CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS
A. The Description of Elsa
The description of Elsa is conducted through several steps. In Boggs and Petrie’s theory of characters and characterization, there are eight ways to examine a character through the appearance, dialogue, external actions, internal actions, the reaction of other characters, and the usage of the contrast: dramatic foils, leitmotif, and caricature. However, not all eight ways are applied to examine Elsa’s characteristics due to the lack of data presented. After conducting the analyzes, there are some results that the researcher found are:
1. Obedient
Elsa is known as an obedient princess to her parents, especially to her father.
First, Elsa’s obedient manner is analyzed through the dialogues, which is the conversation between her and her father.
KING. The gloves will help.
KING. See? You’re good… (Starting their mantra) conceal it.
YOUNG ELSA. Don’t feel it.
YOUNG ELSA & KING. Don’t let it show.
(Lee, 2013, p. 9).
For the accident that happens when Elsa and Anna are still young, her father closes the gates of Arendelle and isolating Elsa in a different room to keep her
powers hidden from everyone, including Anna. Elsa went through her days alone to learn to contain her powers. However, day by day, her powers seem to get stronger. She expressed the anxious feeling of her powers to become stronger to her father.
ELSA. I’m scared. It’s getting stronger (Lee, 2013, p. 10).
As because of that, her father makes her wearing gloves to conceal the powers.
Elsa follows her father’s instruction, and her father teaches Elsa a mantra (a song) to conceal her powers. The dialogue above, shown that Elsa is trying to conceal her powers. She says, ‘do not feel it’ means that she determines that she needs to suppress her powers. She wants to be able to control her power so that there is no one will get hurt again.
Second, Elsa’s obedient manner is reflected through leitmotif, which is the song conceal, don’t feel that is sing by Elsa. Below are the lyrics:
ELSA. Don’t let them in. Don’t let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal. Don’t feel. Put on a show. Make one wrong move and everyone will know. (Lee, 2013, p. 16).
Boggs & Petrie states that leitmotif is the repetition of a single action, phrase, or idea, by a character until it becomes a trademark or theme song for that character (pp. 65-66). This song later used by Elsa to control her powers. The song lyrics, “be the good girl you always have to be,” can be interpreted as an instruction of her father, which means that she has to follow what her father wants her to be. “Conceal. Don’t feel. Put on a show” can be interpreted as the instruction from her father for her to always hide her powers and to be able to control her powers. Elsa’s father wants her always to act normal and believes that
everything is going to be alright. “Make one more wrong move, and everyone will know” can be interpreted as everything will be okay if she followed this instruction. In this case, she denies everything that related to her powers. She knows that she also struggles to suppress her powers. However, it does not mean that others would want to know how she feels if they know that she has powers.
Therefore, by singing, “make one wrong move, and everyone will know,” means that she is not allowed to make mistakes.
Third, Elsa’s obedient manner is analyzed through the dialogue between Elsa and Anna. When they separated in a different room, Anna, repeatedly, comes to Elsa’s room. In front of the door, Anna asks Elsa to play with her. It keeps going from Anna is still young until Anna becomes a teenager. However, Elsa not even once opens the door to play with Anna. Whereas she knows how much she loves Anna, but prefers to stay away from Anna because she does not want to hurt her only sister.
YOUNG ANNA. Do you want to build a snowman? It doesn’t have to be a snowman.
YOUNG ELSA. Go away, Anna!
(Lee, 2013, p. 9)
Furthermore, the more reliable evidence that shows how obedient Elsa is when their parents pass away. In a desperate time, Anna stands in front of Elsa’s bedroom door and tells how Anna wants Elsa to be there for her, but once again, Elsa never opens the door. Through (figure 1), we can see that Elsa desperately wants to be there for her sister behind the door. It can be seen through her furrowed brows and restless eyes. However, she has to follow her father’s instructions to stay away from other people, including Anna, as her powers may
hurt others. Here, Elsa’s expression can be seen from her internal action that shows she wants to accompany Anna (Figure 1). However, she does not want her sister to hurt by her powers and the fact that she listens to her father’s saying.
