Brave: Filial Love and a Feisty Princess

Directors Brenda Chapman’s and Mark Andrews’ 2012 Brave tells the story of a courageous princess who defies tradition by buying a spell from a witch, and then fights to undo the terrible curse. This is yet another story involved in the revolution of the traditional fairy tale messages on women and love. Princess Merida is one of the most masculine and independent Disney princesses, as noticed by her crazy, fiery red hair and possession of a weapon. Furthermore, the love story is not romantic at all, but between a mother and daughter. 

http://pixar.wikia.com/wiki/File:Brave_merida_card.jpg 

Merida’s defiant behavior is her main characteristic and crucial to the plot of the story. As already mentioned, her strong spirit is indicated by her huge, fiery, curly hair and her skill with the bow and arrow. The story encourages viewers, including women, to possess a combat skill, as indicated in a conversation between King Fergus and Queen Elinor:

Queen Elinor: “A princess should not have weapons in my opinion.”
King Fergus: “Leave her be. Princess or not learning to fight is essential.”

Daily Merida fights her royal treatment. She does not pay attention to lessons, rolls her eyes, sighs and groans, and throws herself onto her bed complaining. When her mother tucks her hair curl back into her veil, she rips it back out with a scowl. In her narration she tells the viewer that she lives for the day that she does not have to be a princess, and then she sets out to ride her enormous horse Angus, shoot her bow and arrow, and climb a cliff and drink from a waterfall. As these scenes take place, a song plays in the background:

Touch the Sky

When the cold wind's a a-calling

And the sky is clear and bright

Misty mountains sing and beckon,

Lead me out into the light

I will ride, I will fly

Chase the wind and touch the sky

I will fly

Chase the wind and touch the sky

Where dark woods hide secrets

And mountains are fierce and bold

Deep waters hold reflections

Of times lost long ago

I will hear their every story

Take hold of my own dream

Be as strong as the seas are stormy

And proud as an eagle's scream

I will ride, I will fly

Chase the wind and touch the sky

I will fly

Chase the wind and touch the sky

And touch the sky

Chase the wind, chase the wind

Touch the sky

One should pay close attention to “Take hold of my own dream” (Chapman 2012) for that is closely related to the theme of the story. The point of the story is that Merida bravely tries to take control of her own fate, rather than leaving it to a prince. When, according to Queen Elinor’s wishes, three suitors compete in a challenge over Merida’s hand in marriage, she chooses archery to be the challenge and enters it herself saying, “And I’ll be shooting for my own hand.” (Chapman 2012). Her mother forbids her, but she tears her tight dress, releases her arrow, and gives her mother an angry glare.

The other significance of Brave is that the love story is not between two romantic lovers, but a struggling mother and daughter. Elinor and Merida constantly bicker and refuse to listen to each other. Then Merida asks a witch for a spell, “…to change my mum” (Chapman 2012) but is horrified to find that the spell has transformed her mom into a bear. The only way to undo the spell is by mending the tapestry Merida had torn while arguing with her mom. The tapestry contains a picture of the whole family, but Merida has torn a hole between herself and her mother. As the story progresses, Merida and Elinor, who is now a bear, rebuild their relationship by their fishing expedition, by helping each other escape an evil bear, and by sneaking back into the castle together. Towards the end of the story, it is only by embracing her bear mother underneath the repaired tapestry that she is able to break the spell. When the story ends, the viewer sees the two women riding horses happily together across the fields.

The rising action of the plot occurs when Merida refuses to follow her mother's bidding of complying with the arranged marriage for the reason that she is not ready, implying that Pixar disagrees with immature marriage. That is why Merida fights for her own hand at the archery challenge. In the end, Elinor changes her mind entirely on the issue of the arranged marriage, as shown when Merida interprets Elinor’s message, “My mother, the queen, feels in her heart that I… that we be free to write our own story, follow our hearts, and find love in our own time.” (Chapman 2012). All of the princes and clans agree to allow their children to marry for love, so Merida is victorious.

Therefore Pixar’s Brave is yet another story that transforms the traditional message of woman’s submissive role and love being solely romantic. Merida is yet one of the most feisty princesses in modern fairy tales. The filial love between her and her mother is also what drives the story. Lastly, the arranged marriage is discouraged and Merida wins the right to marry for love when she feels ready, and the revolution of modern fairy tales continues.

References:

Brave. Dir. Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman. Perf. Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson. Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, 2012. DVD.