They’re opening up the gates! It’s the weekend which finally saw the official opening of World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris. And whilst I don’t have any immediate plans for another Disney trip just yet, I’m just as happy to soak up all the excitement from my socials instead. For a film which holds a very special place in my heart, it makes me smile knowing it’s still being celebrated by new generations all these years later.
What Frozen brought to the screens was, at the forefront, a complex character in the writing of Elsa. It feels wrong somehow to completely bypass the stunning visuals, or the masterpieces which came from the soundtrack (Frozen 2, I’m looking at you..) But this post is all about character development, arcs and representation.
With any form of media, there are multiple interpretations one can take from a character’s writing. Even with the directors insights; the authors intentions; and the producers visions, its only your own version which is imagined internally. This is to say, the way you see a character from Dickens for example, could oppose the way your friend sees them. And thus, it’s worth disclaiming that the below is my own viewpoint only.
It can often feel silly putting much emphasis on fictional characters in the first place; as if analysing them from a therapy viewpoint. Most would simply enjoy a film or a book for what it is. But my mind is insightful and introspective: and so finding the deeper meanings is just what I do. Furthermore, I read people in a way to understand people. This means I often feel deep connections to those that share similar traits, personalities or behaviours as me. It’s only through this kind of individual study that my mind can process and understand my own way of working too. (Did that make sense at all…?)
It’s because of this that Elsa came to be my biggest comfort character. For those unfamiliar, a comfort character can be one that does just that – one which mirrors your own attributes. But they could also be one which reminds you of another. They are simply characters you resonate with or even just enjoy. I see them a lot in the neurodiversity and mental health communities. And for some, myself included, our comfort characters are ones we find ourselves reaching for when we need that safety. It’s often difficult to explain to people why these characters mean what they do, but I’m hoping for this to be a somewhat cohesive analysis for mine.
In Elsa I see a lot of parallels with mental health, and perhaps even sexuality, which I’ve resonated deeply with over the years. There’s no denying her deep anxiety and fear; especially when prompted to perform or surrounded by others. “Conceal. Don’t feel. Don’t let it show. Put on a show”. This is the (paraphrased) message first told by her father, then later reprised as the first movie goes on. It’s a statement which not only encapsulates the everyday struggle those with anxiety face, but also the experience of masking, pretending or performing when in certain situations.
For me, it’s everything that comes from presenting, socialising and being known by others. This often makes my anxiety complex and hard to categorise – although ‘social anxiety’ is often the umbrella term I refer to. Despite its pre-assumptions, I’m sometimes okay with strangers: I’ve somewhat learnt that the chances of me seeing these people again is slim, and so walking around town or conversing with people in a shop, etc is considered ‘safe’ in my mind. My main anxieties stem, instead, from people I’d see semi-regularly, and are further escalated by the notion of letting these people in. Getting to know colleagues; seeing extended family members; working in the same job for more than a few months can all cause ‘adulting’ to be difficult. I don’t seem to see the world the same way every one else does. And so being at work, or amongst a group of people is often met with me preforming to expectations, usually with a rehearsed script in mind.
At times I become reliant on running, hiding away and shutting people out. This theme is perhaps the biggest resonator I have with Elsa and perhaps why she became an almost-instant favourite character. The deeper we read, the more we learn to understand her behaviours. Her isolation stems from the fear of hurting others. The distance she creates between her loved ones stems from wanting to protect them. It’s in the same way I isolate myself because it’s the safest place to be. It’s only in my own company that I can’t let anyone down: when I can’t hold down a job; when I can’t muster up the courage to meet new people; when, on some days, it feels impossible to even step foot outside. There’s safety in one’s own company and their own world. And this is why Elsa flourishes in her ice castle. She has the freedom to simply be herself, and away from the external pressures of her commitments, she’s able to find a newfound confidence. A far cry from the scene depicting her shaky hands as she begins her coronation. (I’d like to praise Disney for their subtle animation of this detail!)
Moving on to Frozen 2, and this saw my appreciation for Elsa heighten. With her newfound comfort and stability within herself and her group, we can really see her personality shine. Watching her journey towards self-acceptance made the resonations even stronger; because I also went on a long road of learning who I was, and, on a deeper level, how to accept who I was. “You are the one you’ve been waiting for” was the heart-hitting, tear-inducing line which, no matter how many times I watch it, will still hit me. To portray the fight and acceptance the way Disney did in Show Yourself, was something incredible. The realisation in Elsa’s eyes when she is found has become one of my most prominent moments in film to date. It’s the moment the movie comes full circle; the journey is now complete. I think it was really important for her search to be one which led her back to herself. It’s easy to lose sight of this when navigating real life, you often lose parts of your identity as you become victim to distractions or other paths of life. But like Elsa, I navigated back with the deeper understanding, the belief and the ongoing acceptance that despite my differences I am still enough.
One of my favourite parts of the movie is watching Elsa grow in confidence and finally allow herself to be seen the way she is. It’s only with this self-confidence that her world becomes that little bit easier. (A great metaphor for life!). And this is shown perfectly at the end. She doesn’t go back to Arendelle to conform to their traditional ways of working – instead she hands that baton onto Anna – because she knows she’d be better suited for the role. Anna accepts this new change because its only now that she can see what’s best for her sister. Watching them both in parallel but in different lands, showcases the fact some people can thrive in an everyday environment such as Arendelle, whilst others opt for the unconventional route. A constant battle I find myself fighting against on the regular.
Now there’s still a lot more I could touch on: such as the added pressure of being an older sibling and thus needing to lead by example; or the lack of love interests and potentially living with a lesser-known sexuality (although this is neither confirmed nor explored in either films). But I want to leave this one here focusing primarily on anxiety, self-discovery, and acceptance.
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