Princesses Disney Article: Ariel Support collaboration with Silverrose1991

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Ariel Support collaboration with Silverrose1991

posted by THEDisneyFreak

Credit goes to both Silverrose1991 and Me

~Silverrose1991 and THEDisneyFreak

"Many people say Ariel is selfish, but I disgress. To me, someone selfish is someone who is self-centered and put their own interests above others, not mattering if may hurt someone ou not. Ariel is not selfish, she is impulsive doesn't think before she acts, meaning that (unlike someone selfish) she doesn't realize her actions are going to hurt her father and sisters.

When she made the deal with Ursula, she was terribly sad with her father - and with reasons! So her mind was fogged and she probably thought, like a normal teenager, Triton hated her and/or didn't care about her. People also point out her missing the concert as being selfish. But she had genuinely forgot about it. We all forget compromises sometimes, and maybe she didn't montrer to the recitals because she doesn't like the idea of chant to a big public.

Like I stated before, Ariel is just being a teenager. Many teens are immature and reckless, though to me she isn't immature. I know most of the princesses are mature for their ages, but Ariel is just being bluntly realistic. In the Renaissance, where Disney was specifically trying to give princesses their viewers could relate to (instead of admire), they had to give these type of teens a princess they could connect with. People say Ariel was dumb in wanting to meet humans, who eat her kind. But again, I disgress. I think it is wonderful that she understood they lived a different culture and didn't demonize them as a group ("barbarians", "dangerous", "incapable of feeling"). Ariel shows interest of learning what plus is to them besides that they eat fish. In "Part of Your World", she shows interest in knowing them intelectually, for she is interested with the objects they created and how they work.

Also, I would like to point there are fish-eating dangers in the sea: the sharks are natural predators, and Ursula is seem eating a crevette, crevettes (which I don't see as much different from eating fish). Triton doesn't ever consider the option of exceptions to the group, vegetarian humans, just as there are merpeople who eat fish. Ariel also takes a lot of criticism for changing herself for a boy she just met. Really? In her trip to the surface and her observation of the ship, she surely noticed that she and Eric have some interests in common: they are interested in musique (he playing the "snarfblatt", her singing), don't like the grand royal life-style very much (his reaction to the statue, her forgetting the concert), etc. Plus, he was Rebelle and caring when he saved Max. So she wanted to know him better, it's simple as that. Besides, she always wanted to be a human. Eric was just the tip of the iceberg, the propellant factor that led her to make a deal with Ursula, just like the increase in the price of the bus price was in making people go to the streets and manifest in Brazil. So, she didn't change herself for Eric. She changed because she wanted to.

Many of my points in the two last topics were borrowed from here: link. It also gives a plus detailled insight of why would Ariel be interest to meet Eric."

-Silverrose1991

"I agree very much with Silverrose1991. I've heard many times that Ariel was a selfish brat and she just made mistakes all the time. Others have a dit she abandoned her family for a 'gorgeous' man. I disagree very much with this. I have my own reasons for this.

Ariel wasn't exactly selfish. She was so excited when she had a chance to change her world, she just went for it with out knowing the consequences. If Ariel knew that for what mess she made ou what she was going to make she would have probably prevented hurting anyone. Sure, she hated her dad for a bit and was extremely hot-headed but I'm sure all of us have had butted heads with our parents and felt un-cared for. She didn't know who Eric was but she still wanted love. She really wanted to be with a human since they had such a different worlds and she wanted to discover it. I mean falling in l’amour with a man she didn't know, I'm sure we all, ou most of us, have done that before.

She wanted adventure. She wasn't content with just being a mermaid, she wanted plus value to life. Plus, saying she married a man she just met and doesn't know is wrong. First off, we don't know if she got married to Eric right away at age sixteen. Though I'm pretty sure she did. She knew Eric for three days while she had her visit. Okay, I didn't make a good point there. She still knew him a but before. toi got me, but like Silver Rose said, "They shared interests."

Some don't like Ariel for her appearance. Let me get this straight, have toi learned anything from Beauty and the Beast? (To those of toi who don't like her for her appearance) Appearances don't matter, it's about the heart. If toi don't like Ariel's personality, I respect that. We all have our own opinion. But disliking someone ONLY because of their looks is just wrong. I personally l’amour her feu engine red hair with those unrealistic bangs. And the dresses don't matter. Lots have a dit they dislike her for her looks and wardrobe, that's a dumb reason not to like her. I'm not saying the person is dumb, it's just a dumb reason.

