PRINCESS REPRESENTATION IN DISNEY’S MOVIE
BRAVE
A Thesis
Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
The Degree of Strata 1 (S1)
Ega Dwi Rakhmawati NIM. 1110026000047
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH
JAKARTA
i
ABSTRACT
Ega Dwi Rakhmawati, NIM: 1110026000047, Princess Representation in
Disney’s Movie Brave. Thesis: English Letters Department, Letters and Humanities Faculty of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta 2015.
Brave (2012) movie directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Champman is the unit of analysis in this research. The aims of this research is to observe the different princess representation in Brave movie by analyzing her characteristic and defining it through representation concept by Stuart Hall. The research findings show that Princess Merida is dissimilar from other classic Disney princess. The writer uses qualitative descriptive method to reveal the findings. All data are collected from the dialogue, the picture taken from the movie, and the movie script to support the analysis. The result shows that Princess Merida is disparate with other classic Disney princess which can be seen through her characteristic, habit, and appearance. Princess Merida is a manly princess who tries to break tradition to gain her freedom in choosing her own destiny.
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DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text.
Jakarta, August 2015
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Bismillahirahmanirahim.First and the foremost, the writer would like to give most appreciation and
her gratitude to Allah SWT., the most beneficent, the most merciful. The writer
sure cannot finish this research without His blessing. Then, peace and blessing be
upon our prophet Muhammad SAW, who brings us from the darkness to the
lightness, and also all of His followers.
Secondly, the writer would like to send her grateful to her precious parents
Mr. Giarto and Mrs. Elly Mulyani for giving their best supports mentally and
financially as well as raising the writer and make her who she is now. Her beloved
brother Ali Rianto Yuliawan, thank you for being a great brother for her. Also, her
grandmother Mrs. Hj. Muriati, thank you for the endless prayer.
Next, the writer would like to give thanks to her advisors, Mrs. Pita
Merdeka, M.A. and Mr. Akhmad Zakky, M.Hum. for giving their times, patience,
guidance, and advise during this research. May Allah bless them and their
families.
Last, but not least, the writer would like to give her deep and sincere
gratitude to:
1. Prof. Dr. Sukron Kamil, M.Ag., The Dean of Faculty of Letters and
Humanities.
2. Drs. Saefudin, M.Pd, the Head of English Letters Department.
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4. Inayatul Chusna, M.Hum. and Arief Rahman Hakim, M.Hum. as the
examiners of this thesis. Thank you for the time and advice during this
research.
5. Lecturers in English Letters Department for their valuable knowledge.
6. Dearest friends from Happy C Family and Literature class, especially
Deri Indrya Santhi, Fadilah Mahmudah, Dian Agustina, Lala Nufaelah,
Lestari Rejeki, Nuraini Rismawati, and all of her friends in university
who cannot mentioned one by one. Thank you for the friendship,
happiness, advice, and everything they give to the writer.
7. All people who helped the writer in finishing this thesis, thank you for
their kindness. May Allah give them His blessing and success in the
future.
Jakarta, August 2015
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ………...……….i
APPROVAL SHEET ………..………...ii
LEGALIZATION ……...………...………...iii
DECLARATION ………...………...iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ………...…………v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………...vii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ………......1
A. Background of the Study ………...………...1
B. Focus of the Research ………..…6
C. Research Question ………...….6
D. The Objective of the Research ………...6
E. Significance of the Research ………...….7
F. Research Methodology ……….7
1. Method of the Research ………..….7
2. Technique of the Analysis ………...….8
3. Unit of the Analysis ……….9
4. Instrument of the Research ………...…9
5. Time and Place of the Research ………..….9
6. Research Design ………...10
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ………....11
A. Previous Research ………..11
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C. Representation ………....17
D. Princess Representation in Disney’sPrincesses Movie ……….20
CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDINGS …………...………...24 A. The Characteristic and Characterization in Princess Merida ...24
B. The Representation of Princess Seen from Princess Merida…..40
1. Princess Merida as an Independent Princess …...….41
2. Princess Merida as an Inattentive Princess ………..44
3. Princess Merida as an Unconventional Princess …..52
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ……….57
A. Conclusion ………..57
B. Suggestion ………..58
BIBLIOGRAPHY ………...59
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Fairy tale is a story that many parents tell to their children before they go
to bed. Fairy tales are generally confused with one another and taken as
make-believe stories with no direct reference to a particular community or historical
tradition.1 According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, fairy tale is a story (as for
children) involving fantastic forces and beings (as fairies, wizards, and goblins).2
The end of the fairy tales is usually happy ending and it also has meaning or moral
value that can be a lesson for children. Fairy tale is just like folklore which
sometimes delivers people to people and also has many versions or adaptations.
As for example is Brothers Grimm3 who collects all the famous fairy tales around
Europe.
The oldest fairy tales were told and retold for generations before they were
written down.French fairy tales were the first to be collected and written down,
1
Jack Zipes, Breaking The Magic Spell: Radical Theories of Folk & Fairy Tales Revised and Expanded edition, (Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky 2002), p. 6
2
Merriam Webster Dictionary, retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairy%20tale accessed on April 27th, 2015.
3
2
but now we can read fairy tales from almost any culture.4 Long time ago the
media that used to tell fairy tale is a book, but over the times fairy tale is also
delivered by movies. Movie is a series of moving pictures, usually shown in a
cinema or on television and often telling a story.5
The writer choose movie to be analyzed in this research is because movie
is also part of literature. As Arnheim stated that movie resembles painting, music,
literature, and the dance in this respect—it is a medium that may, but need not, be
used to produce artistic results.6 Movie is generally watched to be enjoyed.
However, as a researcher of literature, movie can also be used as objects of
research, as the writer does now. In Sumarno’s book untitled Dasar-Dasar
Apresiasi Film, he divided movie into three kinds: film cerita (fiction movie), film
noncerita (non-fiction movie), and film eksperimental dan film animasi
(experimental movie and animation movie).7 In this research, the writer will use
the third kind of movie that is animation movie. Animation movie is commonly
depicted about anything that has soul and characters, such as prince and princess
story, animal, plants, etc. In this case, the writer uses movie which tells about the
living of princess.
