Merida: The Maiden Who Didn't Need a Man

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            The most recent Disney Princess to appear in Theaters, Merida starred in Brave last summer. Her movie’s most clear distinction from her predecessors was simple: she did not have a romance. Instead her story was focused on her character development, familial relations, and of course, an adventure. Yes, courtship was a key topic, but nothing actually came of it besides a few conflicts. It was also the first story not to be loosely based on a fairy tale or badly adapted from history.

            In a land I think we can take to be a fictional Scotland (given the kilts), Merida is the first-born child of her father, the king. She has a loving family, both parents, and three little brothers. She and her father are close, sharing inside jokes, while Merida and her mother don’t see eye to eye. This is actually the closest thing to an antagonist the movie has: the tension between Queen Elinor and her daughter, Princess Merida. It is the catalyst to the events that follow, and as the witch honestly wanted no part, the fact that she casts the spell does not make her the antagonist. In fact she warns Merida that it may not go well and despite vanishing, leaves a note of sorts so she knows what has to be done. As for the cursed bear Merida must later battle, he’s a victim of circumstances, unfortunate word choice, and not honestly that big a factor in the scheme of things.

            Except that as a small child Merida might have watched him rip off her father’s leg. Now, while you can’t tell this for sure, her mother rides off with Merida over her shoulder, able to observe events until they were too far away. This would explain why Merida wants to be strong and able to fight however, if she’d seen such a thing occur. Definitely a contrast to earlier princesses, Merida is not suited for the traditional concept of a noble lady. She is athletic, stubborn, out spoken, and a terrific archer. She is clever, and able to notice things in ways others seem to miss. When she realizes the spell on her mother has occurred before, she’s able to apply her knowledge to find the solution. She defies traditions and desires freedom to make her own choices, but also longs or the acceptance of her mother.

            Merida’s story is a coming of age tale. She must learn to think beyond herself in order to avoid war and mend broken bonds. She must learn to help others, and not just think of herself when she’s fighting. It is a tale that ends with her being more mature then she began, and it does not end with her being paired off-nor the implication that she will be paired off, as in Mulan. The argument could be made she is young-but then, so is Snow White, and she was riding off into the sunset with her prince charming.

            As a role model, Merida is okay. She doesn’t need a man to complete her, and she is sure of herself. However she can also be stubborn, and one could argue begging a witch to make a spell to change her mother (rather then talk to her) was a bit rash. However, Merida learns from her mistakes through the course movie, and learns that charging in headfirst is not the best solution. Her biggest obstacle is her relationship with a parent; and most young women her age have to deal with something like that. As a role model, Merida is okay, but her story is full of lessons to be learned.