Category: Rapunzel

Not only is it a fairy-tale or a fantasy but the legendary movie Tangled touched the hearts of many. The Disney animation is perfect for those who accept in the stereotypical view of gender, where men are men seen as heroes and lifesavers and the females are portrayed as the goddess princesses. The directors of tangled Byron Howard and Nathan Greno kept the absurdity as the main element of the movie to keep their audience entertained, amused and fascinated with music, plot twists and bright colours. However, no fantasy movie is complete without a villain, just like snow white and Cinderella the villain in Tangled is the main characters own mother, or so we think that she is.

We as the audience know the main plot, the fact that Rapunzel, a naive and young girl, is locked up by her overly protective mother. Her wish to escape into the world outside finally comes true when she meets the good-hearted thief, Flynn.

The princess uses her distinctive quality – her extensive, prepossessing, glossy, smooth hair. Her beautiful long blonde hair attracts many viewers, dedicated to a nationwide collection of viewers, genders and ages. long hair is seen as a gender stereotype. Men have short hair while women have long, men are sturdy while women are reliant- during the movie we often see that the princess spends all day combing and grooming her hair because of the unique length. This is targeted as a strong point for gender stereotypes and roles. The princess herself is called ‘Rapunzel’. The princesses name used to be the title of the ever-loved story book and movie however was rebranded and renamed by Disney to ‘Tangled’ as it was too gender orientated, as after the market research showed that boys do not like movies with girl’s names in the titles.

Why would you choose to miss out the incredible opportunity to watch Tangled? What could be worse? Not only is it something that people love, but during the movie you essentially drift away from reality – an escape, an escape into the fantasy world. Where its normal to see a flying horse, its normal to see towers and unicorns.

Donna Murphy who plays Gothel is portrayed as a wicked, ancient, hag does an incredible job at keeping a pretty face within the fairy tale. Her musical aspect brought the movie into its main element, as not to mention it is a movie with music and bright lights.

Tangled isn’t just a movie for people of all age and gender but again it escapes you into creativity. The moral of the movie is not ever let anything hold you back from achieving greater things. It’s about taking chances and taking risks. Tangled won’t disappoint its audience. Its cute theatrical songs sung by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi will put a smile on anyone’s face.

People love the movie Tangled as it sets a scene it wants people to believe in themselves and push themselves to their limit. Rapunzel believes in following her dreams and she encourages others to pursue their passions, too.

Rapunzel lives in the tower with her mother and her best friend Pascal. Pascal the chameleon is the most adorable sidekick we’ve ever seen. He’s also a loyal and protective friend who isn’t afraid to express his honest opinions, which we really admire about him. Rapunzel shows her relationship with her pet and best friend as she doesn’t see much from the outside world being close to her pet is the only think she has hope for and keeps her occupied from taking her chances of escaping into reality against her mother’s will and wishes.

After Rapunzel escapes with Flynn and reunites with her parents its heart-warming and emotional to see how she gets along with her biological mother and father. Many viewers say that Rapunzel’s long hair is a metaphor for the long life that she has ahead of her. When she hugs her father, you can really see that the emotion is just there even after being separated from them for so many years. It just goes to show that happily ever after are real, and they do exist.

Eugene Fitzherbert, aka Flynn Rider, portrays his love for Rapunzel with cupcakes as he knows that’s something that makes them both happy. Tangled isn’t just a movie with ambition, aspiration and happiness, but it demonstrates a positive attitude towards relationships.

Plot

Rapunzel is a famous fairy tale that tells the story of a young woman with incredibly long hair locked away in a tower by a wicked sorceress. The plot revolves around her life in captivity and her eventual escape with the help of a brave prince.

The tale begins with Rapunzel’s parents, who long for a child but are unable to have one. They live next door to a sorceress who grows a special type of lettuce, known as Rapunzel, in her garden. The pregnant mother craves this lettuce, and her husband steals some from the sorceress’s garden to satisfy her craving. This act angers the sorceress, and as punishment, she demands that the couple give their child to her when it’s born.

True to her word, the sorceress takes the baby girl, whom she names Rapunzel after the lettuce her mother craved. As Rapunzel grows, her hair becomes incredibly long and beautiful, making her a prisoner in the tower where the sorceress keeps her. The sorceress visits Rapunzel by climbing up her long hair.

Rapunzel’s life is monotonous and lonely until a brave prince happens upon the tower. He hears Rapunzel singing, and her melodious voice captivates him. He discovers how to access the tower by calling out the words, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.” Thinking it’s the sorceress, Rapunzel lets down her hair, and the prince climbs up.