Ariel didn't actually abandon her family. She lives near the ocean for one. And if you've seen the sequels she keeps in touch with her father, with the ability to turn into a mermaid again. Ariel, like Rapunzel, was wild and chased her dream, she only wanted to find true love, but she loved someone who wasn't her type. The humans are enemies to the sirènes but Ariel still loved Ariel. It's a bit like Beauty and the Beast just with an attractive Adam (though Eric in my opinion isn't very attractive)."

-THEDisneyFreak

Thank toi Silver Rose for letting me rejoindre in on toi when we both had the same idea.

"I love you Daddy"

RogelioT, DisneyNissen and 29 others like this

Jayden-G Brilliant article you two, though I still dislike Ariel. About the concert thing, her forgetting to go does not mean that she does not like the grand royal lifestyle or that she does not like singing in public. She forgot, but Triton said that this has happened BEFORE, so she has been careless and not thought about the others perspective much, so this is a pattern. I understand that she was upset about what her father did and said to her, and she has every right to follow her dream, but when the eels were talking to her, she KNEW that Ursula was a sea witch, so she knew that she probably should not have done it either way; sea witches are not ones to be trusted or liked. About Ariel and Eric's relationship, she saw him blowing the recorder (which she did not know how to use), and yes, she has that, and he is nice to his dog, but she always mentions his LOOKS. Aladdin mentioned Jasmine's personality before her looks, but Ariel NEVER did that fro Eric. Her nor Eric know anything about their pasts, their experiences and barely had a conversation before they wed. There is chemistry, but I think their relationship lasts substance. I am not bashing your opinion, but just expressing why I cannot like her or get into her and Eric's relationship that much.

THEDisneyFreak That's fine Jayden-G I totally respect your opinion :)

dclairmont I agree with Jayden-G. Ariel is still my least favorite and I agree with all of his points, but I can tell a lot of work went into this and I do agree with parts of it. Amazing article! :)

MacytheStrange I agree with what Jayden-G said, but I also agree with dclairmont that a lot of work obviously went into this.

prussiaducky Yeah nice article, but I agree with Jayden-G. Nice effort, I really liked it guys! :)

ClassicDisney13 Yes!!! I agree with this so much!!! First of all, I don't think Ariel was planning to run away after Triton destroyed her grotto. She just stayed there and cried. Flotsam and Jetsam obviously played with her emotions. And if I was her I would be afraid of my father and going home. He just completely lost his temper and went into a destructive rampage, destroying the grotto. Even Triton thought he went too far. And it's not like she immediately accepted the deal. She hesitated because of her family. But of course she was intimidated by Ursula into making the deal. Ariel is just a normal teenage girl with big dreams who gets manipulated and taken advantage of.

carrieicecream I LOVE YOU BOTH! Thank you so much for making this beautiful article! I also agree with ^ClassicDisney13. Ariel is not selfish, she is just a little forgetful and maybe not suited for the royal life. She's not much of a show-off so I believe that's why she let the concert slip her mind.

zikkiforever I completely agree. Ariel is awesome. Ariel is relatable. When you are angry nowadays, cause you can't do something you will do it, we all been there, Love the article

Silverrose1991 I liked how the article came out very much!

