Brave Mom Turns Into Human Again

Things Only Adults Notice In Dauntless

Brave, the 2012 Disney/Pixar pic, is, at least on the surface, a fairy tale for the modern age. There are some wonderful elements in information technology, like the fact that our Scottish heroine, Princess Merida, doesn't rely on a man to salve the day. Merida is an empowered young adult female who wants to live her life on her terms, which is something that almost viewers can relate to. There are besides supernatural themes throughout the film, as magic runs amok in the world of Dauntless.

Information technology's the magic that most probable reels younger audiences in to the motion picture, but this is far from all that Brave has to offer. Developed audiences will also be struck past the mother-daughter relationship that is the center and soul of the flick. Just that'southward non the only element of Brave that will be noticed by adults. There is a lot going on in Dauntless and a lot to unpack, so let's get started.

Unless you're Rapunzel, pilus doesn't abound this long

Brave's Queen Elinor has gorgeous long hair that cascades down her back, past her knees, and all the way downward to her ankles. Information technology's beautiful hair, merely... how is it so long? While it's possible for hair to grow a dozen feet or more, information technology's pretty rare that such a matter would happen. Co-ordinate to HowStuffWorks, the average person's hair won't grow longer than about 3 feet, even if they never cut it.

It'south clear that Elinor isn't really wearing some sort of primitive hair extensions because, if she had been, they would accept fallen out when she turned into a bear (and would have been gone when she after turned back into a human). Maybe long hair just runs in the family? Is it possible that Elinor is actually a distant relative of Rapunzel? It would certainly explain where Rapunzel got her long locks and would also be in keeping with Disney/Pixar'south love of including little nods to other Disney films in their movies.

Dauntless'due south Merida should exist harder on her dad

Dauntless focuses quite heavily on female parent-daughter relationships. Like many teenage girls, Merida has a complicated relationship with her mom. If y'all watch the movie as a kid or as a teen, it's probably easier to relate to Merida. She has some legitimate gripes, such equally the fact that her mother is ever urging her to act like a princess (which is basically code for a thankfully now-outdated standard of "ladylike" decorum) when she'd rather be running effectually outside and practicing her archery.

We tin't actually blame Merida for rebelling, only information technology seems unfair that she's ever blaming her female parent for everything that is complicated in her life. In that location's as well the fact that she's critical of her mother, but seems to be best friends with her dad, Fergus. Information technology's not similar the king is some sort of saint. Fergus is clearly willing to marry his daughter off confronting her volition yet somehow Elinor gets the arraign for all of Merida's problems.

Brave'southward portrayal of motherhood is wonderfully nuanced

Adults watching Brave volition probably observe Elinor a much more sympathetic character than Merida. The queen, later all, is doing what she tin to give her daughter a good life — something easier said than washed in an era when women had far more than limited rights than they practise in modern times. The patriarchy is in full swing in the globe of Brave, and Elinor is raising her daughter the all-time mode she tin.

It'south clear that Elinor is struggling because she truly wants her daughter to exist happy. She's striving to be a good mother while notwithstanding raising Merida to fulfill her duty as a princess, and we have to give her props for this. This nuanced portrayal of motherhood is a cute matter to see, especially in a Disney/Pixar movie aimed at a young audience. Brave besides shows usa that womanhood is, and e'er has been, complex. There are and then many expectations placed upon women, fifty-fifty princesses and queens.

Merida is mode as well trusting in Dauntless

Come on Merida, didn't anyone ever teach you about stranger danger? You lot don't recall it'southward at all suspicious that you were mysteriously led to this witch in the middle of the wood? Aren't you going to at least inquire her what that potion is supposed to exercise? This really doesn't seem rubber at all. Become information technology together, princess!

Information technology'southward like Merida has no sense of self-preservation. She goes stone climbing, runs around the wood past herself, and is all also willing to trust strangers. Isn't she worried near being kidnapped? As a princess who is destined to class an brotherhood with another association, yous'd call up that people would accept impressed upon her the importance of staying condom, especially every bit her royal status makes her a prime target for kidnapping. Actually, come up to think of it, why doesn't Merida have some sort of bodyguard protecting her in Brave?

Elinor should have spent more than time teaching Merida about politics in Brave

Elinor spends a lot of fourth dimension teaching her daughter the and then-called womanly arts like music and embroidery, but she should take spent more time teaching her about politics and affairs. It's clear that Merida doesn't fully grasp how precarious her situation is in Dauntless. Refusing to ally a son from another clan when those clans had been promised an brotherhood is risky, to say the least. This is how wars get started, Merida.