The prince and Rapunzel fall in love, and he visits her frequently. They make plans to escape, but their secret meetings are discovered by the sorceress. In her anger, she cuts off Rapunzel’s long hair and banishes her to a remote wilderness.

Separated from her prince, Rapunzel gives birth to twins, a boy and a girl, in the wilderness. The prince, heartbroken, continues to visit the tower but is devastated when he is met by the sorceress, who reveals Rapunzel’s fate. He is blinded by thorns and wanders the wilderness for years in despair.

In a twist of fate, Rapunzel and the prince are eventually reunited. Her tears of joy restore his sight, and they return to the prince’s kingdom with their children. They live happily ever after.

Origin and Development

Rapunzel’s origins can be traced back to German folklore. The most famous version of the tale was recorded by the Brothers Grimm in their collection of folktales, “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” first published in 1812. However, the story existed in various forms across different cultures long before the Grimm’s’ rendition.

In earlier versions of the story, such as Giambattista Basile’s “Petrosinella” (published in 1634), the protagonist is also named after a plant, but in this case, it’s parsley. The basic elements of a captive maiden with long, magical hair and a prince who rescues her remain consistent in most variations.

The Brothers Grimm’s version, titled “Rapunzel,” added depth to the story by exploring themes of love, deception, and redemption. Their collection of folktales played a significant role in preserving and popularizing this and many other classic fairy tales.

Cultural Legacy

Rapunzel’s influence extends far beyond the realm of storytelling. The themes and motifs found in the tale have permeated various aspects of culture and art. Rapunzel’s story has left an indelible mark from literature to visual arts and even psychology.

In literature, the character of Rapunzel has been reimagined and integrated into numerous works. Retelling and adaptations often explore the psychological aspects of her captivity, shedding light on the emotional toll of isolation. Authors have used her character to delve into themes of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of love.

Visual artists have drawn inspiration from Rapunzel’s iconic long hair and the tower setting. Paintings, illustrations, and sculptures have depicted her in various forms, often emphasizing her flowing tresses as a symbol of beauty and femininity. These artistic interpretations have added depth and dimension to the tale’s visual representation.

The realm of psychology welcomes Rapunzel’s story amidst other fairy tales. With Rapunzel syndrome, we now refer to a situation where swallowing one’s locks brings digestion complications. How Rapunzel’s tale has affected our collective awareness is evident in this unlikely link with a medical issue.

Popular culture has been influenced by Rapunzel beyond the confines of the arts and sciences. Appealing to the youthful and mature alike, the character has been incorporated into assorted products. Iconic images that feature these qualities (beauty, strength, transformation) are typically linked to this person.

Rapunzel’s allure has been replicated at amusement parks and other venues. With Rapunzel’s universe expanded across various Disney-themed amusement parks, fans can experience it firsthand. These attractions give life to the magic of the narrative, enabling visitors to partake in their unique journey.

Recent years have seen Rapunzel’s story undergo changes through live adaptation and retelling approaches. New perspectives on old stories come alive through these reworked adaptations, breathing fresh life into timeless tales. Throughout generations, Rapunzel has remained a cherished entity in the realms of tale-spinning and performance art.

Conclusion

Rapunzel is a famous fairy tale character. She has super long hair and lives in a tall tower because an enchantress put her there. A prince hears her singing and rescues her. They fall in love and overcome many challenges that come along the way.

Rapunzel’s magical hair is a big part of the story. It helps her escape and shows how special she is. The whole story is much more than just a fairy-tale love story. It teaches us about bravery, finding yourself, and love.

People love Rapunzel’s story because it is about hope and not giving up. Her long hair is a symbol of her beauty and strength. She is a role model for many, showing that we can face tough times and still find happiness.

Rapunzel’s cultural legacy extends beyond entertainment; it serves as a reminder of the enduring power of storytelling. The tale’s ability to capture universal themes of love, hope, and resilience ensures its relevance across generations. Her remarkable resilience and steadfast determination see Rapunzel embark on an arduous trek from bondage to emancipation, leaving a lasting impression on people everywhere…

Extending beyond the boundaries of fables and folktales, Rapunzel’s account forms an integral aspect of society’s collective cultural identity. Throughout history, the resilience of stories such as Rapunzel’s demonstrates the limitless reach of creativity, as they continue to captivate audiences regardless of cultural context or temporal distance. Rapunzel’s rich history continues unabated, courtesy of interpretations that transform her into an iconic emblem of resilience, splendor, and innovation, as evidenced by her golden tresses.