Since previous years, many fairy tales made into movie as the Walt Disney
did. Walt Disney has made a lot of movies taken from the adaptation of fairy tales
such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Cinderella (1950), Beauty and
4
Discovering Fairy Tales, retrieved from
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/fairytales_discovering.htm accessed on April 27th, 2015.
5
Elizabeth Walter, Cambridge Advance Learner Dictionary 3rd Edition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008)
6
Rudolf Arnheim, Film as Art (London: University of California Press, Ltd., 1957), p. 8
7
3
the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and others. The story of Walt Disney’s princess
mostly tells about the living of princess that mistreated by other people. For
example is the story of Cinderella that has injustice treatment from her step
mother. Her life is full of misery until one day the charming prince comes to save
her life. They both have a happy ending marriage and live happily ever after. Most
of princess classic story is almost the same. They have charming prince who
comes to save their lives because they cannot struggle to get better life by
themselves.
In this era, Disney princess story has changed. The princess on the movie
does not need prince to save their lives as they can save their own lives. For
example is Mulan (1998) movie which tells about a girl who joins conscription to
replace her weak and old father. The characteristic of Mulan is different with
other Disney princess movie. She is not feminine and has masculinity side inside
her. She is joining the war and winning it together with her friends. In recent
years, the stories of princess have developed. Their lives and characteristic have
changed and different with the story of classic Disney princess. As the writer
found on Brave (2012) and Frozen (2013) movie. Both of the princesses do not
4
In this research, the writer will use Brave8movie as an object of study and
analyze one of intrinsic elements on it which is character. Character is someone
who acts, appears, or is referred to as playing a part in a literary work.9 The writer
chooses character to be analyzed because character is an important element in the
story and the story will not work without any figure on it. The character that the
writer wants to analyze is the characteristics of Princess Merida in Brave movie.
Furthermore, in the movie there are many differences of characteristic in
Princess Merida and other Disney princess which make the writer wants to further
analyze about it. Princess Merida is the daughter of King Fergus and Queen
Elinor, they live in the mythical Scottish highlands. She has a distinct personality
of the princess in common. She would rather climb the cliff rather than primp in
the mirror. She is the major and heroine character in the movie. The writer is
interested in analyzing this figure because she has strong, unique, and different
characteristics with other princess in common.
One day, King Fergus and Queen Elinor match up Princess Merida with
one of the princes from the three clans of their kingdom. However, Princess
Merida refuses it. She wants to choose her own path in life. Her mother wants the
best for her daughter and also for her clan. She still forces Princess Merida to
8
Brave has won many award, such as; Oscar in Academy Award and British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for category Best Animated Feature 2013, Golden Globes Award for category Best Animated Film 2013, ASCAP Award for category Top Box Office Films 2013, American Cinema Editors for category Best Edited Animated Feature Film 2013, C.A.S. Award for category Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures 2013, Golden Trailer Awards for category Most Original TV Spot 2013, VES award in category Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture 2013, and also included in the various award nominations. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217209/awards accessed on October 27th, 2013
9
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marry with one of the suitors, because if the wedding is being canceled there will
be a battle between the three clans of the kingdom. With a firm and dignified way,
she speaks with Princess Merida, but it does not make Princess Merida changing
her mind. She does not want her mother controlling her life, and then she goes to
the forest and meets the witch. She gets the concoction to make her mother
changes, but instead of changes her mind, Queen Elinor changes into a giant bear.
Princess Merida gets shock, she just realizes that the witch gives her the wrong
spell. Then she brings her mother into the forest to get the herb bidder to change
her mother back to normal. But she does not find the witch because at that time,
the witch is going for holiday and will be back in spring. The witch gives her
message that the spell on her mother will be permanent in the second sunrise, and
the witch also gives her clue to make her mother back to normal again. So after
that, she and her bear mother have a journey together for looking the way out of
how to make her mother back to normal. The journey that Princess Merida and her
mom get through in changing her mom back into human being and also to mend
the bond of their family makes the story interesting and different with other
Disney princess movie. This movie is not telling about love story between the
princess and the prince who save their life, instead it shows several things such as
the love between a mother, a daughter and a bond between their family and their
clans is stronger.
In conclusions, Brave movie tells the story of Princess Merida in the effort
to break the rule and tradition in the kingdom and gain freedom in choosing her
6
decision and the movie tells the audience the communication between the child
and the mother is important, because the bond between them is really strong
especially after what happened to Princess Merida and her mom.
The difference of princess representation in Brave movie with other Walt
Disney princess movie makes the writer gets interest in making a research about it
is because the writer finds different characteristic of princess story in this movie.
Princess Merida is brave and not afraid to take risk in choosing her own path in
life. She does not want her life to be controlled by anyone. The writer will use
Stuart Hall Representation theory with constructionist approach in doing this
research to show the different princess representation in Princess Merida.
B. Focus of the Research
There are many characters in Brave movie, such as King Fergus, Queen
Elinor, Harrish, Hubert, Hamish, The Witch, Lord Dingwall, and others. But in
this research, the writer will focus on analyzing the characteristics, appearance,
and habits of the main heroine character, Princess Merida. The writer will use
character and characterization theory by Boggs and representation theory by
Stuart Hall.
C. Research Question
Based on the focus of the study, the problem that appears in this research
7
D. The Objective of the Research
The purpose of this research is to answer the research question that is to
know the representation of princess in Brave movie through Princess Merida’s
characteristics, appearance, and habits.
E. Significance of the Research
The writer does this research to tell people that Disney princess movie
story has changed and dissimilar with the story of classic princess. In other
princess movie, the princess will wait her prince charming to save her life,
otherwise Princess Merida can save her life by herself by choosing not to obey her
mom advise and show her what she want to do in life. This different princess
representation makes this movie unique and fetch the writer to analyze it. The
writer also hopes this research can be useful for the readers especially literature
students who interested in animation movie form Disney and PIXAR production
house and also for better understanding for the writer herself.
