(link with more pictures)

PERSONALITY OF AURORA (3/3)

This is part three of the personality of Aurora as how I see it when I watch Sleeping Beauty; mostly chronological.

1. link
2. link
3. link
4. link
5. link
6. link
7. link
8. link
9. link
10. Educated and Conscious (about Princess Betrothal)
11. Dutiful
12. Loving
13. Princessly / Queenly

10 EDUCATED and CONSCIOUS (about PRINCESS BETROTHAL)

Aurora instantly not only understands the meanings of being betrothed and marrying a prince, thus showing she is knowledgeable/educated, but also, by her reaction, also consciousness of their importance.

Btw, this section doesn’t mean she’s not also crying for that stranger who she wants to meet. Rather, she’s crying for all those things listed in section 9 Conflicted, and this section is an elaboration on one of them.

10a Educated/knowledgeable

In Aurora’s bedroom - if we look closely - we will see that she has TWO BOOKS! Being the 14th century (a century before Gutenberg’s printing press) not only would books be very expensive and rare but literacy rates were very low - even lower considering her demographic: sixteen, female, peasant.

My theory is that her fairy aunts home-schooled her. I don’t doubt that little girl Aurora would have asked about the castle which she saw and would have asked her aunts wondering questions.

Thus, I believe that Aurora was very well educated (=at least literate) so that she might perform her royal duties both effectively and efficiently.

10b Consciousness of importance about betrothal

Throughout the movie, there are references to how important royal betrothal is:

>"Fondly had these monarchs dreamed one day their kingdoms to unite” (Introductory narration)<

>Stefan: I warn you, Hubert, this means war.
>Hubert: What’s this all about anyway?
>Stefan: Nothing Hubert, absolutely nothing.
>Hubert: The children are bound to fall in love with each other.

>Hubert: “Give up the throne, the kingdom, for some, some nobody? By Harry, I won’t have it. You’re a prince, and you’re going to marry a princess!”<

Like others of that time, I believe that educated Aurora would have been conscious of what being a princess means. She would know that the royal marriage would be an alliance involving politics, economics, and peace between the two kingdoms. An alliance which effects not only them, or their subjects, but also future generations.

She has shown to be wondering/thoughtful about love, so I don’t see why she wouldn’t be wondering/thoughtful about how important it betrothal is. Without her fulfilling her role as princess, and as future queen, there is, and will be, an evident gap in the kingdom(s)

11 DUTIFUL

>Flora: This one last gift, dear child for thee, the symbol of thy royalty. A crown to wear in grace and beauty, as is thy right, and royal duty.<

Aurora is dutiful because she is doing what she is obligated to do as princess by being betrothed. And I think it’s dutiful rather than obedience by doing what the fairies ordered her to do.

11a Becoming a Princess

Firstly, logistically, she couldn’t even be a princess unless she returned and reclaimed her princess birthright. But more than that, to be more than just a princess in name she would have to uphold what a princess is bound to do. Because she is educated and conscious about betrothal, she knows how socially, politically, and legally important acting as a princess is.

Thus, she prioritizes the legitimate concerns and considerations of the kingdom before her own. She may be conflicted and she may be crying but never does she delay, ignore, let alone deny or minimize the responsibilities of being born a princess. She goes to the palace that evening for the wedding.

By going along with the betrothal, she will be showing to her subjects that she is faithful and loyal to her kingdom’s traditions and norms. Thus, to them, she would be worthy of trust and respect, even honor. This act of duty, in itself, shows to me that she would be a great princess.

11b Ceasing being a Peasant

She tries to have a brave face but she cries, again, because she is conflicted. She hasn’t yet emotionally given up on the stranger and her previous desires of rebellion… but, she has enough mental and emotional discipline over her rebellious peasant fantasy of meeting a dream prince to follow through with the betrothal

She is again responsible because she is not carelessly running away with the stranger she was developing a romance for. To do this a sixteen, when she’s practically an adult anyways, shows that she is very mature because she is prioritizing the reality of her princess situation

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By being betrothed, she is showing utmost tenderness: selflessness/altruism for the welfare of her people. Dignified Aurora teaches that you don’t need to rebellious or violent or a tomboy to be a heroine, rather, you can be a heroine by being responsible, selfless, and loving.

12 LOVING

No resentment for anything in the past: having been separated from her parents at birth; having been deprived of her royal princess birthright for sixteen years; having been raised in near-isolation (if not for her fairy aunts and animal friends); having never known what danger she was constantly in… Loving Aurora forgives and forgets such things and meets her parents with open arms…

…and her father-in-law with a kiss.

(Previously, as a peasant, she had expressed authentic surprise and joy at a new dress and a cake. Now, as a princess, she shows the same appreciation)

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13 PRINCESSLY / QUEENLY

She moves with such composure and poise. She behaves with elegance and refinement. And she speaks with such sophistication.

Rarely do I think of any other Disney Princess who conveys, not just in looks but in manner as well, the air of a graceful princess/queen