Have you ever wondered why almost in every book there’s a prince that saves the day in a bad random situation that comes out of nowhere? Have you ever wondered if the princess in the movie could save herself without any help? If so than this is your type of blog, this blog will be about Tangled and if Rapunzel the princess from the movie could be saved from the tower and from the evil mother Gothel without the help from Flynn Rider this is part of my third argument.

Have you ever noticed how in almost every single Disney movie the ugly person is the villain? Why are the villains always so ugly stereotypes as in this movie the villain is a 283-year-old ugly witch. Who managed to stay alive using a magical flower with the magic of the sunshine. However, the queen got sick and they used all of the flowers to heal the queen to keep her alive and healthy. Mother Gothel, was very jealous and knew that Rapunzel the daughter of the queen would have the magical powers. Gothel then stole Rapunzel and used her magical hair to stay alive and look young. This is bad and shows that the villain is very ugly as Mother Gothel literally kidnapped a young princess for over eighteen years just to stay alive and to not become old or ugly. Mother Gothel also wears darker colours and a dark black hood so everybody knows that she is the villain. Even when Rapunzel realises that Gothel isn’t her real mother and that she has been kidnapped she’s still sad when she dies because she has stayed with her and admired her for her whole life.

Why did the princess need a prince to just come in and save her? Couldn’t she have just climbed out the window? That is an important question that many people have asked while reading Tangled. Why did she need the prince for Rapunzel to escape and could she have killed Mother Gothel without the help of Flynn Ryder? This is a bad and sexist stereotype as in Tangled and in fairy takes, the princess always need’s a prince to come in right when they’re in trouble and then they fall in love later. This stereotype is offensive as Rapunzel could have easily left the tower without the help from Flynn, such as when Flynn Ryder broke into Rapunzel’s tower when she was home alone, Rapunzel trapped Flynn into a chair using her hair and a frying pan. Flynn had a pocketknife and still couldn’t escape until Rapunzel finally let him go. Rapunzel could’ve done a similar thing to this when she found out that Gothel isn’t her real mum and could’ve easily trapped her or killed her.Rapunzel the main character in Tangled, is popular and is and the prince, all the animals and even the villain love her because she is beautiful and has magical powers. If she didn’t have all of the magical powers and wasn’t known as a young beautiful princess who everybody loved than Flynn wouldn’t have fallen in love with her. Basically, author is saying that the prince only fell in love with Rapunzel for her magical powers and she looks instead of her personality. She is also very young as in Tangled, Rapunzel is 18 years old whereas Flynn Rider is 26 years old, so one of the other reasons for why Flynn Rider might of fell in love with Rapunzel is because she is young.

So, these are all of the reasons for why I think that Tangled is a bad role-model towards little children. As well as why I think that there is a place for new fairy tales that don’t follow these offensive and sexist stereotypes.

Have you ever wanted to give up in life and just quit, well I have Have you ever loved something so much that you’d die for, but then it all gets taken away? This is the time I lost my friends, house and my passion, all in one year.

In 2015 I was in elementary school in the 5th grade I loved to play the violin and there were different levels, or how advanced you were at play. I wanted to get the black string because I was three levels away from getting it. Sadly, my life was taking a different route, still, in elementary before me getting ready to move I lived with my mom, and my middle sister until she moved out nine months after my sister moved out three months later my mom met this man. That man was my school crossing guard but he’d later be my new stepdad. So my mom and Mr. Craig (the step-dad) got married and it was moving time, honestly from the bottom of my heart I did not want to leave. So i tried to at least asked my mom to reconsider moving so fast because he really didn’t want to bond with me and we didn’t have anything in common so why would I want this man to be my step-dad, so I finally asked my mom to not marry Mr. Craig but she said she still said she wanted to get married. Then I asked could they at least date for a little while longer but she insisted to get married so I just stopped trying. Now at this time I started my second semester of 5th grade and I went to Caraway Intermediate, I still remember my mom going up registering me in and I hated her for not listening to me because I felt all my friends, all these memories I left behind I was extremely depressed and my social life showed for it. I just went to school and did my work nothing more or less, I barely even talked to my teachers, then my situation got even worse. The bullying started the second week of me there, not even a full month, at this point I’m depressed and I was never suicidal I just felt like I had no purpose. Now fast-forwarding to 6th grade I moved school again, and this school was a little bit better than Caraway but still the bullying happening and I have at least three or four friends I was a little bit happier now. Now my stepdad still hasn’t taken the time to try and bond and I’m ok with that but have you ever told someone something like advice and they not listen? Well that happened to my mom her and my stepdad started arguing, over little stuff like food or the tv and not being rude I would sit there and laugh because it’s like I told you so moment. One day we were on the way to my aunt’s house and she sat there and vented to me about why she married him she claims she got with him so I could have a male figure in my life and I felt like she was trying to say it was my fault. So that hurt and offended me because I told you not to marry him then she throws that up in my face? How dare you, so now my mom is unhappy and were all in one house just there we don’t talk or nothing. Now the fighting continued and I just learned to tune them out and focus on myself now in 10th grade I am happy with honestly everything.

