This is a deconstruction of the final scenes in both films according to Voglers hero’s journey. Prince Phillips journey has a double meaning. As the villain takes the hero down to the basement, it looks like a cave, which symbolises the inner cave, which can also be seen as losing his shield. Once the fairies rescue the prince he goes to find his reward, the princess, but must fight the final battle in order to get to her, which is when the female villain metamorphosis’s into a dragon but her magic juxtaposed with his traditional means shows just how strong the male is represented as being.
The scene representation in Mulan reflects the inner cave because when the Hun comes out of the snow it appears as though they are emerging from a cave. The final battle occurs at the emperors when Mulan’s army battle with the Hun is being celebrated but Shan-Yu comes back and loses the fight again Mulan, The irony is that the males dress up as females in order to win. Mulan’s reward for her journey are the job along side the emperor, the sword, medal honour and how the prince traditionally gets the princess roles reverse and Mulan gets Shang.
Prince Phillip is the typical Hero: he is strong, masculine, brave and handsome His trying to fight Maleficent whilst chained against the wall shows his determination. He wears the traditional Princes costume with red to show his fearlessness which is not harmed by the thorns. He is well spoken, as he is a member of royalty. His posture is always bold to show his importance, and to emphasise his courage. He is sent on a manly quest, especially as his reward is an attractive and passive princess. During his quest, he takes up the role of a warrior, which is the epitome of masculinity. He is more physical as he fights without thinking, unlike Mulan.
Mulan’s distortion of gender means she is not the stereotypical hero. Her active role as heroine is a different aspect to what the audience is used to in a female Disney character: Mulan is not domestic and passive. The male in the film is attracted to Mulans independence and strength of mind. Her outfit is a male uniform for the majority of the film, which gives the audience the message that people can be so prejudice and sexist to the point that they will not listen to your views if you are different. At the end of the film, Mulan changes into a stereotypical female. We notice the change after she reunites with the blossom hairpiece, the symbol of her lost femininity. She asks Shang if he would like to “stay for tea” now that she is more womanly.
The main difference between the two heroes in Sleeping Beauty and Mulan is the gender. Mulan is not the stereotypical hero fir she is female and therefore discriminated against because most women are considered weal and powerless. The themes of the two films are similar in which Todorov, Propp and Voglers theory apply, but the plots of the film are different. Films have referential codes, Disney’s typical characteristic e.g. pretty females and well-built men and the simple camera does not confuse young children.
I think the main reason women gave stronger roles in Disney’s films is that women are becoming more powerful in today’s society. Women are now able to vote, work and have generally given equal advantages to men although some sexist discrimination remains. I think Disney is trying to show children that both sexes are equal. Disney films have slowly evolved in the aspect that they have a broader view of what women can do other than being represented as the prince’s reward. Since Pocahontas, females have had roles that are more important in Disney films but Mulan is the first film that gender roles have been reversed.