Moreover, in Figure 2, Elsa’s power gets stronger and already gives her a devastating effect. Here we can see that the impact of isolation has already possessed Elsa’s mind that she cannot help others or her sister because Elsa also struggles with her power. She always tries to contain her power, but in the end, the result that she still gets is her power getting stronger day by day, as she ages.
The effect of isolation can be seen through Elsa’s sitting position, where she is leaning against the door while hugging herself. Furthermore, Elsa’s surroundings portrayed her power that is getting stronger.
Figure 1. Elsa's desperate emotion
Figure 2. Elsa is in isolation
The evidence above shows how obedient Elsa is. She never once violated her father’s instruction. No matter how desperate Elsa wants to be together with
her sister, but never violates her father’s saying. Furthermore, she also does not care if the isolation that she went through day by day makes her depressed. All she cares about is to follow her father’s instruction that she needs to keep everyone safe from her powers, including staying away from her sister.
2. Protective
Elsa has been in isolation since the accident that happens when they were still young. For this reason, she grew anxious. The anxiety that she has, caused by the accident that occurs when she and Anna were still young. The accident happened when they were playing together in the ballroom at night. Anna asked Elsa to do the magic and built a snowman together.
YOUNG ANNA. Do the magic! Do the magic! This is Amazing!
YOUNG ELSA. Watch this!
YOUNG ELSA. Hi, I’m Olaf and I like warm hug.
YOUNG ANNA. I love you, Olaf.
(Lee, 2013, p. 4).
They continued to play by sliding down the snowbanks together. Next, Anna fearlessly jumped off from a snow peak into midair while Elsa made another peak to catch Anna. They kept playing this for some time. However, Elsa suddenly slipped. Her magic then accidentally stroked Anna in the head and fell unconsciously.
YOUNG ANNA. Catch me!
YOUNG ELSA. Gotcha!
YOUNG ANNA. (Jumping faster) Again! Again!
YOUNG ELSA. Slow down!
YOUNG ELSA. ANNA! MAMA! PAPA!
(Lee, 2013, p. 4).
This accident causes Elsa to deny herself by hiding her powers from others.
However, as she tries to hide her power, it only gets stronger day by day. In
contrast, on her coronation day, Elsa and her sister are reunited. However, this reunion does not work as it used to be. It makes both of them having a conversation awkwardly.
ELSA. ..Hi.
ANNA. Hi me…? Oh. Um. Hi.
ELSA. …You look beautiful,
ANNA. Thank you, you look beautifuller. I mean, not fuller, but more beautiful. (Lee, 2013, p. 20).
Moreover, not only are having awkward conversations but also a warm sister bonding that failed. Through this conversation, indeed, they are enjoying talking to each other. However, it does not last long because Anna mentions her wish that if they could be like this all the time. As hearing that, Elsa said that she is also enjoying that warm sister bonding with Anna. Suddenly, she denies her excitement and quickly makes Anna disappointed.
ELSA. Well, he was sprightly.
ANNA. (rubbing her sore feet). Especially for a man in heels.
ELSA. Are you okay?
ANNA. (loving Elsa’s attention). I’ve never been better. This is so nice. I wish it could be like this all the time.
ELSA. (Sincere) Me too…. But it can’t.
ANNA. Why not? If—
ELSA. It just can’t.
ANNA. (Anna’s smile drops and try not to get emotional). Excuse me for a minute.
(Lee, 2013, pp. 23-24).
This dialogue shows that even though Elsa has been in isolation to suppress her powers, the past accident's thought is still lingering in her mind. This past accident has been following her until it grows with her in the form of her anxiety. To make she is less anxious whenever her sister near her, she needs to deny that she also feels happy reuniting with her sister. Furthermore, Elsa does not forget her role as
an older sister for Anna despite having a problem with her powers. She knows that sometimes she is emotionally sensitive to her powers, but she still cares for others.
Elsa’s protective character is analyzed through the dialogues. The dialogues showed Elsa’s thoughts towards her sister’s sudden engagement with the man that she just met on the coronation day. Anna comes along with Hans to find Elsa and asks for her blessing. When they meet Elsa, Anna addresses her sister as Queen and tells that it is she again. It shows that Anna thinks that because her relation with Elsa is not like how they used to be. Therefore, she is just randomly asking for Elsa’s blessing. However, Anna not expected that Elsa would not allow her to marry Hans. Elsa was confused when her sister talked about a marriage ceremony, even talked about inviting all the brothers of Hans to live in Arendelle. Elsa is aware that now there are only both of them that have each other back, so she does not want to make a wrong decision in protecting her sister.
