A Comparison Of Cinderella And Rapunzel

Disney princess films are popular, especially among little girls. There are entire lines of toys and clothes that use the images of the princesses. Children have been enjoying Disney princess films for many years. Snow White is considered to be the first Disney princess film; it was released in 1937 (imdb.com). Many of the early Disney princess films star female protagonists who have extensive relationships with wild animals, but very negative relationships with their mother or step-mother, if they have any mother at all. The princesses lack skills and the ability to protect themselves. Usually, the Disney princess needs to be saved and marries to her savior by the end of the film. Latter princess films usually have stronger female protagonists that can take care of themselves and contribute to society in a more meaningful manner. These traits can be seen in Cinderella the older Disney princess film Cinderella and Rapunzel in the more modern film Tangled …show more content…
They are both living with families that are not their natural families and forced to serve those families. Cinderella serves her stepfamily while Rapunzel serves the witch that she believes to be her mother. Both desire to leave their situations and imprisonment. Both escape and marry the man of their dreams. However, Cinderella is not an active participant in her own story. Others affect her, but she never makes a stand of her own to change her circumstances. Rapunzel causes the changes in her life and changes the destinies of others as well. She changes Flynn Ryder from a selfish thief to a caring person. She is able to cause a return to her parents’ lives, changing their lives. She exhibits strength and capability that Cinderella does not possess. Young girls watching these films should aspire to be like Rapunzel who is strong and capable and not like Cinderella who is affected by others but rarely makes her own way in the