Peradventure instead of making certain Merida knew how to cross-stitch, Elinor should accept taught her daughter the story of the Trojan War. We're non saying that it's right to marry your teenage girl off against her will (although information technology was totally normal at that point in time), but perchance if Merida had understood that failing to honour alliances could pb to bloodshed, she'd accept been a little flake more than careful.

How is the crown staying on Elinor'south head throughout Dauntless?

Animated films aren't exactly known for obeying the laws of physics, and so forgive the states if we audio like we're nitpicking when we wonder how on earth Elinor keeps her crown on her caput when she turns into a behave in Brave. The crown is clearly a symbol of her regal status and her control, so nosotros understand why the queen continues to wearable it. We just don't sympathise how.

It must take some serious rest to be able to keep that crown perched on her head, even as she runs through the castle and the forest. Of course, Elinor is pretty much as queenly equally you tin get, and we take to adore her poise, fifty-fifty in the face of being turned into a wild creature. Or perchance... it'due south magic? Is this crown enchanted with some sort of spell that keeps it perfectly in place?

Why doesn't Brave's Merida stop her mom from eating poisonous berries?!

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Apparently, Merida'southward lack of preservation extends to others in Dauntless. When she and her mother, at present in the shape of a behave, venture into the forest as they search for a manner to undo the spell, Merida watches her mother eating some berries. "Discover those by the creek, did you lot?" she asks.

Elinor nods and pops a berry in her mouth, only to spit it out later Merida informs her that the berries are actually poisonous nightshade berries. The warning was delivered with less urgency than you lot'd expect from someone who (presumably) doesn't want her mother to die. Of course, 1 drupe wouldn't be enough to kill Elinor. According to All That's Interesting, information technology would have 10 to 20 berries to kill a fully grown adult, and we imagine it would have even more to kill a bear, but this is still pretty sketchy behavior on Merida's office.

Brave'southward Merida has a bit of a vindictive streak

Honestly, information technology seems like Merida is kind of a sociopath at certain points in Disney's Brave. Kickoff of all, there's the fact that she doesn't stop her female parent from eating poisonous berries. Then, she laughs at her mom when she drinks worm-infested water, and she likewise gleefully informs her that bears consume raw fish. She seems to revel in being able to tell her mom what to do when she'southward a bear and, at several points, finds her mom'southward predicament amusing.

We get it, Merida. You're filled with teen angst! No one understands y'all! Your female parent exists merely to suck all the fun out of your life! But wasn't turning her into a deport plenty revenge? Must you really be this vindictive? Forgive us if we don't find anything amusing about a loved one potentially being turned into a wild animal and facing the possibility of never beingness able to return to their man life.

Is Brave'due south Merida the original Bachelorette?

Elinor somewhen helps Merida come up up with a amend way of claiming her independence than shooting for her own manus. Instead, Merida tells the clans that she and the sons of the other clans should have the right to cull for themselves who they will fall in beloved with. The other young men apace concord, and their fathers somewhen come around to the idea of letting them choose their destiny (within reason). Soon, it'south decided that, instead of planning a hymeneals right abroad, the suitors will instead try to woo Merida and win her over, basically making Merida the OG Bachelorette.

Think about it. She's got a mansion (well, a palace, if you want to exist technical about it) and several suitors competing for her hand. Merida only wants to find love and she's determined to get information technology. Which of the clans will receive the terminal rose?

Brave could have carried a stronger feminist message

We're all for female empowerment, and that'due south why it feels like Brave fell kind of curt. Certain, we have a spirited heroine determined to alive life on her terms. Merida is a bit of a tomboy who loves to run and climb and is better with a bow than the Curiosity Cinematic Universe'southward Hawkeye. Only at no indicate exercise we go the feeling that she's determined to do what men are immune to practice because women are strong, besides. Merida is just doing Merida.

While there's nothing inherently wrong near this, with a couple of tweaks the filmmakers could have made the empowerment message a bit clearer and stronger. Merida'due south speech well-nigh finding dear, for example, would accept given u.s.a. stronger daughter power vibes if she had said that a woman shouldn't take to get married. It might not accept been likely that she could do that at that point in history every bit even privileged women had picayune control over their lives, merely, hey, this is Disney. If a queen tin can turn into a bear, then a princess can choose to be single.