ANNA. I mean…Queen… me again. Um. May I present Prince Hans of the Southern Isles.
HANS. Your Majesty. (bowing) ANNA. We would like--
HANS. --your blessing-- ANNA. --of--
ANNA/HANS. --our marriage-- ELSA. Marriage…?
ELSA. I’m sorry, I’m confused.
ANNA. Well, we haven’t worked out all the details ourselves. We’ll need few days to plan the ceremony. Of course we’ll have soup, roast, and ice cream and then-- wait. Would we live here?
ELSA. Here ? HANS. Absolutely!
ELSA. Anna--
ANNA. Oh, we can invite all twelve of your brothers to stay with us-- ELSA. What/ no, no, no, no, no.
ANNA. Of course we have the too. I don’t know. Some of them must--
ELSA. Wait. Slow down. No one’s brothers are staying here. No one is getting married (Lee, 2013, pp. 29-30).
Elsa’s attitude in replaying Anna’s words shows that Elsa is confused with her sister’s action. She cannot believe that her sister would take a reckless step.
Furthermore, knowing that Elsa does not allow her to get married, Anna is throwing a tantrum. Without hesitation, Anna says that you can marry someone if it is true love. However, Elsa against Anna’s words by saying, that what does Anna knows about true love. This saying of Elsa makes Anna angrier and answers back to her sister. She says she knows about true love more than her sister does and that Elsa only knows how to shut people out. However, Elsa still does not allow her sister to get married.
ANNA. No. Whatever you have to say, you- you can say to both of us.
ELSA. Fine. You can’t marry a man you just met.
ANNA. You can if it’s true love.
ANNA. What do you know about true love?
ANNA. More than you know. All you know is to shut people out.
ELSA. You asked for my blessing, but my answer is no. Now, excuse me.
(Lee. 2013, p. 30)
Besides, the dialogue above in Figure 3 allows us to see Elsa's expression when she argues with her sister since her sister has made her angry. Elsa is afraid that she cannot control her emotion because of her sister's action and can harm her sister. Elsa is aware that if her sister keeps arguing with her, she cannot control her power. Elsa is already in a state where she cannot hold back anymore.
Knowing that she cannot control her emotion anymore, Elsa wants to leave the ball. Through figure 3, we can see that Elsa is frowning, and her eyes radiate fear and insecurity. However, her sister still insists on knowing why Elsa does not allow her to get married.
Moreover, Elsa's attitude shows that she feels insecure about the situation with her sister. In this figure (figure 3), we also can see that there are so many people watching them arguing. Furthermore, it shows that Elsa is under pressure because if she cannot control her power, everyone in the hall, including her sister, may get hurt. However, Elsa accidentally unleashes her powers toward Anna and the guests. Horrified by her action, Elsa chooses to leave the palace and isolating herself far away in the North Mountain to protect the kingdom from her.
Figure 3. Elsa's expression when arguing with Anna
Elsa cares about her sister and other people that she does not want to cause harm.
In this case, since Elsa accidentally unleashes her powers, the Duke of Weselton does not wish Elsa to leave the palace. Considering that Elsa's power is mighty and may hurt other people, the Duke gives orders to capture Elsa. Furthermore, The Duke's reaction to Elsa's magic that accidentally shoots from her hand turns the staircase into ice. He even refers to Elsa as a monster because he thinks that Elsa's power is sorcery. Aware of her powers' strength, to protect them, Elsa asks the Duke and his men to stay away from her. It shows in the dialogue below.
DUKE. (ducking behind his man)…sorcery. I knew there was something dubious going on here.
DUKE. There she is! stop her!
Elsa. (to the Duke) please, just stay away from me. Stay away!
DUKE. Monster… monster!
(Lee, 2013, p. 32).
