So today I had a Disney princess movie marathon with Ari. We managed to watch
Beauty and the Beast,
Sleeping Beauty,
The Little Mermaid and
Aladdin. Now these are all fabulous films, and they always leave you happy and feeling like anything is possible. But lately as I've been anticipating this marathon, I've been thinking on the idea and notion of the 'happily ever after' and the roles that humans play. I've been mulling over the reality that these films have in reality.
Prince Charming is very rarely the handsome stranger who comes galloping in on horse-back, brandishing a sword to sweep you off your feet and save you from the dangers of the world. Prince Charming is usually the unexpected guy, not the first one you would have originally chosen. He very rarely fits the mold that you've set for yourself, or he's not 'your type'. The Prince Charming that comes for you may not be the rich, handsome (by others standards), Bondi Vet-esque superhero type that you thought it would be. And in the same way, he may not be the nerdy, Shakespeare quoting, poetry reading, glasses wearing brainiac either. Sometimes people surprise you. Your Prince Charming could be the handsome foreigner with an accent you previously couldn't bare to listen to, but with a smile and sense of humour that instantly made your heart melt, who you felt comfortable enough to spend hours conversing with from the moment you met. Or it could be the guy who's the complete opposite from 'your type'. On the outside he's this athletic man who on first impression is humour-less, with a harsh exterior and slightly intimidating. But after time spent together, you discover he's soft and caring and will go to great lengths to protect you and keep you safe over himself.
Then there's the Loyal Sidekick. The Loyal Sidekick is not always the wisecracking smart ass who falls into your shadow and provides comic relief. But at the same time, they're not always the innocent maiden who is your polar opposite so that you balance out like a sea-saw. They are usually the one you never would have expected to have stood by you after all the years. If you visited your past self, you may not necessarily have pictured yourself with them for any length of time. They are usually the person who has proven themselves beyond all others. The one who had your back even when it was turned. The person who stood their ground and you can trust with your life. The person who loves you at your most unlovable, who forgave you when you screwed up, who held you as you cried on a bathroom floor, who held your hair when you spewed or who comforted you when your boy friend cheated on you and then threatened to kick his ass.
And in a similar way, the Villain is never who you expect either (and how often do people have villains in their lives...). The Villain is rarely the wart baring, spell casting, cackling witch or old hag. They very often come in the form of a previously-thought-to-be-prince-charming or previously-thought-to-be-loyal-sidekick form. They aren't usually the person who wants to kill you, and they very rarely have the appearance of the Villain. They could just be the person that your personality clashes with the most or the person that hurt you or who is against you. Don't judge a book by its cover. They may be behind you, but that doesn't mean they have your back.
Sometimes in finding out who your Villain is, you also inadvertently discover your Prince Charming or Loyal Sidekick. Sometimes you have to lose friends to discover your true friends. And if you look at Disney films, nothing is ever as it seems. Belle fell in love with a hideous beast and proved that appearance isn't everything and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ariel sacrificed everything she had. Sleeping Beauty risked her life and had to almost wait a lifetime. Snow White had to leave her home and settle somewhere else. Jasmine fell in love with a poor man and Cinderella proved that circumstance isn't everything.
So overall, I'm not really sure what I'm saying or what my message is. So just think about the above thoughts. :)
Until next time fellow humans....