Tygers_Eye I disagree with this article 100%. "Ariel is not selfish, she is impulsive doesn't think before she acts, meaning that (unlike someone selfish) she doesn't realize her actions are going to hurt her father and sisters." Which is the definition of selfish. Her first impulse is to do what she wants, when she wants, how she wants it, with no regard for anyone else. She only thinks about herself and doesn't spare a thought for others. That is selfish. Self before or instead of others. Besides, even after other characters tell her how her actions negatively affect them, she still doesn't care. Triton and Sebastian tell her how missing the concert ruined it for everyone, and she doesn't feel bad for letting everyone down, only feels bad that she's getting (rightly) scolded. Sebastian tells her how her absence made him a laughing stock, and she still doesn't care (uncross her arms or stop scowling). After she first becomes human and Sebastian freaks out about how "He'd say 'he's gonna kill himself a crab,' that's what her father'd say!" Ariel tunes him out. Then when Sebastian says how he's going to tell her father, suddenly she's invested in what he has to say and tries to convince him otherwise. I repeat: Sebastian saying how he'll get in trouble with her father because of her? Ariel doesn't care. Sebastian saying he might tell her father on her? Suddenly she cares. Sebastian then agrees to stay on land and help her woo the prince (even though Ariel has caused him nothing but worry and trouble up to this point because--surprise--she never gave him a second thought), they get separated because Ariel couldn't bother keeping track of him. He's a tiny little crab hiding in her sail dress and she doesn't try to help him stay with her after she's disrobed and bathed and her "dress" taken to get washed, then he nearly gets KILLLED in the kitchen, BECAUSE he agreed to stay and help her (putting her before himself) but she could not bother keeping track of him (putting herself before him). At no point is Ariel ever shown looking for or worrying about where Sebastian is; she only seems to remember he exists after he shows up right in front of her on Grimsby's plate. Then there's the infamous (to me) scene after dinner when Ariel's in her night dress, brushing her hair with a fork, and Sebastian says words to the effect of "I hope you appreciate everything I go through for you!" and she just blows him off. Every time I see that scene, I think: "OF COURSE she doesn't appreciate everything you go through for her! Why should she? You're only putting your life on the line for her, so of course it's asking too much that she show any acknowledgement, gratitude, or concern for your well-being." I'm sorry, but this article doesn't convince me. Ariel is selfish. She thinks about herself instead of others, puts her desires over the well-being of others, doesn't care about people even after they tell her how her actions negatively affect them, and ignores, tunes out or blows people off when they try to address her. I can go on.

Tygers_Eye Also: "People also point out her missing the concert as being selfish. But she had genuinely forgot about it." Yes, she forgot because she was thinking about herself and what she felt like doing over other people or how they rely on her. Besides, the movie already revealed that this was not the first time she failed to show up. Before the concert starts, Sebastian grumbles "If only she'd show up for rehearsal once in a while." This makes it clear that keeping her commitments to other people is not a priority for Ariel. "We all forget compromises sometimes," You mean commitments "and maybe she didn't show to the recitals because she doesn't like the idea of singing to a big public." I'm sorry, but nothing shown about her character within the film suggests that she is shy or has stage fright. What we are shown is that Ariel is impulsive, reckless, careless, thoughtless, inconsiderate, and puts herself and what she feels like doing over other people. She forgot the concert because it was not important to her, so we can infer that missing out on rehearsals was for the same reason. Besides, I actually think being habitually late is a huge sign of rudeness and selfishness. When people arrange to get together, they are taking time out of their schedule to plan to meet with you. (For whatever reason: rehearsal, concert, etc). By making them wait by being late or not showing up because you didn't try to get there on time (I'm not talking about accidents or emergencies that hold you up) you are saying: "My time is more valuable than yours" "What I am doing right now is more important than keeping my commitment to meet you." And Ariel does it all the time. She constantly misses out on rehearsals and concerts because they aren't important to her. What she feels like doing instead is more important than keeping her commitments to other people. If she constantly "forgets" to meet with other people (her sisters, Sebastian, her father, the kingdom) or show up to events (rehearsals and concerts), then she's showing that putting mental energy into doing what she wants is more important than putting mental energy into trying to remember and be there for other people. And that is selfish. Again, being late once or twice is one thing. Being late because of a legitimate accident or emergency that keep you held up is one thing. Constantly not showing up because of constantly "forgetting" shows that you just don't care enough.

Jayden-G Tygers_Eye, Oh my gosh, I love your comments. At the end of the day, she CHOSE to go to Ursula, knowing she was not bad. She ignored the eels at first, showing that she was not manipulated. She CHOSE to go, and was thinking straight when she made the choice to do what she did. She had a choice, and chose to do it. Being "manipulated" is not an excuse. She may not have known ALL of Ursula's intentions, but she knew that Ursula had a bad rep, and after her father scolded her, she just blew him off and went to put her stuff her grotto, and continues to go to the surface and to look for things. She apologized to Trition when she and Ursula bumped into him because she got caught, and for everything happening, not for her choosing to go to Ursula or going onto land.