F. Research Methodology
1. Method of the Research
Research methodology can be divided in two; quantitative research
and qualitative research. In quantitative research the verification process
uses statistic data and math model, besides qualitative research is not using
numbers, they gives priority to how deep the comprehension to interaction
between the concept being examine empirically. Qualitative research has
five main features; (1) natural setting as a main source and a researcher is
8
analysis inductively; (4) qualitative research is a descriptive research; and
(5) meaning is the essential elements in qualitative research.10
The method that the writer will use is descriptive qualitative.
Because the writer will describe the characteristics, the appearance, and
the habit of Princess Merida in detail and this research is literary research
so this is kind of qualitative research. According to Bahtiar and
Aswinarko11, qualitative research is deputed as a multi method, because
this method involves relevant aspect in social indication. In analyzing this
movie, the writer will use intrinsic approach because character analysis is
one of elements in the story. In doing this research, first the writer watches
the movie several times, second the writer makes notes with mentioning
the characteristics of Princess Merida, then the writer starts to analyze by
looking for the evidences to support her arguments, and relates it to
representation theory by Stuart Hall. The writer uses two sources in this
research. First is Brave movie as the main source. The second is the script
of Brave movie. The last is from books and other source like internet,
journals, and thesis.
2. Technique of the Analysis
The technique that the writer uses to do this research is descriptive
qualitative. First, the writer mentions the characteristics of Princess
Merida. Then, the writer will explain and describe in detail characteristic
of Princess Merida one by one and define how princess represented
10
M. Atar Semi, Metode Penelitian Sastra (Bandung: Angkasa, 2012), pp. 28-32
11
9
through her characteristics. The writer will analyze and describe it
systematically so the reader from this research can fully understand the
analysis that the writer makes. After that, the writer deduces from over all
analysis to answer the problems of study in this research.
3. Unit of the Analysis
Instrument means the tool used to collect data.12 Tools that usually
used for quantitative research to collecting data are so many, but because
this research is literary research and kind of qualitative research, so the
instrument that used for this research is the writer herself by watching the
movie, reading the script, analyzing, describing, and searching other
information that are useful for this research.
5. Time and Place of the Research
The writer accomplished the research in the State Islamic
University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, the library of Letters and
Humanities faculty, the main library on campus and library in another
campus. The writer starts doing this research in 2013.
12
10
6. Research Design
To get clear image of this research the writer divides this research
into four chapters which in every chapter has sub chapter.
Chapter 1 Introduction contains of The Background of the Study, Focus
of The Study, Research Question, Significant of the Study, The Objectives
of Research and Research methodology. The Sub-Chapter contains The
Method of the Research, The Technique of Data Analysis, The Instrument
of Research, The Unit of Data Analysis, The Time and Place of Research,
and Research Design.
Chapter II The Theoretical description contains of Previous Research and
Concept. The Sub chapters contains of the explanation of Character and
Characterization, and Representation theory.
Chapter III Data Findings contains Data Description and Data Analysis.
Chapter IV Conclusion and Suggestion contains Conclusion and
11 CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
In this chapter, the writer will clarify the previous research that used the
same object as the writer does but uses different theory and cite the differences
with the writer analysis. The writer will also describe the theory that used in this
research. The writer uses two theories which are; character and characterization
theory by Joseph M. Boggs and representation theory by Stuart Hall. Furthermore,
to make the reader clear about the differences between Princess Merida and other
classic Disney’s princesses, the writer will also put a classic Disney’s princess
representation in this subchapter. The explanation about all above will be
described on the sub-chapters below.
A. Previous Research
The writer found two journals which discussed about Brave movie. First,
the writer found the journal in the ProQuest. The author of this journal is Kelly
Oliver and the title of the journal is Hunting Girls: Patriarchal Fantasy or
Feminist Progress. This journal compares the old Hollywood fairy tales movies
and the new ones. They describe how the female characters changes attitude in the
movies in recent years. This journal said that movies nowadays showing that girls
are tough, fearless, and can provide as well as a man by showing them hunting.
Oliver explains that in Brave movie, Princess Merida shows active and athletic
princess, who enters man’s world as equals. Things that makes this research
different with the writer does is because Oliver only talks about Brave movie in
12
compared the other princess like Cinderella versus Katniss Everdeen from The
Hunger Games movie and Beauty and the Beast versus Bella Swan from Twilight
movie using gender role theory.
The second journal that the writer found is from University of Indonesia.
The writer is Anniza Rizkita Mulia Putri. The journal entitled Analysis of
Woman’s Roles and Stereotypes, is discussed about the role of Princess Merida
and her mother, Queen Elinor which have more power than King Fergus in Brave
movie. This research is using feminism method in analyzing the movie. The
difference from this journal and the writer’s thesis is, in Anniza journal, she
analyzed Princess Merida’s gender role and stereotype as a woman in general, not
as a princess. She does not mention that Princess Merida was different with
another Disney’s princesses. Besides in this thesis, the writer tells Princess Merida
difference with other Disney’s classic princesses with mentioning what are the
differences. Also, in this research, the writer will use representation theory and
character theory to help the writer seeing how princess represented in the movie.
B. Character and Characterization
1. Character
When we talk about characters in our analyses of movies, we should
consider it as beings have discernible traits, habits, and dispositions and as formal
elements that help develop the story and stories cannot exist if character is
missing.13 It means that character is very important in the story either it is
narrative, like novel and short story, and film. In the story, a character is a person
13
13
created for a work of fiction.14 The story will not work without any figure on it,
because the story must tells about somebody, or something. It means that a
character’s presence plays a big role in the story.
