Image copyright Disney
First of all, growing up is challenging. In fact, maturing into a fully-realized person separates that person from childhood. Since life itself is already hard enough as it is, taking on the real world takes courage, strength, and determination. Furthermore, some critics and audiences would criticize Disney heroines as being too docile and immature. Nevertheless, Disney’s Rapunzel is a compelling example of a modern woman within the Disney canon.
As the film opens, the visual design makes it very clear that there is a unique distinction between good and evil. Specifically, the golden flower shines luminously, and reveals its positive powers. Unfortunately, Mother Gothel is clearly a very aged person who provides a stark contrast to the glowing flower. Furthermore, the song that this villainous sings to make herself look younger indicates that her attractive appearance as a younger-looking woman is only superficial rather than genuine. Therefore, the establishment of the contrast between light and dark makes it clear that the nature of good and evil in this Disney fairy tale involves very clear binary opposition.
After the magic flowers heals the queen, Rapunzel inherits the goodness of the flower with her magical and radiantly golden hair. Additionally, Mother Gothel clearly only wants the magical powers that Rapunzel possesses for selfish reasons. The kidnapping forces Rapunzel to feel trapped and isolated in a tower while Mothel Gothel convinces Rapunzel that she could never live outside her confined environment because of the supposedly terrible people in the real world. Ironically, Mothel Gothel is clearly the evil villain, and manipulates Rapunzel into serving her as an almost Cinderella-like lifestyle.
As she enters adulthood, Rapunzel lacks an authentic life, which the song entitled, “When Will My Life Begin” demonstrates. Rapunzel is actually aware that there is an outside world out there by simply looking out her tower window. Nevertheless, her feelings of loneliness cause her to form a friendship with Pascal, the chameleon, instead of having genuine friendships and relationships with other people. Additionally, Rapunzel yearns to see the glowing lanterns despite Mother Gothel’s orders to never leave the tower where they reside. Because of the symbolism of light, Rapunzel hopes to learn about the outside world rather than have Mother Gothel lock her away from reality. Therefore, part of Rapunzel’s development involves finding her own identity as well as living her own life.
The song “Mother Knows Best” also provides a unique form of dramatic irony. As viewers, audiences already know that Mother Gothel is a wicked villainess. Ironically, Rapunzel actually trusts Mother Gothel, especially since Mother Gothel is the only caretaker of Rapunzel. Even though Mother Gothel uses Rapunzel’s hair to maintain a youthful appearance, Mother Gothel loves her own appearance more than Rapunzel’s own well-being. That is why Mother Gothel basically tricks Rapunzel into thinking that she knows best (hence the title of the song).
Upon meeting Flynn Rider, Rapunzel begins to see the world differently. In fact, when she leaves her tower, she experiences ecstasy as she realizes that the outside world does have its pleasures. For example, she feels the dirt beneath her feet, which represents her connection to the literal Earth. Additionally, her humorous moment in which partially regrets leaving her tower (and thinks about “killing” Mother Gothel by going outside) reveals the good and evil associated with every action that she would take. Therefore, there is the notion that every action comes with its own consequence, especially when she disobeys the wishes of her paternal figure (which, in this case, is Mother Gothel).
When Mother Gothel finds Rapunzel after a lengthy search, Gothel attempts to bring Rapunzel back home, which is the tower that imprisoned her. When Rapunzel refuses to return to her home that is not exactly a comforting home, Mother Gothel sings her reprise of “Mother Knows Best” to imply that Rapunzel knows more than her own parental figure. This is actually a very key moment in the film in which Rapunzel attempts to assert her own independence. By refusing to return to her former lifestyle, Rapunzel argues that she has the right to her own life. Nevertheless, Mother Gothel employs lyrics in her reprise that suggests that Rapunzel is too immature to become her own person. Additionally, layers of dramatic irony make this moment in the film very tense because viewers know that Mother Gothel constantly manipulates Rapunzel’s mind to trick her into thinking that everything Mother Gothel says is valid. Therefore, Rapunzel has to deal with the challenge of separating what her next move will be as she attempts to distinct manipulative language from true reality.
Furthermore, the healing song that Rapunzel sings contain symbolic lyrics. For instance, the magical golden flower provides her with supernatural healing powers. Additionally, the notion of “bringing back what once was [hers]” reveals how there is a longing for the past that she can never regain. In a way, the healing hair reverses pain, including the negative effects the accompany age.
During the climax, Flynn Rider cuts off Rapunzel’s hair, which results in Mother Gothel rapidly aging to death. Since Rapunzel has brown hair after the pivotal haircut, the brunette look suggest her connection to earthly dirt (otherwise known as the real world). Furthermore, Rapunzel manages to heal Flynn with one of her magical tears. Since tears originate from eyes, that moment implies how much Rapunzel has changed, including an indication of how she came so far in life after being locked away for years. Additionally, tears are a form of water that saves Flynn’s life. Even though Rapunzel no longer has her trademark golden hair, she ultimately becomes a more down to Earth heroine.
Upon its release in 2010, Tangled held a record as one of the most expensive films produced in cinematic history. Unfortunately, people somewhat forgot Rapunzel after the release of Frozen in 2013. Nevertheless, Tangled features a strong and independent protagonist. Finally, even though Mother Gothel claimed that she knows best, knowing oneself reveals how Rapunzel can inspire audiences to do their best rather than simply be the best.
Alex Andy Phuong (He/Him/His) earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University—Los Angeles. Emma Stone inspired Alex to write passionately after watching her Oscar-winning performance in La La Land. He now writes hoping to inspire the ones who dream.