Alantlm Nice article... kinda feel obligated to defend it since some of my points led to criticism. “She forgot, but Triton said that this has happened BEFORE, so she has been careless” Tygers_Eye: “Constantly not showing up because of constantly "forgetting" shows that you just don't care enough.” --I do agree she forgot that time. (In fact, so did Flounder) However, there’s a difference between one-time forgetting and continual forgetting. I think we differ in the rationale of her continual forgetting. --I think she doesn’t go to concert rehearsals not because she’s “careless” but she doesn’t “care for it/them”, as Tygers_Eye suggested. Because she’s careful about other things: protecting her trove for however long she had it; having some sort of organization of her objects; trying to learn about humanity. --If she doesn’t care for it/rehearsals (=by missing them) then I think it’s Seb’s responsibility as an effective teacher to figure that out why and to deal with it - not to just scold her... but that’s previous speculative stuff not in the movie. “does not mean that she does not like the grand royal lifestyle or that she does not like singing in public” Tygers_Eye: “I'm sorry, but nothing shown about her character within the film suggests that she is shy or has stage fright.” -This is probably more my own interpretation than anything because it’s based off how she doesn’t seem interested in singing in public... --If she liked singing in public, then I would think she would love to come to rehearsals and practice/perform and wouldn’t miss that concert. But no, she prioritized collecting over singing... --...but not singing in general, because she did sing Part of your World and its reprise. However, both of those are personal songs... --...when it come to a public song, like Under the Sea song where seemingly everyone joins in, she doesn’t participate. She’s alone, sitting down, and leaves easily. She’s just not interested in all that fanfare. --When asked if she had anything by Ursula, she said she had nothing. How could a princess have nothing? “but she always mentions his LOOKS” --True, she does mention he’s handsome and beautiful (and even the eyes of the statue) but that, in itself, doesn’t negate aspects of his personality which she witnessed. (And, alternatively, his personality doesn’t negate his appearance) --Also, Eric saving both Grimsby and the dog are in direct contrast to Triton’s ideas on evil humans. Ariel’s a curious mermaid so I do think she would be very fascinated by this. --I do admit their “their relationship [lacks] substance” in the real world, but then I just use fairy-tale logic. “She only thinks about herself and doesn't spare a thought for others.” --When Ariel is with Ursula, she says “If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again”... so is there a specific moment you are referring to? “Sebastian tells her how her absence made him a laughing stock, and she still doesn't care” --She might have apologized more but Flounder did interrupt her. “(uncross her arms or stop scowling)” --I had to rewatch that scene, but she actually does when Sebastian gets closer to her. Her eyebrows raise and her mouth opens. Signs of surprise, even worry. “Ariel tunes him out” and “Sebastian saying he might tell her father on her? Suddenly she cares” --She had water in her ears so she couldn’t hear him... jk --But seriously, if there’s any criticism of Ariel, I do understand that ability to tune others (especially Seb) out. I always cringe when she’s brushing her hair and Seb’s talking about how it’s the worst day of his life. It's true she honestly didn't know what he had been through, but then again, didn't seem too excited to find out either. “tiny little crab hiding in her sail dress and she doesn't try to help him stay with her after she's disrobed and bathed “ --When she’s having a bath he is safe, until Carlotta picks up the dress. If Ariel actually thought that her old sail was a dress then I don’t think she would have been suspicious of his safety or that it would be removed. --I suppose he could have crawled out but then again, it’s not like she could easily hide him because she’s naked and I’m sure if a crab was found in her bath then he would be killed. “but she knew that Ursula had a bad rep” --True, but then again Ursula did say she was reformed... again, is it really smart to trust a ‘reformed villain’? No. “She had a choice, and chose to do it” --Do you think public opinion of Ariel’s bet would change if she would have won? Because it’s completely true she chose to do it ... and having chosen it, she was so close to winning! So close that the villain had to sabotage her: Ursula said “Oh, she's better than I thought. At this rate, he'll be kissing her by sunset for sure”)... If it wasn’t for Ursula being unfair, Ariel would have won . “She apologized to Trition when she and Ursula bumped into him because she got caught” --The last line that was spoken to Ariel before apologizing was “Poor little princess - it's not you I'm after. I've a much bigger fish to” --Her apology is this: “Daddy, I'm sorry! I - I - I didn't mean to. I didn't know -“... Personally, unless one believes Ariel was flat-out lying, I don’t see how this could refer to getting caught. Not only, as a mermaid, was she shown was going to happen to her, but also, as a human, when she had seemingly lost the bet, she (tearfully) accepted it. What she truly didn’t know was that she was being used to get to Triton. Sorry if I missed anything important and sorry if this comment isn't really good (or even a comment) But I couldn't help get into the discussion! :D ... this is the reason why I joined