Character in the story must have some habits or attitude that made us
interested in analyzing them. In the movie, if we are interested with the characters,
means that there are possibilities that we will interest to watch the movie until the
end, that is why character plays a big role in the story. According to Barsam15,
character divided into three; (1) Round and Flat character, (2) Major and Minor
(marginal) character, and (3) Protagonist and Antagonist character.
Round character are complex and three dimensional character, they are
unpredictable. Their attitude is different from the beginning of the story until the
end. They can surprise us in convincing way. Otherwise, flat character is one
dimensional character. Their action and motivation is predictable and their attitude
does not change until the end of the story.
Major character is the most important character in the plot because he or
she makes the most things happen or most things happen to them in the story.
Major character can be either a protagonist or antagonist. Protagonist is the central
figure in the story and sometimes referred as a hero, but the hero can be good or
bad. It depends on who he/she struggles with. Besides, minor character plays a
less important role in the overall movie. His function is only to make the movie’s
plot going forward or to fleshing out the motivations of the major characters.
14
Jane Bachman Gordon and Karen Kuehner, Fiction The Elements of the Short Story,
(Columbus: Mc. Graw Hill, 1999), p. 95
15
14
The protagonist character can be a hero, and those heroes can be either
good or bad. It depends on what they oppose or what oppose them. The
protagonist should have clear convictions and well motivated action in doing what
he did. They also are able to change and evolve in response to events and other
character. In the other hand, the antagonist is the opposite of protagonist. He is the
one who provokes the protagonist’s action or reaction. Some story will just tell
about the hero (protagonist) versus villain (antagonist), but sometimes it will more
complicated than that. The antagonist is not always one person. It can be a group
of character, political party, and others.
2. Characterization
Characterization is the process of the actor's interpreting a character in a
movie.16 In other words, characterization is the way character shows or describes
their characteristics in the movie. In literary work, characterization can be seen
through direct and indirect characterization17, but in analyzing a movie we need
more than that. According to Boggs,18 characterization in movie can be divided
into eight ways, they are:
a) Characterization Through Appearance
Appearance hold the big role in the characterization because most of film
actors project certain qualities of character the minute they appear on the
screen. People can see actor's outfit, the way they walk, facial expression,
their clothes, physical build, mannerism, their nature, and that make a
Joseph M. Boggs and Dennis W. Petrie. The Art of Watching Films Seventh Edition.
15
certain opinion about the characters. Even though our first impression of
the character will change through the story progress, but it is an important
means of establishing character.
b) Characterization Through Dialogue
If we watch a movie, we will serve by many dialogues that the actors
played. Dialogue can be occurring with two people or only one person (if
the actor talks to himself). The character’s true thought, attitudes, and
emotions can be revealed in subtle ways through word’s choice and
through the stress, pitch, and pause patterns of their speech. Actor's
dialogue can showed who they are by the choice of word, grammar,
sentence structure, and dialects. It can show the character's class,
economic levels, educational background, and others. The meaning in a
dialogue can reveal meaning not only by what it is said, but also how it is
said.
c) Characterization Through External Action
The character in the movie will be more than instruments of the plot, that
they do something for a purpose, out of motives that are consistent with
their overall personality. However, there should be a strong connection
between a character and what he does.
d) Characterization Through Internal Action
The characters in a story must have something inside them. There is
something that the observer (analyzer) does not know about, that is
16
unspoken thought, daydreams, aspirations, memories, fears, and
fantasies.19 The way filmmaker makes the observer knows about it is by
taking them visually or aurally into the character’s mind so that they see or
hear the things that the character images, remembers, or think about.
e) Characterization Through Reactions of Other Characters
The way other character looks to the main character is also important in
characterization. They can give us some information and also their thought
about the character. They can do it even before the main character appears
in the movie.
f) Characterization Through Contrast: Dramatic Foils
Dramatic foils is one of the effective techniques to characterize the
characters in a movie. This technique is contrasting characters whose
behavior, attitudes, opinion, lifestyle, physical appearance, and so on are
the opposite of those of the main characters.
g) Characterization Through Caricature and Leitmotif
The word Caricature is from the technique used for cartooning.20
Caricature including a physical feature, such as the way a person moves,
voice qualities, and accent. While Leitmotif is the repetition of a single
action, phrase, or idea by a character until it becomes almost a trademark
or theme song for that character.
17
This method is also can be used to see the characterization in the movie.
We can see the character's name from the qualities of sound, meaning, or
connotation.
Barsam21 said that character in the movie, whether round, flat, major,
minor, or marginal, does not necessarily arouse our sympathy. He concludes that
there are several ways to characterize the characters, we can see it: from their
traits, motivations, and actions; from the ways in which a narrator or other
characters describe them; and from the style in which the actors who play them
interpret them.
As narrative movies developed through their history, filmmakers
increasingly left things out of their movies’ characterization, or left them implicit,
or left them to viewers to determine, that it makes the writer needs to analyze it so
we can know the characteristic in the story and what the motive of the character in
doing her actions.
C. Representation
Representation is categorized as one of cultural studies and the concept of
this theory has come to occupy a new and important place in the study of culture.
Representation means using language to say something meaningful about, or to
represent, the world meaningfully, to other people, besides, representation is an
essential part of the process by which meaning is produced and exchanged
18
element for people to communicate each other. By means of representation they
can share ideas and thought in their society.
In brief, representation is the production of meaning through language.23 If
we talked about representation, means that we also worked through language,
because representation is made of meaning and language which is connected.
Language is one of the media through which thought, ideas and feelings are
represented in a culture. Representation through language is therefore central to
the processes by which meaning is produced.24 People can use language, sign, and
images to represent something.
In Oxford English Dictionary, there is two relevant meanings for word
represent, they are (1) to represent something is to describe or depict it, to call it
up in the mind by description or portrayal or imagination; to place a likeness of it
before us in our mind or in the sense; and (2) to represent also means to
symbolize, stand for, to be specimen of, or to substitute for.25
There are two processes or two system of representation. First, there are
systems by which all sort of objects, people and events are correlated with a set of
concept or mental representation which we carry around in our head. Then, the
meaning depends on the system of concept or images formed in our thoughts
which stand for or represent the world.26 It is called system of representation
because it consists, not of individual concepts, but to different ways of organizing,
clustering, arranging, and classifying concept, and of establishing complex
19
around in our head and together they make up the meaning system of our culture.
