The Seaweed Is Always Greener

The Seaweed Is Always Greener

The idealized portrait of love painted in Disney’s The Little Mermaid leaves a sad impression for reality. The love at first sight and concept of a soul mate are not only portrayed as the romanticized “true love” (a common theme in Disney films) but are questioned by reliance on physical attributes. The necessity to change in order to obtain that love is portrayed to extremity. The film’s focus on “true love”, and the self sacrifice made to obtain it, give the target audience a notion that it is not only acceptable, but mandatory, to alter one’s self in order to achieve acceptance and love.

Ariel’s state of being an unhappy teenage girl targets an audience not only of young girls, like most Disney films, but ones who are unhappy with their life. Her father is portrayed as over-reactive with a volatile temper, which many girls at such an age think of their fathers as being, though he is redeemed throughout the movie. She wants to travel, to run away, and is displeased with her physical attributes, all characteristics of many teenage girls. Her actions, however, make her a poor role model, as she goes through with all these changes.

Eric says to Grimsby after being rescued by Ariel that ”she’s the one.” All he remembered of her was her song and perhaps a dim recollection of her face. He has made the decision of his life mate based on that alone, a meeting in which he was not even conscious. All he had to do to fall in love with her was to be in her presence, not even awake. They never spoke, never even met eyes, and Eric doesn’t even know that this girl with whom he is in love is not even of the same species as he is.

Ariel has a bit more information on Eric, but is caught by his appearance. She is somewhat acquainted with his character from her observations on the side of the boat, but only that which was shown in a brief window. In order to meet him, with no guarantee of success in winning his love, she sacrifices herself to the sea witch. She terminally abandons her family and friends, her home and her life, never able to return, in a gamble to attempt to fulfill her lustful desires.