Tygers_Eye This is probably more my own interpretation than anything because it’s based off how she doesn’t seem interested in singing in public... " I think it has more like she's not interested in anything under the sea compared to humans. She misses the concert because she's too busy searching sunken ships. After rescuing Eric and being woken by her sisters the next day, she blows them off because she's too busy humming and daydreaming about Eric. When Sebastian and the other sea creatures throw the "Under the Sea" shindig for her, she immediately leaves as soon as Flounder tells her there's a surprise in her treasure trove. (In the middle of the song, mind, without having the courtesy to wait till the end or let them know she's leaving.) Ariel is interested in the human world at the exclusion of everyone and everything else. When she has an opportunity to moon over humans or human stuff, she blows people off without a second thought. The concert, her sisters, Sebastian. Doesn't have the courtesy to say good bye or let them know she's leaving, she just takes off as soon as the fancy takes her. That's also why I figure Ariel doesn't now up for rehearsals. The film shows a track record of Ariel just forgetting and abandoning people as soon as something more interesting (read: human related) comes up, so I think that's the far more likely reason for her absences. "When Ariel is with Ursula, she says 'If I become human, I'll never be with my father or sisters again'" First, how is that any different from what she's BEEN doing? She blows them off to moon over humans and human stuff every chance she gets, so this should be no different from before. Secondly "... so is there a specific moment you are referring to?" I feel this moment was rather forced by the filmmakers because, at what point before or after this moment does she EVER suggests that she actually enjoys spending time with her family or thinks about them when they aren't right in front of her? (Apart from kvetching that her dad doesn't let her explore the human world.) Thirdly, Ariel says "I'll never be with [them]" as though doing so would cause HER pain (which I believe as strongly as I can touch), but she doesn't seem to consider how her absence might worry or sadden THEM. No "If I become human, my father and sisters will worry sick about me." Her thoughts are for herself and how leaving would (supposedly) hurt HER, not them. (She can decide not to go, but they have no choice in the matter.) "When she’s having a bath he is safe, until Carlotta picks up the dress." And Ariel doesn't try to stop her or check to see if Sebastian is still with her. Charlotte even tells her she'll get it washed for her, we see no reaction from Ariel. Considering she's happily mooning over Eric next scene and seems to have forgotten Sebastian exists, I doubt she worried any. "I suppose he could have crawled out but then again, it’s not like she could easily hide him because she’s naked and I’m sure if a crab was found in her bath then he would be killed." She's got a whole head full of hair for him to hide in, and even if not there, she could have at least tried to find some little nook or cranny or object to hide behind so at least he can stay away from human eyes and hands, as being in a dress that's getting washed would most certainly get him hurt. My point is, Ariel doesn't notice, care, or try. She's so busy enjoying her bubble bath then meeting Eric that she doesn't spare a thought for Sebastian. “ 'Daddy, I'm sorry! I - I - I didn't mean to. I didn't know -'... Personally, unless one believes Ariel was flat-out lying, I don’t see how this could refer to getting caught." "I didn't mean to, I didn't know" is the line that every child who has ever been caught doing something wrong says when they want to avoid responsibility. In fact, I do believe Ariel was lying because she DID mean to--she made the choice to go to Ursula and sign the contract with full knowledge of all the risks and consequences, and did it anyway. "I didn't know" Didn't know what? That Ursula is an evil, untrustworthy sea witch reviled by the entire ocean? That Ursula turns her customers into polyps after they "c[a]n't pay the price" and this happens to an obscene number since her garden is full? That Ursula intended to enslave Ariel if she failed to get kissed within the allotted time? WHAT didn't she know? I agree with Jayden-G - Ariel isn't sorry she did it, she's sorry she got caught.

THEDisneyFreak Can you guys save these comments for articles instead?

Alantlm Since it will probably be back and forth, how about forum posts? That way it wouldn't fill up all the article pages?