Any sound, word, image or object which functions as a sign, and organized with
other signs into a system which is capable of carrying and expressing meaning is a
language.28
There are three approaches in representation, which are reflective,
intentional, and constructionist.29 In reflective approach, meaning is thought to lie
in the object, person, idea or event in the real world, and language function is like
a mirror, to reflect the true meaning as it already exist in the world. So the theory
which says that language works by simply reflecting or imitating the truth that is
already there and fixed in the world, is sometimes called ‘mimetic’.
The intentional approach to meaning in representation argues the opposite
case. It holds that it is the speaker, the author, who imposes his unique meaning in
20
representation system, concept, and sign. In this approach we must not confuse the
material world, where things and people exist, and the symbolic practice and
process through which representation, meaning and language operate.
Constructive approach does not deny the existence of the material world,
however, it is not the material world which conveys meaning: it is the language
system or whatever system we are using to represent our concept.30
In this research, the writer uses constructionist approach which makes the
writer not confuse to the material world, so things that the writer analyze all
depend on the language system or whatever system that are used to represent a
concept. The reason in using this approach is because this concept allows the
writer to analyze the movie through every aspect as of to explore more freely and
deeply about the movie.
D. Princess Representation in Disney’s Princesses Movie
The writer found one essay written by Hairyanto untitled Representations
of Females and Femininity in Disney Princess Films31. This essay was stated
some of Disney’s princesses’ representation from their personal characteristic and
physical attribute. The archetypal roles in the early Disney princess movie consist
of the princess, the evil guardian, the fairy god mother and the foils. The
Princesses include Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle and Jasmine. The
Evil Guardians include the evil stepmothers and the wicked witches. The
princesses’ physical attributes of the early Disney Princesses include are
30
Ibid, p. 25
31
Hairianto D., Representations of Females and Femininity in Disney Princess Films,
21
extremely hourglass figures, voluminous hairdos and symmetrical faces, catering
to Western society’s dominant images of beauty as for example is Cinderella and
Princess Aurora, characters from the 1950s, both have blonde hair. This applies to
a character like Jasmine as well, who represented an alluring Oriental exoticism,
highly appealing to the target Western society.
The personal characteristics of the princesses are evident that they share
many similar qualities. First, the princesses are domesticated. Second, provide for
their evil step-sisters or dwarf friends in a very devotedly homely fashion. Third,
they are highly prized by men, presumably for their beauty and domesticity.
Fourth, the princesses’ fathers dote on them, as in the Beauty and the Beast, Little
Mermaid, and Aladdin. They have strong relationships with their fathers without
the presence of a biological mother in any of the movies. Fifth, most of the
princesses are naïve. Sixth, the princesses find themselves in difficult situations
(after being tricked by villains). Seventh, they depend on men to save them. Eight,
the princesses are damsels in distress. Ninth, the princesses have a friendship with
the animals. Tenth, they organically drew to the princesses’ good characters. The
last, they do not have any close female friends, as seen on snow White who
always has her beauty and youth personified. She is loved by men and abhorred
by women, and she is an innocent persecuted heroines.32
32
22
In Rebecca’s33 journal entitled The Princess and the Magic Kingdom:
Beyond Nostalgia, the Function of the Disney Princess also mention that some
princess have seeks to reveal their beauty as stereotype and their good nature as
submissiveness. In Disney’s world it seems so natural that the prince on his white
horse should fall in love at first sight with a girl dressed as a scullery maid who
sings to birds. Snow white is starlet with flapper’s hair cut, rosebud mouth, and
high-pitched warble.34
Furthermore, the princesses’ sexual appeal is the key to setting the premise
and resolution of conflict. For example, Snow White and Cinderella are mistreated
by their jealous stepmothers, but are also eventually rescued from their situations
by princes who are primarily attracted to their beauty. The princesses do not
display much initiative and are portrayed as typical damsels in distress. Their
propensity to be trusting and kind, even to suspicious strangers, as well as their
relatively passive role in determining their own fates seems to imply that what is
desirable in a female is a tender heart of gold as well as a willingness to suffer in
silence.35
In the earlier movies, Snow White and Aurora both fall victim to
villainous plots that plunge them into a deep, death-like sleep, only to be later
woken by an archetypal male rescuer, the prince, who gives them the “kiss of true
love”. This creates the impression that females are powerless figures in need of
33
Rebecca-Anne C. Do Rozario, The Princess and the Magic Kingdom: Beyond Nostalgia, the Function of the Disney Princess, Women's Studies in Communication 2004; 27, 1; Arts & Humanities Full Text, p. 34
34
Ibid, p. 38
35
23
males to give them a new lease of life. This theme of romantic love between the
princes and the princesses is always happening in the movie. Entering a romantic
relationship or getting married is presented as the princesses’ ultimate goal in
attaining happily ever after.
In the modern princess stories, it is evident that they are more empowered
as they can make their own choices and thus decide their fate. Ariel from The
Little Mermaid (1989) makes the choice of trading her voice for a pair of human
legs while Jasmine from Aladdin (1992) willingly seduces Jafar in order to rescue
Aladdin. Also Mulan from Mulan (1998) rejects every aspect of being an ideal
woman in her society and decides to disguise herself as a man to take her father’s
place in army.36 No matter how deviant these later princesses are and have
arguably matured in their independence, their “happily-ever-after” endings are the
same as the earlier princesses’ which is marrying the princes.
36
24 CHAPTER III
RESEARCH FINDINGS
In this chapter, the writer will fully answer and explain the research
question by following the focus of the study that is analyzing the characteristic of
Princess Merida to see how princess represented through her.
