in away it did contribute to the story.
Anyhow, my favorite scene of all time will—forever—be when Sebastian sings “You Gotta Kiss The Girl” (The Little Mermaid 59:40). I freaking love that song, I cry every time I hear it. The song has a low calming melody, and I imagine it playing at my wedding.
Despite all that, the scene is really messy. If you pay closer attention to the lyrics, Sebastian is singing about the possibility of their “relationship” never finding love unless the prince gives Ariel a “true love’s kiss.” Yet, you have Prince Eric and his mixed emotions. The man doesn’t know whether he wants to kiss Ariel or not. Then, when he finally goes for the kiss and it backfires.
Six-year-old me: *upset and anticipating another kissing scene coming up*
Me now: “Lmaoo. Ariel can’t catch a break!*
Quick question: Why does love have to be all about kissing? Why can’t we just take the time to get to know one another without the rush?
On that note, the movie definitely advertises peer pressure. I mean… if we really think about it Prince Eric was being pressured to kiss Ariel despite his unsure feelings. We, the audience, know he likes her, but he is still holding onto the woman who saved him (of course he does not know they are the same). At the end of the day, the mood that was set, and the song that just kept repeating “kiss the girl” over and over and over again (can anyone guess how many times they had said it?), definitely pressured Prince Eric to make a move on her.
Still a great song!!
Moving on, I don’t like the lack of girl power in the movie. The only two main women are Ariel and Ursula, yet they are designed to be pitted against each other. What makes it worse is the appearance of the two. One is a petite young and beautiful woman with an amazing voice, while the other is a heavy-set woman with bad make-up, and scratchy voice. One can assume old enough to be Ariel’s mother. So why are they against each other?
Despite all the flaws and faults of The Little Mermaid, I still love the movie. There are a lot of lessons to be learned and advice to take away, even as an adult.
Ariel has reminded me of the importance of family and wanting to make them happy, but also the need to go your own way when you aren’t happy. She has taught 20-year-old me to find my dream and chase after it. To not let anyone or anything, not even an evil sea witch (or in my case the evil government and systematic oppression) stop me from being happy because I can be happy and achieve what I want in life.
Source:
The Little Mermaid. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, 1989.