“Individual Otherness in The Little Mermaid with Regard to Social Hierarchy and Gender” deals with the role of royal characters and how they relate to so called non-elite figures. Additionally, male and female stereotyped characters will be examined with regard to royal male figures and superior and inferior female ones. The last point will be a discussion of the good-bad relationship by concentrating exclusively on Ariel and Ursula.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Representation of Social Hierarchy
- Elite characters
- Non-elite characters
- People on land
- Grimsby
- Louis
- Merpeople
- Sebastian
- Flotsam and Jetsam
- Conclusion
- People on land
- Representation of Gender
- Male elite characters
- Prince Eric
- Triton
- Representation of female characters
- Ariel as the 'ideal' woman
- Minor female characters
- Male elite characters
- Representation of 'Good' and ‘Bad' women
- Ariel and Ursula
Objectives and Key Themes
This research paper examines the role of royal characters and compares them to non-elite figures in Disney's *The Little Mermaid*. The paper analyzes gender stereotypes, focusing on male and female royal characters and their interactions within the social hierarchy. Finally, it explores the "good-bad" relationship by examining Ariel and Ursula.
- Representation of social hierarchy and its impact on character portrayal
- Analysis of gender stereotypes in relation to royal characters
- Examination of the "good-bad" relationship through the characters of Ariel and Ursula
- Exploration of the themes of power, wealth, and acceptance within the context of the film
- Discussion of Disney's portrayal of social and gender hierarchies in animated movies
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the research paper's objectives and outlines the key themes that will be explored. It sets the stage for the analysis of social hierarchy and gender representation in *The Little Mermaid*.
- Representation of Social Hierarchy: This chapter delves into the portrayal of social hierarchy in the film. It examines the characteristics of elite characters, highlighting their privileged positions and idealized attributes. The chapter also analyzes the portrayal of non-elite characters, highlighting their contrasting roles and submissive positions within the social structure.
- Representation of Gender: This chapter explores the representation of gender in the film. It focuses on the portrayal of male elite characters, examining their traits and power dynamics. The chapter then analyzes the representation of female characters, highlighting Ariel's portrayal as the "ideal" woman and the roles of minor female characters within the social hierarchy.
- Representation of 'Good' and ‘Bad' women: This chapter delves into the representation of "good" and "bad" female characters. It examines Ariel and Ursula, contrasting their personalities, motivations, and roles within the narrative.
Keywords
The key terms and focus topics explored in this paper include: social hierarchy, gender representation, elite characters, non-elite characters, royal characters, 'good' and 'bad' women, Ariel, Ursula, Disney, animation, and *The Little Mermaid*.
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- Hanna M. Stoll (Autor:in), 2005, Individual Otherness in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" with Regard to Social Hierarchy and Gender, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/51190