A. The Characteristic and Characterization in Princess Merida
Princes Merida has a different characteristic with other Disney’s princess.
It shows from her appearance, attitude, and habit. She would rather climb the cliff
rather than primp in the mirror. The writer found six characteristics of Princess
Merida which are; fearless, care, stubborn, reckless, mature, and responsible. The
writer will explain all her characteristic and the characterization in detail in the
paragraphs below.
Princess Merida is really fearless girl, it shows on her daily activities. She
really likes to ride her horse, goes to forest and does her favorite sport, which is
archery. She is really good at it, but her mom, Queen Elinor does not like it and
forbids her to do that because Merida is a princess. She has to be a feminine girl
just like her mom. The bravery (fearless) of Princess Merida can be seen through
25
Picture 1
[we see Merida waking up, geting dressed, taking her bow and arrows, running downstairs to her horse, Angus, and riding off]
Merida : But every once in a while, there's a day when I don't have
to be a princess. No lessons, no expectations. A day where anything can happen. A day when I can change my fate.
[we see Merida as she riding into the forest, shooting her arrows at different targets, then sitting near the cliff's edge and carves on her bow, then see climbs a rock and when she reaches the top she drinks from the waterfall nearby and the screams and jumps up and down in excitement]
(00:06:52 – 00:08:47)
Princess Merida is an excellent archer as shows in the picture 1 when she
shoots an arrow to the different target, she never miss it and she does it while
riding her horse, Angus. This shows Princess Merida bravery. She could ride a
horse while doing archery at the same time. Furthermore, the text above tells
Princess Merida does not like her life as a princess because she has to have
lessons and expectation. She really loves doing archery but she cannot do it every
time because her mom does not like her being an archer. The text above shows
that there is one day that Princess Merida can be herself and she really enjoys it.
26
Moreover, in picture 2 shows Princess Merida climbs the cliff and drinks
the water from the top of the waterfall, which her father told that only the bravest
kings have done that. She is not afraid of high place and she does that wearing
dress. The movie tells Princess Merida bravery by showing her action in her daily
life in the movie and also her father’s reaction after hearing what Princess Merida
does.
Another bravery that Princess Merida shows is when she defeats the giant
bear Mor’du. When she tries to find a way to change her mom into normal, the
Will O the Whisp37 shows her the ancient kingdom which already abandoned. She
slips into the throne room and then she finds the giant bear watching her, then she
tries to defeat it with her arrow. It shows on the pictures and text below.
Picture 3 Picture 4
Merida : Oh, no! The prince became...
[suddenly she sees the bear come up behind her]
Mor'du!
[the bear goes to attack Merida but she starts shooting arrows at it and it starts chasing after her, Elinor then helps her to escape and they make a run for it]
(01:01:13 – 01:02:04)
37
27
The pictures and text above also shows Princess Merida bravery. She
fights Mor’du, the giant bear to save her life. Princess Merida uses her arrow to
protect herself. The bravery in Princess Merida can be seen in almost the whole
movie.
The bravery in Princess Merida does not only show on her daily activities,
but also in the way she chooses her own path in life as she rejects the betrothal
between her and the princes. Furthermore, Princess Merida does not need mother
fairy or somebody to help her gain her freedom. She fights for what she wants by
herself.
The second characteristic of Princess Merida is that she is a care person.
Even though her three siblings are really naughty boys she still loves them. It
shows when she gives them their favorite cookies at dinner.
Picture 5
The picture above shows Princess Merida offering her three brothers, the
triplets (Harrish, Hubert, and Hamish) their favorite cookies. She does it secretly
without knowing Queen Elinor because she will not let the boys eat cookie at
28
different with Queen Elinor. Queen Elinor will strict to what her kids eat besides
Princess Merida does not care about that stuffs, she just wants her brothers happy.
The caring of Princess Merida also shows when her mom already changes
into a giant bear. Princess Merida and her mom go to the witch cottage to ask the
witch to reverse the curse. It shows in the pictures and text below.
Picture 6 Picture 7
The Witch : One more time. 'Fate be changed, look inside. Mend the
bond torn by pride.' That's it! Ta-ta! Oh, and thank you for shopping at the Crafty Carver!
[and suddenly the witch's ghostly image disappears]
Merida : No! No! Where did you go!
[suddenly the witch's ghostly image appears again and starts giving the same message, Merida starts pouring in all the vials into the cauldron in panic and accidently blows the cauldron and the cottage disappears]
[after the witch's cottage disappears, it starts to rain, Merida builds a shelter for Elinor and turns to her]
(00: 50: 11 – 00: 51: 34)
In picture 6, shows Princess Merida and her mom at the witch cottage. She
tries to find a way to reverse the curse so her mom can change back into human
beings, but they do not find the witch since the witch is on holiday and she will be
back in spring. Princess Merida keeps pouring the veils into the vessel then the
cottage dissolved and disappears. After that, the rain comes and Princess Merida
29
Merida care to her mom. Even though she does not like her mother because she is
always bossy her, she still loves her mom and does not want her mom gets hurt.
Princess Merida never tells her mom that she loves her, instead she shows it by
taking care of her when she becomes a bear.
The care of Princess Merida also shows when she makes breakfast for her
mom and teaches her to catch a fish by herself. It shows on the picture and
dialogue below.
Picture 8 Picture 9
[Merida and Elinor head to a creek and Merida uses her bow to catch a fish]
Merida : Breakfast!
[Merida holds the fish up and Elinor claps]
Oh, wait! A princess should not have weapons, in your opinion.
[Elinor nods in agreement and Merida holds the fish out for Elinor]
There you go. Go on.
[the fish flaps as it's still alive and Elinor turns away in disgust]
How do you know you don't like it if you won't try it?
[Merida then cooks the fish over a fire and Elinor tries to eat with decorum but quickly chomps it down, as Elinor is still hungry Merida then teaches Elinor how to catch fish from the creek and they start bonding]
30
The pictures and text above also show Princess Merida care to her mom.
