In this way, the Disney princes were built from a pattern that time changed and each character evolved, some even came to question their own traditional masculinity.
silent heroes
The first Disney princes were characterized by not giving big speeches, in fact, they were recognized rather for their inner heroism that led them to save women in distress. Furthermore, the motive for action was always the romantic love he felt and that gave him the power to face everything.
Florian, Snow White’s prince, was the first male human character to appear on the big screen during 1937 and like other princes, he is characterized by bravery, strength, and determination. Because of his name he is not so well known, and for that reason, the song “My prince will come” was dedicated to him, that is, his character is a concept about male heroism.
Over the years, the Disney princes gained personality, just like Prince Charming in “Cinderella in 1950. However, the profile that surrounds them continues to be that of looking for a “good wife and mother” for the heir to the throne. throne.
First changes on virility and heroism
Since in the Disney stories the story revolved around the suffering of the woman and the heroic rescue by the prince, the first change occurs with “Sleeping Beauty” in 1959 where the prince begins to have a personality. Furthermore, the prince has to leave his comfort to face battles and manage to get a kiss from who will be the princess of the story.
As the book “The Time of the Hero” mentions, “the criminalization of cowardice is truly significant for the inflexible statute of heroic masculinity in classical cinema, because the patriarchal regime knows how to associate it without objection with a suspicion of equivocal virility.” .
From the Palace to action
With The Little Mermaid, created in 1989, Prince Eric was the first to abandon the one-dimensionality of those first compatriots; in fact, in history, he prefers to be a sailor than a man of the palace.
Although it is worrying that in the story the Disney prince keeps an unknown woman in his house whose history he does not know, what is clear is that they fall in love with each other based solely on physical appearance.
For this reason, although there is a modification in the concept of Disney prince, it maintains the tradition that represents the “ideal man” belonging to royalty. So the main criticism is based on the standards of beauty and physical and economic power, as well as the submission of women.
The first prince to express his feelings
His charisma, bravery and humor make Aladdin one of the most appreciated Disney princes. But beyond that, his story is different since he was raised on the streets and in the most absolute misery, however, his humility and good heart is what attracts the princess.
Furthermore, ‘Aladdin’ also has a scene in which a prince finally expresses his feelings out loud and where he tells the Genie what he wants and feels. You can also learn that you should not think that a woman only values money, power and social position, a widespread topic in cinema and in life.
A similar situation occurs with “Beauty and the Beast” from 1991 and there is still debate about whether or not it represents Stockholm Syndrome. Furthermore, he is an egocentric and rude Disney prince who contrasts with the image of the rich man who he learned to be kind to. Another significant case, arising with the arrival of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ in 1996, represents the divergence with the body canon.
Princes in modernity
In the new century, Tarzan closed the circle as a prince within the canons of masculinity, and began a new era, where the character appears deconstructed in films like ‘Frozen’. Then Prince Naveen is the one who emerges as a guy in search of a rich wife and during his story, from when he is turned into a toad to the ending with Tiana, also turned into an amphibian, we will see how she is the one who fights to get out of the conflicts. , while he has to learn to fend for himself for the first time in his life.
Finally, with the arrival of Frozen in 2013, the definitive fall of the myth occurs, where the clearest evolution of the Disney princes occurs. In this film, the concept goes from the container hero to the hero who has to have an emotional journey to learn to love, respect and accept.
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