The Little Mermaid Analysis

Ursula is a large-bodied sea monster who refuses to concede with the traditional physique of women that is determined by the male gaze, reflecting that anyone who refuses to appease the male gaze is villainized. Ursula, an obese sea-witch, is the main antagonist in The Little Mermaid. She is the former queen of the sea who makes a living off of performing spells on “Poor Unfortunate Souls” to make them fit into society. Eventually, the cost for this procedure is the life of the mermaid, which gives Ursula what she desires most: power. In one scene, Ariel visits Ursula’s lair to try and become human to meet Eric, the human she has “fallen in love” with. Ursula’s lair is grotesque and, to some scholars, represents the female form. One of these scholars, Trites, notes how “Ursula 's palace is entered through the mouth opening of a skeletal animal, and the swimming entrant must traverse the long neck of the animal before penetrating the womb-like inner chamber where Ursula resides. In the rear of this inner chamber is a conch shell, its lips spread open to reveal a gaping hole leading to some unknown place. This gynophobic image is a grotesque parody of the female anatomy.” In return for gaining the ability to become human and meet Eric, Ariel gives Ursula her voice. This transaction itself is incredibly sexist, as Ariel is giving up a part of her to get a chance at love. Perhaps more sexist, though, is that she gives her voice to another female character who is purposefully