Disney Princess Article: Why Merida Needs More Love

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posted by Annabethandco

As I was creating my icons for Team Merida, I realised exactly why I loved this girl. As a result, I decided to write an article with 5 reasons why everybody should love Merida/Brave

1. Brave was the first Pixar film that had a female protagonist.

Pixar is a hugely successful company, but it took about 8 years since they first started making films for them to make a movie where the main character was a girl. Before Brave was made, I was slightly annoyed at Pixar - most of it's films didn't even pass the Bechdel test. I love Brave because it finally featured an awesome female character.

What do you mean it took 8 years to have a female protagonist? That's so dumb!

2. Merida is a great role-model, just the same as some of the other girls

Perhaps Merida isn't your first thought when it comes to good role-model. A lot of people call her "spoilt" and "a brat". However, stop to think about it. There is something in Merida's life that she doesn't like, so she makes a HUGE effort to change it. She doesn't just accept a bad fate. There are millions of teenagers in abusive or bad situations and Merida can act as a perfect role-model to show teens they can change their life!

Yes. Always.

3. Merida is the first princess with brothers

I have ALWAYS wished for a princess film that showed an accurate portrayal about the brother/sister relationship. And while Brave didn't have much of a focus on the four siblings, at least it was a start. I WANT MORE PRINCESSES WITH BROTHERS

More brothers please!

4. Merida is the first princess who didn't end up with a love interest.

I guess to some people this would not seem very significant, but I feel it is very important that girls see that a princess doesn't have to eventually end up with a prince/love interest. You don't need a man to live happily ever after. Brave teaches girls that life is about finding yourself, not romantic love.

I don't need no man

5. Merida gets a lot of unfair criticism

As mentioned earlier, Merida is often (unfairly) called a spoiled brat because of the way she reacts when she finds out she is being forced into marriage. But, realistically,how would you feel if you were sixteen and looking forward to studying at university so you can go and live your dreams. Suddenly, your parents tell you none of that is going to happen and you have to give up your dreams and get married. Any arguement you make is completely ignored. Oh, and by the way, you have no choice in who you marry and your husband is a complete stranger who you have never spoken too. I'm guessing any sane person would react the same way Merida did.

Let's see you give up your freedom!

That concludes this article. I would really be interested to hear your thoughts.

emerald_32, RoseOfRapunzel and 7 others like this

Silverrose1991 Merida has gotten lots of love in this spot recently. She's one of the most popular princesses now: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/disney-princess/articles/229990/title/fanpops-favorite-disney-princesses-february-2014 Anyway, I think Merida was spoiled and selfish at the beginning, but I also think she grew and matured. And that she had every right to freak out at the prospective of an arranged marriage.

prussiaducky YEs I agree, also the fact that she changes in development DRASTICALLY yet very realistically! She doesn't lose herself, yet becomes more mature and finds her own happily ever after with her family. I love the whole emphasis and realism with the mother and daughter relationship, and much more when it comes to Merida

randarful I don't hate Merida, I do really like her because she does bring a lot to the franchise. Though I find that she's a combination of a lot of princesses and she undeservedly gets praised as the first "fill in the blank" which I don't appreciate. Merida's not the first to be without a love interest - that would be Pocahontas. Also, Jasmine gets criticized as "spoilt" and "bitchy" even when she's in a very similar position (which I feel is very unfair). I still think she's a great character though.

Annabethandco I'm pretty sure Pocahontas does get a love interest - two in fact. Rolfe or Smith, take your pick

disneygirl7 I love Merida, but she actually has been getting so much love lately.

TheFabulousFAN I agree so much. Yes, people can hate Merida but I think at the end she changes for the better and makes better efforts to please her mother as well. She was a selfish brat at first but matured out of it. That's why I love her :)

randarful Pocahontas doesn't end up with a John Smith though. I'm also not counting the sequels because they're not exactly canon.

Annabethandco Still, Pocahontas has a love interest that she was very romantically involved with. Merida doesn't.

CRaZy_rawR I love her bunches. I just have no room for her higher up on my list. :c Same with Ariel!

MalloMar You made some very good points! I adore Merida. :) Awww, FabFAN admitting she loves Merida. ;) Anyway, incredible article!

purplerose17 Let's give this girl a standing ovation, am I right! You made excellent points, some of which I hadn't even thought of myself. Your commentary was really funny, too!

TheFabulousFAN @Persephone713 how are Facts False? Ariel is ok, but I think you just dislike Merida anything nice someone says about her you bring up Ariel. And how she deserves more love. Sorry but you can't change people's minds.

Tygers_Eye Persephone: Funny how you call Merida a brat for resisting having every minute of every day monitored, planned and scheduled, having her every word and action constantly corrected by her mom, and being forced to marry a complete stranger before she's even ready for marriage. If your parents constantly hovered over your shoulder, constantly told you how you could and couldn't be, and told you one day that you're going to marry your neighbor's eldest child, would YOU just smile and say, "When's the date?! :D" Also funny how you call Merida a brat but heap pity and praises on Ariel for having plenty of free time as long as she makes the occasional rehearsal and concert, can go where she wants as long as it's not the surface, and marry whoever she wants as long as it isn't a human. She has complete freedom in all but a few aspects of her life, while Merida has no freedom except for one day "every once in a while," and even that is short-lived as her mom decides to marry her off. Oh, and I find it very inconsistent that you praise Ariel for "chasing a dream and being proactive" but accuse Merida of just being bratty. Why is Ariel going after what she wants being "proactive" but Merida going after what she wants just being a brat? You said [b]Because many people on here are picking at Ariel to much and backing up their opinions of not liking Ariel with facts that are false.[/b] a) Facts are, by definition, not false. b) Annabethandco didn't mention Ariel at all in this article, let alone start "picking at her." Annathandco simply argues that Merida doesn't get enough appreciation for her own merits. c) Many of us support our opinions with evidence from the film. If anything, you seem to be the one who doesn't support your opinions with evidence. You throw around really vague claims like "Merida acts like a brat, IMO" say she doesn't learn, but don't explain why. You're allowed to have whatever opinion you want, honestly. But if you want people to take your claims seriously, you NEED to back them up with specific examples from the films.

Tygers_Eye By the way: Anabethandco, I love your article. =) I do agree with many of the points you made. I'm growing to like Merida more and more, I think she has more virtues than many people give her credit for, and I think she deserves more recognition for her good points. In fact, I'd be willing to take it a step further and say that I find it a tad hypocritical that a lot of the same actions and traits that many people condemn in Merida they excuse, forgive, or praise in others. But I've harped on that enough, and that isn't even the focus of this article. Ayway, great job. =)

FrozenQueen Agreed.

Annabethandco Thanks guys :)

truth76 I don't need no man- correct it. [i] I don't need a man[/i] The article was amazing!

Annabethandco ^Um it was done that way on purpose ;) You know, to imitate an accent?