Disney Princesses and the Rarity of Violence

Disney princesses are often portrayed as symbols of virtue, compassion, and kindness. However, a couple of their counterparts have shown instances of violence, notably through killing. This article explores a few notable examples and highlights the rarity of such events in the Disney canon.

Is There Any Disney Princess Who Killed Someone on Screen?

Interestingly, beyond Mulan, who famously kills Shan Yu, only a few other Disney princesses have been depicted as having taken another life. This is a rarity, as most princesses embody values of kindness and compassion, rather than violence.

Merida - Brave

Mentally, Merida of Brave did not directly kill someone but engaged in a climactic battle where she killed a bear named Mordu. This act was more about survival and protecting her family rather than malice. The context of her battle highlights her core values of strength and bravery without delving into violent themes.

Moana - Hero of Ocean

Moana, though she did not directly kill anyone, destroyed Te Kā, a devastating lava monster, as part of her quest to restore the heart of Te Fiti. This act, while saving the world, can be interpreted as a form of killing in the broader sense of the story. Moana's journey focuses on saving her people and the world, not on direct confrontation with antagonists.

Technically Speaking: Mulan's Battles

Technically, Mulan never kills anyone either. Let's delve into the two instances: the avalanche and the final battle. While it appears as though she kills, this is not entirely accurate. In the avalanche, while Mulan starts the avalanche, the subsequent events leading to its course are beyond her control. The real deaths in the battle are not from Mulan's direct actions but from Mushu's efforts with a small rocket.

Mulan and Her Unique Role

It's important to note that Mulan's role as a princess fulfills a unique criteria set by Disney. Within her world, she’s not a princess, but her acceptance into the princess category is a special exception. This further underscores the rarity of genuinely violent princesses in the broader Disney narrative.

Other Notable Examples

In discussing more examples, Tiana from Tangled is worth mentioning. While her story revolves around her hair, which indirectly leads to Gothel’s demise, it’s a more complex narrative playing with the 'damsel in distress' trope. In the original fairy tales, more princesses might have killed villains, or at least had their subjects suffer terrible fates.

For instance, in the original version of Snow White, the witch is tortured to death, and in Beauty and the Beast, the stepsisters are turned to stone. In Cinderella, the godmothers pluck out the stepsisters' eyes, an extremely violent and sad outcome. This contrast highlights the differences between the original tales and the Disney adaptations, focusing on the softer, more palatable versions of these narratives for modern audiences.

The Rarity of Violence in Disney Princesses

The depiction of violence in Disney princess stories is rare, with most characters embodying values of kindness and compassion. This rarity can be attributed both to Disney's chosen adaptations and their focus on family-friendly content. Original versions of these fairy tales, while darker and more violent, often reflect the harsh realities of life in a way that modern adaptations aim to avoid to appeal to a wider audience.