One of my favorite movies Tangled also talks about courage because all Rapunzel wants to do is go outside of her castle to see floating lights. But her step-mother doesn’t want her to leave and fulfill her dreams, Rapunzel doesn’t know that her “mother” actually kidnapped her because she had magical long hair. Rapunzel later grows up and begins to get curious and tried many times to escape but her mother (kidnapper) would not let her. One day while she was trying to escape again she met a man (Flynn Rider), Tangled starts to get an idea she forced Flynn to help her escape the castle to go see the floating lights. But in exchange she would have to give him his crown back, Now time to escape the have a few struggles trying to pass the “mother” up. They finally escape the castle, Flynn gets curious about Rapunzel long hair she tells him that it’s magical. While she tells him that they arrive and Rapunzel got to the castle and she saw the floating lights on her 18th birthday. But something crazy happened at the floating lights it revealed that she was the missing princess and her “mother” had been lying to her. ‘Mother” reveals that her real name is Mother Gothel and while she and Rapunzel are arguing she stabs Flynn and she believes he’s dead, while Rapunzel is crying over Flynn’s Mother Gothel cuts her hair and she loses all her magic. While Mother Gothel is being cocky because she took Rapunzel’s magic Flynn wakes up and kills Mother Gothel, Rapunzel goes back to the king where the light floating was and reunites with her parents. Everyone in the kingdom is extremely happy because she has come back from the dark and while all of this is happening Rapunzel and Flynn confesses to each other along the way they have feelings for each other and decide to get married, and they live as happy as they could be.

Music plays an important role in films. Often music aids the setting of the tone for a film and grants the audience insight into the internal states of the main characters as well as clues towards the directionality of the plot in general. The Disney film Tangled (2010) directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard and with music composed by Alan Menken takes an interesting direction with its use of music. Although including some musical numbers, as is typical in Disney films, the soundtrack is much more limited in the number of diegetic songs it has than previous Disney films, relying more on an instrumental underscore. The musical numbers that are included are also of a different style than a traditional Disney “princess” film. Rather than following a “loud” Broadway style or a grand orchestral design, Menken takes the approach of incorporating contemporary pop trends such as the use of a steel string guitar. In an interview mentioned in the Los Angeles Times article “The Songwriters: From Tangled to Burlesque” by Todd Martens, Menken states that “‘marrying the contemporary tone of the book to a classic Disney fairy-tale score was a challenge’” (Martens). This is because films of this style (animated and as a musical), did not typically utilize the pop genre. However, this contemporary style is seen in the song, “When Will My Life Begin,” which is one of the focal points of the film Tangled (2010). The song was written by Glenn Slater and music director Alan Menken and is seen following the title screen for Tangled (2010) (dir. Nathan Greno, Byron Howard and music by Alan Menken). This song directs and amplifies the personal growth of Rapunzel by manipulating the structure of the song’s lyrics, the rhythmic patterns used, and by using this song as a leitmotif throughout the film; because of these musical choices, the audience can better connect with the film and become emotionally invested in the story.