At that time, her mother’s body already changes into a bear, but deep inside she is
still a human, so when Princess Merida gives her the raw fish she refused it.
Princess Merida has to cook it for her so she can eat it. But because Queen Elinor
eats a lot of fish, Princess Merida asks her to go find fish at the river like the bear
used to do. She teaches her mom to catch the fish so she can eat fish as much as
she wants. At the end, her mom can eat the raw fish by herself and does not need
Princess Merida’s help to cook it. It shows Princess Merida kindness and care to
her mother since she knows that she is the one who makes her mother into a bear.
Through their journey, the bond between her and her mother starts to reestablish.
The movie shows Princess Merida’s caring through her action for taking care of
her mother bear.
The third characteristic of Princess Merida is stubborn. It shows when her
mom tells her that there will be a betrothal between her and the suitors from three
clans and she totally balks it. It shows through the dialogue between Princess
Merida and her mom and also the picture below.
Elinor : The lords are presenting their sons as suitors for your
Elinor : Honestly, Merida! I don't know why you're acting this
way.
This year each clan will present a suitor to compete in the games for your hand.
Merida : I'm the only princess that just does what she's told!
Elinor : A princess does not raise her voice. Merida, this is what
you've been preparing for your whole life.
31
[Merida gets up in anger and starts to walk off]
Merida : I won't go through with it! You can't make me!
Elinor : Merida!
[Merida angrily storms out of the Great Hall to her bedroom]
(00:12:07-00:12:46)
The dialogue above shows Princess Merida anger to her mom because she
does not want being engaged with anybody because she is not ready. She does not
want her mom takes control of her life. She just does what her mom asks her to do
as a good princess. Also, this betrothal is too sudden for her. Princess Merida is
still young and has a big spirit in life, that is why she rejects it. Through the
dialogue above the writer concludes that Princess Merida is stubborn because she
does not listen to her mom and she also gets angry with her.
Picture 10
Princess Merida shows her anger by ripped the tapestry that Queen Elinor
working on to clarify her rebel. This action shows that she is stubborn and will not
listen to her mom. The movie shows the characterization in Princess Merida
32
Princess Merida stubbornness is also showed when the archery game
begins to know who will be the winner that will be Princess Merida’s fiancée. She
takes part the game also to represent her own kingdom by her own hand because
Queen Elinor said that only the first born from each clans can take part in the
game and Princess Merida thinks that she also has right to take the contest since
she is the first born from her family. It shows on the text and pictures below.
Picture 11 Picture 12
Merida : I am Merida, first born descendant of Clan DunBroch.
And I'll be shooting for my own hand!
Elinor : What are you doing?
Merida!
Merida : This dress!
Elinor : Merida, stop this!
Don't you dare release another arrow! Merida, I forbid it!
[at that moment Merida shoot the arrow and hits the center of
the target, splitting young Dingwall's arrow in half] (00:25:56-00:27:11) The text above shows that Princess Merida does not listen to her mom. She
wants to take part in the contest and wins it so she can be free and chooses her
own destiny. She does not listen to her mother as show in the picture 11 when
33
they do not imagine that Princess Merida will do that. Queen Elinor keeps
shouting her to stop of what she does but Princess Merida seems not care and
continue of what she does. In the picture 12 shows Princess Merida is facing her
mom just as if they are an enemy. All that Princess Merida actions show that she
is really stubborn because she does not listen to her mom no matter what. She will
fight for her freedom and does not want her mom controlling her life. She tries to
break the rules of her kingdom to gain freedom in choosing her own destiny. The
stubbornness of Princess Merida shows by her action in refusing the betrothal and
fight for her freedom.
The fourth characteristic of Princess Merida is reckless. When she knows
about the betrothal, she refuses it and argues with her mom that she does not want
being married with anybody. She is mad with her mom and ripped the tapestry
that her mom makes which makes her mom angry and throws Princess Merida’s
bow into fire. This action leads to disunity between them. Princess Merida runs to
the forest and goes to the witch’s cottage. She asks the witch to give her spell to
change her mother. It shows from the picture and dialogue below.
34
Merida : Every carving, and one spell.
The Witch : Are you sure you know what you're doing?
Merida : I want a spell to change my mom. That will change my
fate.
The Witch : Done!
(00:33:38 - 00:33:53) The picture and dialogue above shows Princess Merida recklessness. She
tries to change her fate by asking help from the witch. She wants to change her
fate through instant way by asking the witch to give her spell for her mom. The
witch already asks her whether she is sure with what she asks, but Princess
Merida does not think of the consequences of the spell. It is not easy to persuade
the witch to give her the spell, but finally she gets it. Princess Merida brings the
spell inside a cake without hesitate to her palace.
Picture 14
In picture 14 shows Princess Merida giving the cake from the witch to her
mom, she tells her mom that cake is for peace offering. From her action in
meeting the witch and asks her to give the spell for her mom, the writer concludes
that Princess Merida is reckless princess. She does not think the consequences of
what she does, she just wants the betrothal canceled. Her recklessness can be seen
35
Princess Merida also is reckless when she comes to the witch cottage after
Queen Elinor already changes into a bear, she meets the witch for asking her to
reverse the curse. The witch is at Wickerman Festival in Stornoway at the moment
and she will be back in spring. So, the witch gives Princess Merida message how
to change her mom back through the vial, as seen in the picture below.
Picture 15
The picture above shows Princess Merida is reckless because after hearing
the message from the ‘ghostly imaged’ witch, she is still not satisfied and keeps
pouring another vials into the cauldron which makes the witch’s image coming up
again and again and giving her the same message that the spell will be permanent
in the second sunrise. The witch also gives her clue how to reverse the curse
which reads “Fate be change, look inside. Mend the bond, torn by pride”. Then,
the cauldron blew out and the witch cottage disappears. Through Princess Merida
action, the writer concludes that she is reckless in taking care of her problem.
