The story of Walt Disney's Princesses begins with his very first young lady, Snow White. Created as a model representation of the common American housewife, Snow White did not possess any really useful character traits that would allow her to survive on her own. Although she has a very beautiful singing voice, she is also a very weak and naive person. Whenever in trouble, she simply solves all her problems by singing a song and asking the assistance of the forest creatures.
Walt Disney did not intend to make Snow White a strong character whatsoever. Instead, he made the young princess out to be just like what America thought every young girl should be: obedient and kind. From this very primitive framework of a Disney Heroine stems future Princesses, all stronger than the ones before. Following the trend set by the culture the time they were created, the princesses come to possess more and more of the qualities Americans now consider to be the norm for women.
After Snow White came Cinderella, who was more aggressive and intelligent than her predecessor. Following Cinderella was Ariel, who was even smarter and more aggressive than both of her previous counterparts combined. Finally, in 1991, Belle from Beauty and the Beast completes the transformation from weak, naive young girl to strong, independent woman. She is more than capable of thinking on her own and does not let anyone push her around. She is the model for the contemporary woman of today.
After fifty-four years and countless animated movies, Disney has come full swing in the cultural revolution putting the heroine in a position of true power. Click on the links below to learn more about each girl!