Second, Elsa’s protective character is analyzed through the dialogue between her and Anna. After she decides to leave Arendelle, she builds another palace in the North Mountain. Here, Elsa lives by herself. She is isolating herself in her palace. Surprisingly, Anna follows her to the North Mountain and tries to persuade her to come back to Arendelle with her. However, Elsa thinks that she is okay by herself. Elsa believes that she can freely use her magic without hurting other people if she stays in this place. Here, Elsa is hinting that to protect her and others. She has to live by herself.
ANNA. I’m so sorry about what happened. If I’d known.
ELSA. (on guard) No, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologize… but you should probably go, please.
ANNA. But I just got here.
ELSA. You belong to Arendelle.
ANNA. So do you.
ELSA. No. I belong here. Alone. Where I can be who I am without hurting anybody. (Lee, 2013, p. 66)
From the conversation above, it can be seen that Elsa’s mind is full of fears and thought of living alone without hurting others. However, Anna does not stop to persuade Elsa. Here, Anna persuades Elsa using the happy memory that they experienced together when they were children. At that moment, Olaf appeared in the middle of their conversation. Olaf is the snowman that they built together when they were young. Anna is persuading Elsa that they can be together.
Knowing that her power can bring life to Olaf, Elsa is amazed by her power.
OLAF. 58…59…60.
ELSA. Wait. What is that?
OLAF. Hi, I’m Olaf and I like warm hugs.
ELSA. (shocked) Olaf?
OLAF. (bashful) you built me. You remember that?
ELSA. (astonished) and you’re alive?
OLAF. Um… I think so?
ANNA. He’s just like the one we built as kids… we were so close. We can be like that again.
(Lee. 2013, pp. 66-67)
Furthermore, Elsa’s protective character is also shown in her external action of creating the giant snowman. As Boggs & Petrie mention in their book that “every action that the character takes in some way reflects the quality of his or her particular personality” this shows that we can identify the character’s personality from the external action (p. 63). When they talk to each other about the beautiful memory of playing together with Olaf, suddenly, another memory returns to Elsa.
The flashback of the accident where young Anna is struck by Elsa’s powers that cause young Anna falls unconscious. It causes Elsa to return to her protective mode to make her sister stay away from her. In Elsa’s mind is only her sister’s safety. She does not care if it can make her sister hates her because she always thought that it is for the best.
Moreover, Anna tells Elsa that Elsa set off an eternal winter everywhere, and now Arendelle is in deep snow. For this reason, Elsa is panic. She says that she such a fool and she cannot be free. It makes Elsa cries and set a storm inside her castle.
ELSA. (Panicking) I’m such a fool! I can’t be free!
ANNA. You don’t have to be afraid.
ELSA. No escape from the storm inside of me!
ELSA. I can’t control the curse!
ANNA. We’ll reverse the storm you’ve made.
ELSA. Anna, please, you’ll only make it worse!
ANNA. Don’t panic.
ELSA. There’s so much fear!
ANNA. We’ll make the sun shine bright.
(Lee, 2013, pp.69-70)
Suddenly, Elsa’s fear becomes too strong. It highlights that her anxiety has already taken over her awareness as the blizzard is sucked back into her and explodes out like a sharp snowflake that accidentally struck Anna right in the heart. Elsa is shocked, but after seeing that Anna is okay, she creates a giant snowman to drive her sister away to protect her.
ELSA. No, we can’t.
ELSA. Good bye, ANNA.
ANNA. ELSA, wait--
ELSA. (calling back) I’m just trying to protect you.
(Lee, 2013, p. 67)
This evidences above show that Elsa is aware of the strength of her powers.
That is why she chooses to leave the kingdom to protect the people, including her sister from herself. Furthermore, Elsa’s action to shut her heart for others is because Elsa does not want to hurt them. She cannot suppress her powers, and knowing that her powers will only grow stronger, she willing to do anything to keep her sister away from herself.
3. Independent
As a princess who was born with powers, Elsa always follows what her parents say to her. Especially when she accidentally hurt her sister. Since then, her father tells what Elsa has to do and what Elsa cannot do. To learn how to control her power, she has to live in isolation that separates her from the ones that she loved the most. Furthermore, the isolation that Elsa experienced has made her lives in a depression that has a devastating effect on her life. She begins to shut herself and always afraid that her power will cause a great danger to other people near her. Therefore, she always put others first instead of herself. Although she