First, she goes to meet the witch and asked her to give her spell to change her
mom, which makes her mom change into a giant bear. The second, she dissolves
the witch cottage by accident because she is reckless. She should be calm down
36
human. Instead she is pours the vial over and over which makes the witch cottage
explode and disappears.
[Merida and Elinor sneak back into the castle and as they peak into the Great Hall they see that Fergus and the lords are fighting again, Merida tries to stop them and walks into the middle of the room and tells them the story of the ancient kingdom and the selfish prince]
Merida : I have been in conference with the queen.
Lord Dingwall : Is that so?
Merida : Aye, it is.
Lord MacGuffin : Well, where is she, then?
Merida : She, uh..
Lord Machintos : How do we know that this isn’t some trick?
Merida : I’d never…..
Lord Machintos : This is highly irregular.
Lord Dingwall : What are you playing at?
Lord MacGuffin : Where is the queen?
Lord Machintos : We will not stand for any more of this jiggery-
pokery.
Lord Dingwall : That’s right. Let’s see her.
Merida : Shut it!
Well, I, uh..
37
Lord MacGuffin : What is this?
Merida : That kingdom fell into war and chaos and ruin…
Lord Machintos : Och, we’ve all heard that tale. Lost kingdom.
Merida : Aye, but it’s true. I know now how one selfish act
can turn the fate of a kingdom.
Lord MacGuffin : Bah, it’s just a legend.
Merida : Legends are lessons. They ring with truths. Our
kingdom is young. Our stories are not yet legend. But in them, our bond was struck. Our clans were once an enemies. But when invaders threatened us from the sea, you joined together to defend our lands. You fought for each other. You risked everything for each other.Yours was an alliance forged in bravery and friendship and it lives to this day. I've been selfish. I tore a great rift in our kingdom. There's no one to blame but me. And I know now that I need to amend my mistake and mend our bond.
(01:04:15 – 01:07:05)
In picture 16 and 17 show Princess Merida tries to explain and soothes the
lords not to do a war. At first, the lords do not believe her. They thought Princess
Merida is just playing at them, but at the end Princess Merida can calm everybody
down. She tells the story of ancient kingdom which her mom always tells her and
confess that everything happens because of her selfishness. Through this, the
writer concludes that Princess Merida has changed. She is more mature than used
to. She concerns about the bond between the clans rather than her desire. She tries
to fix what she does in the first place and says that she accepts the betrothal, but
before she says it, her mom gives her sign that the betrothal is canceled, it means
that the princes and the princesses can choose their own love in the right time and
place. All the princes agree with that, because in fact they are just doing what their
dads ask them to do and they also do not love Princess Merida. Through this, the
38
Princess Merida’s mature through her action in comforting the lords which makes
her parents proud.
Another proof that Princess Merida is mature is when she tries to change
her mom back into human being at the end of the movie. She puts the tapestry
which she already fix, to cover her bear mother’s body, but nothing changes.
Queen Elinor is still a bear. Then Princess Merida confesses that everything
happens because of her fault and she also declares that she really loves her mom
and wants her back while crying. It shows in the picture and text below.
Picture 18
Merida : The second sunrise!
[she runs and grabs the tapestry that she's mended and throws
it around Elinor, but realizes nothing's happening] Oh, no! I don't understand. I...
[Merida begins to cry and kneels in front of Elinor]
Oh, mom, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I did this to you, to us.
[she tearfully hugs Elinor]
You've always been there for me. You've never given up on me. I just need you back. I want you back, mommy. I love you.
[as the sunrise washes over them, Merida feels her mothers touch on her hair and looks up to see Elinor had turned human again]
39
The picture and text above show Princess Merida regrets of what she does
to her mom and her family. She feels sorry for her mom because Queen Elinor has
to live as a bear for the rest of her life. Since the movie starts it never captures
Princess Merida says that she loves her mom, but in this situation she tells her
mom how much she loves her and she wants her back. This action shows Princess
Merida is mature because she admits that everything happen because of her fault,
she also confesses her true feeling toward her mom which makes her mom change
back into human. Princess Merida mature characteristic can be seen through her
action.
The last characteristic of Princess Merida is responsible. After what she
does in the beginning, she tries to find a way to make everything back into
normal. First, when her mom changes into the bear, she takes the responsibility in
taking care of her mom and finds a way to reverse the curse. The second is when
Princess Merida is deputizing her mom to talk to the three clans about what
happened and she also calms down the lords of the three clans. The third is when
she protects her mom when King Fergus wants to kill her mother because he
thinks that Queen Elinor is Mor’du, it depicts in the pictures below.
40
In picture 19 shows Princess Merida’s mimic in explaining to her dad that
the bear which he wants to kill is his wife. King Fergus does not believe it and he
does not care whether that bear is his wife or not, he will hunt her because he is
the “bear king”. He has a traumatic with a bear because when Merida is still little
girl, he meets Mor’du, the giant bear. He fights that bear and he lost his right leg
because of it. So, whenever he sees a bear, he tries to catch it and kills it to pay his
revenge. King Fergus locks Princess Merida in the bed room but she tries to
escape because if not, her dad will kill her mom. In picture 20, after Princess
Merida succeeds in getting out from her room she directly goes to the forest where
her dad catches her mom. Shows Princess Merida fight her dad because King
Fergus tries to kill her own wife. All that Princess Merida does is because she
feels that she is responsible for what she did and she tries to make everything back
into normal. The movie shows Princess Merida is responsible through her action
in saving her own family and tries to fix everything that she ruins.
From Princess Merida’s entire characteristic above, the writer concludes
that Princess Merida is dissimilar with other Disney’s princesses. The movie tells
the different princess characteristic through Princess Merida by showing her
fearless, care, stubborn, reckless, mature, and responsible action. Through this, the
writer identify that there are three different princess representation seen from
Princess Merida characteristic which will be described in the chapter below.
B. The Representation of Princess Seen from Princess Merida
In several Disney princess movies, a princess tends to have a beautiful