Elinor isn't the parent who doesn't listen to Merida in Brave...

Well-nigh adults volition probably be exhausted by Merida's whole "woe is me, I'g so misunderstood" attitude early in Disney and Pixar's Dauntless. What'south even more than frustrating about it, though, is that Elinor is making a concerted effort to connect with her daughter while Fergus literally locks their daughter in her roomthen that he doesn't have to listen to her.

To be fair, Fergus thinks he's protecting his daughter. Fergus glimpses Elinor in bear form and is adamant to hunt her downwardly, locking Merida up when she tries to explain that the bear is, in fact, the queen. Still, he could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he had taken two seconds to listen to Merida. Incredibly, Merida nonetheless doesn't realize that Fergus doesn't have her back and never did.

It seems unfair that Fergus, at least in Merida's eyes, is the "fun" and "understanding" parent when — to adult audiences, at to the lowest degree — information technology's evident that all the real parenting is done past Elinor.

Brave's Merida probably won't make a very good queen

This is going to sound harsh, just Merida is going to brand a terrible queen. First of all, she's incredibly impulsive and doesn't intendance who she puts in danger. And so at that place'southward that whole affair where she trusted a foreign witch in the middle of the woods. Trusting the wrong person tin can literally topple an unabridged kingdom — merely look at the Romanovs.

In Dauntless, Merida also shows that she's impulsive and just a little bit mean and has a quick temper to boot. In a fair earth, she would take some time to grow up, find herself, and hopefully overcome some of her less endearing qualities before having the hereafter of the kingdom placed on her shoulders. Nosotros're not saying Merida is a bad person, but she's definitely not the kind of person you want running a kingdom. It's a good thing that she's at least bought herself a little time and won't exist getting married at the age of xvi. Hopefully, she has a little time to grow before she is put in charge of anything.

Elinor is clearly the brains backside the throne in Brave

Ah, Fergus. We beloved the gentle giant in Brave, but it'south clear that Merida gets her lack of leadership from her dad. He's not exactly the wisest of rulers. Like Merida, he's impulsive, has a temper, and doesn't heed to anybody else. He as well tries to punch a bear, a bear that has already come close to killing him in the by and that Elinor somewhen ends up fighting off.

We're willing to bet money that Elinor is the real power behind the throne. She'south far more fifty-fifty-tempered than her married man and much wiser. We wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the king'due south rulings started off as subtle suggestions from his wife. Nosotros get the feeling that Elinor is pulling the strings while only letting Fergus retrieve he's in charge. It's a shame that women at the time weren't unremarkably allowed to permit their lite shine because Elinor is clearly an amazing ruler who is keeping the whole kingdom together.

How was the spell on the boys broken at the end of Brave?

We're pretty unclear on how this whole magic matter works in Brave. The spell turned Elinor into a bear at the get-go of the moving-picture show, but, by the end of the picture show, we have non just one butfour humans in carry form as Merida's 3 younger brothers accidentally ingested the spell. While Merida is eventually able to lift the spell on her mother past finally mending her relationship with Elinor and telling her that she loves her, nosotros aren't clear on how the boys also managed to plow back into humans at the aforementioned fourth dimension.

Is it possible that the witch was but lying about how one turns back into a human? Maybe the spell was never really meant to be permanent. Otherwise, it makes no sense that the rules for breaking the spell just apply to Elinor but not to the young princes.

Merida's problems aren't actually solved by the end of Brave

Not to spoil a happy catastrophe, but what exactly is Merida's programme after Brave ends? Information technology looks like she got what she wanted and isn't being forced to marry 1 of her suitors... for now. She's simply delaying the inevitable, though. At some point, she'southward going to have to marry one of these men and is probably going to be obligated to produce an heir to ensure the continuation of the majestic line.

What happens if, after getting to know them, Merida notwithstandingdoesn't similar — allow alone love — any of her suitors? She's either going to have to selection one of them anyhow, or risk the acrimony of the clans by turning them all downwardly. If Merida continues to turn down to marry anyone, the political ramifications could be severe. At that place's a proficient chance that state of war will suspension out. Merida is basically going to be forced to marry someone or else deal with some pretty encarmine repercussions. So much for happily ever after.

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Source: https://www.thelist.com/161604/things-only-adults-notice-in-brave/