I was thinking earlier today as I dozed into my afternoon nap (after an early morning having a yard sale, you'd be tired too), and I came to the realization that while many people may find Disney Princess stories (especially the earlier ones) a little antifeminist, I have found a reason to relate to one such heroine on a rather deep level.... let me elaborate.
It is the story of sleeping beauty. I have always looked at it as a rather interesting story. It is my favorite of the Disney Princess Stories. But upon recent reflection, I have grown rather curious about my interest, most notably because our heroine is rather inactive for much of the tale. In the original story the maiden is put to sleep over 100 years in order to counter a curse of death from the evil fairy Maleficent. Now, in the Disney version she is only out for a evening it seems, before Prince Philip defeats Maleficent (in dragon form no less) and rushes to her side to wake her with "true-love's kiss". Princess Aurora does nothing special... she is no great fighter and has no sense of humor that is apparent; She shows no quality of strength or passion. She spends most of the story deep in the woods cared for my three matronly fairies. It seems that her greatest virtue is that she is beyond strikingly beautiful, has a voice that charms woodland creatures from hither and yon, and can pick a basket of berries with the best of them - really nothing for any man to write home about. I mean, she's nothing special - especially up against the pantheon of Ariel the Little Mermaid who has spunk to boot, Mulan to kicks butt in war, and Cinderella who lets face it is also rather droll, but still offers something in a good cleaner and ability to inspire a following of rather zealous house mice. And yet I love her and actually envy her and here is where my nap-time revelation comes in...
Princess Aurora gets to do what I dream of doing (so to speak)... she gets to bypass all of the anxiety of dating and go straight to marriage to her one true-love... and gets a great nap while she's at it. I mean seriously especially with the events in my life of the last few months, I really just want to skip all of it go to sleep, have a man or good quality and honesty and strength fight for my protection and honor, rush to my side and awaken me to a life of passion and adventure with "true-love's kiss." I mean after all of Aurora's faults and lack there-of, she still gets the best of the Disney Princes. Prince Philip is my favorite - he's funny (the first Prince to have personality after Cinderella's Prince and Snow White's Prince Charming - who for the better of their movie roles just starred at their lady-love and rode horses), Philip is handsome beyond anything - the hair, the winning smile, the voice of Bill Shirley (swoon), and he gets to wield a sword. Princess Aurora has the perfect dating relationship... they meet in the forrest, he pursues her and makes her feel so special, she goes home singing in pure delight, and then she goes to sleep - the next thing she knows she in love and they are promised to be married. PERFECT!
Alas life is not like that... and I have to brave the pool of unworthy men until the man God has for me finally realizes what an amazing and funny and delightful girl I am. I am waiting for my Prince Philip and in the immortal words of the most stupid of the Disney Princesses, "Someday my Prince will come..."