The circular and repetitive nature of the lyrics in “When Will My Life Begin” establishes Rapunzel’s starting mindset at the beginning of the film. In the fourth stanza of the lyrics, Rapunzel sings that during the day she’ll “reread the books,” “paint the walls some more” and that she is “stuck in the same place [she’s] always been” (Menken and Slater). These words emphasize that Rapunzel’s options for daily activities are extremely limited. In fact, they are so limited that she must repeat the same activities she has already completed that very day. This reveals to the audience the environment in which Rapunzel lives, suggesting she must be bored with her current lifestyle. The song then continues on to address the fact that before Rapunzel finishes her day she must “brush and brush, and brush and brush [her] hair” while “stuck in the same place [she’s] always been” (Menken and Slater). This repetition paired with the latter phrase reveals Rapunzel’s frustration with her life. She feels trapped and is longing for more. A similar pattern of repetition and circular phrasing in the lyrics appears again when Rapunzel sings that she’ll keep “wonderin’ and wonderin’ and wonderin’ and wonderin’, when will [her] life begin” (Menken and Slater). This last section is also paired with specific imagery of circles as her hair falls about her in concentric circles. Paired with this imagery, the lyrics in this song indicate that Rapunzel is tired of her life as it is and feels she is getting nowhere in her life. This suggests that she will actively seek to change this and that this is what the film will follow. “When Will My Life Begin” also manipulates the rhythmic patterns of the verses to draw in the audience and give them insight into Rapunzel’s state of mind. The song starts with a very steady rhythm set by the strumming patterns of guitars and is eventually accompanied by another steady drum beat. This rhythm continues throughout the song all the way up to the last stanza of the song. The steadiness of the beat helps the audience see the monotony of Rapunzel’s life. Nothing in her life changes and every day feels the same. Again, the song despite its peppy nature, suggests a sense of boredom and lack of purpose. The lyrics Rapunzel sings also follow a steady rhythm although slightly quicker than the underlying beat and slightly more variant as well. Her voice is not as slow as the strumming or the drum and is not quite as steady. This suggests that although Rapunzel is stuck in this lifestyle, she is ready for more and is trying to make the most out of the opportunities she has within her tower. She is full of energy and youth that is being suffocated by this lifestyle. This aids the audience in empathizing with Rapunzel and also helps them become familiar with the character. The last stanza of the song lets go of the rhythm both in the underlying instrumentation and in her voice. Instead, the song transforms into a soft ballad style as Rapunzel sings about going to visit the lights she sees in the sky. By choosing to soften the song at this moment, Menken and Slater are able to create a release from the rest of the song. This represents Rapunzel’s release from her daily life by daydreaming about the lanterns. This also indicates that the solution to being trapped in her current lifestyle is to leave her tower. In this way, the rhythm of the song propagates the narrative of the story and helps the audience better understand Rapunzel and her journey.

“When Will My Life Begin” is also used as a leitmotif throughout the film, revealing Rapunzel’s personal transformation. Following the title screen, the song begins in its original form as the audience follows her through a typical day. By introducing the song in its full version at the beginning of the movie at the same time Rapunzel and her goals are introduced, extra significance is added as the audience learns what this song means, as it is linked to Rapunzel and her dreams. Because of this choice the audience may now notice Rapunzel’s growth when the tune reappears in any form throughout the film. The song reappears a second time in a “reprise.” This occurs when Rapunzel makes the decision to disobey her mother and leave the tower she has lived in her whole life. Although the lyrics of the song have changed and other slight changes are made to the rhythm and melody, the main idea of the song remains the same in structure and sound. This allows the audience to recognize this song and recognize the impact of Rapunzel’s decision and what this decision means for the characters and the storyline. Rapunzel has begun her journey by making an active decision to pursue her dreams rather than remaining in the tower as she always has. The use of the song here clues the audience into the fact that a main event for the theme of personal growth and transformation has occurred. The melody of this song also can be heard towards the end of the film when Rapunzel meets her parents with Eugene. Although there are no lyrics, the melody remains recognizable. The use of the melody emphasizes that Rapunzel has completed her journey and has found a solution to the problem outlined in the first version of the song, that she is stuck in a life of monotony. She has found love both in Eugene and her parents, and can now move onto another dream. By being placed in this section of the film, this melody helps the audience recognize that the conflict of the film has resolved and that Rapunzel has made a full transformation. The audience can see that Rapunzel has made a large shift in her lifestyle and personal perspective and has grown as a person. Conclusion: Music is vital to films and their narratives. Tangled (2010) is a film that relies heavily on music to keep the audience engaged and to carry the narrative. Although making nods to films of the traditional classical hollywood model by aiding in narrative cueing, continuity of scenes, and signifying emotion as described by Claudia Gorbman in her book “Classical Hollywood Practice: The Model of Max Steiner,” the music of Tangled (2010) is also contemporary and modern. As was popular at the time it was made, this film utilizes steel string guitars and a pop style of music to help make a traditional and classic fairytale more modern. This is just one of the ways in which music affects the film. The music of this film also sets the emotional tones of scenes and gives perspective into characters’ internal conflicts and struggles, helping the audience to understand why each character behaves in the way they do. As in Tangled (2010), music is used throughout the world of film to engage audiences. Whether a director or composer wishes to make an audience feel a specific emotion or whether to transform a setting or environment, music is the key to creating a cohesive work of art between a storyline, emotion, and the audience.