Brave (2012): "If you had the chance to change your fate, would you?"

For this week's random wheel of Disney classics, we have landed on our first Disney princess movie, Merida from Brave. Although Merida's story is not the most well-known or well-watched film within the Disney Princess franchise, it still holds a hefty lesson as well as significant feminist themes that will inspire all women to fight for their own decisions in this traditional, patriarchal world. In fact, Brave is Pixar's first film with a female protagonist, and Merida is the first Disney Princess created by Pixar studies instead of Disney itself. Talk about firsts!

The film starts off with a bang -- Princess Merida of the clan Dunbroch is gifted a bow and arrow by her father, King Fergus, for her birthday. While venturing into the woods to fetch an arrow, Merida encounters a will-o'-the-wisp as well as Mor'du, a huge demon bear, who then attacks the family, costing her father one of his legs even. Yikes.

Ten years later, though, Merida, who is 16 years-old now, discovers that she is to be betrothed to the son of one of her father's allies. Even though the Queen explains that her refusal to marriage could harm their kingdom, Merida insists on defying this age-old custom and tradition. In doing so, Merida decides to fight for her own hand since she is her kingdom's firstborn, and she succeeds in winning against her suitors in an archery content, shaming the other clans, as she is obviously a skilled archer ever since she started as a young child. Wish I could have that skill! And evidently, this part of the film strictly enforces particular feminist themes, such as when Merida decides to choose her own fate by taking the tradition and altering it to her own needs and wants.

However, and as expected, like her mother mentioned before, Merida causes chaos in the kingdom by expressing the desire not to be betrothed. After fighting with her mother, running into the forest out of rage, meeting an elderly witch, and eventually, bargains for a spell to change her fate. As a result, Queen Elinor falls victim to a beastly curse, resulting in her turning into a bear, so Merida must look within herself and find the key to saving the kingdom against Mor'du, spells, and potential war among the clans.

Talk about pressure! Even if Merida essentially caused the problem in the first place, she meant it with good intentions in the way that she only wanted her freedom, much over a potential suitor for the rest of her life (which I totally understand, personally). The only way to fix this problem, then, is for Merida to "mend the bond torn by pride" -- whatever that means -- before the second sunrise or else the transformation will become permanent. In a race against time, Merida tries to figure out the best way to save her mother as well as prevent even more chaos from raining down on her kingdom and family.

Eventually, in a fight against the other clans, Mor'du, and time itself, Princess Merida successfully frees her mother from the trapped bear curse just in time, as well as physically and emotionally mends their mother-daughter bond by realizing the mistakes she has made and reconciles with Elinor, unknowingly fulfilling the true meaning of the witch's message and reversing the spell's effects on her mother. Then, with Mor'du gone, Merida and the Queen work together on a new tapestry when they are called to the docks to bid farewell to the other clans, and end the story together as a happy (and bear-free) family. 

It only makes sense why Merida is one of the essential feminist princess protagonists in the Disney franchise. Not only does she have the will and determination to decide her own fate and choose her own suitor (which was herself), but Merida also becomes a feminist hero by rescuing her mother from the mistakes she made and ensuring that their relationship may never be broken again. Obviously, we can learn from Merida here that not every woman needs her happily ever after prince. Instead, though, all we need are supported independence to choose our own actions, as well as the care from our loved ones in the times that are needed most.