Elsa from "Frozen" - An Analysis About her Characterization and Her Symbolic Content: About Her Being Metaphorically an Representation of Depression

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

Make sure to leave a comment if you like this site! And if there's something you think could be improved, please let me know. But in a constructive way, please. And just a note; I'm not a Native English writer, so my incorrect grammar may be notable.

And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize

This entry may be perceived as Deja Vu, since I've already written about this movie priorly. While the previous entry centered about how Frozen was a part of the trend of adjective titles to the Princess movies of the Revival era, this entry will be a deeper analysis about a pivotal character herself and her symbolic content and theories. And this was essentially the first time that I've written an entry about a character from a movie, without a franchise of her own. And yes, this may cause me some hate from fanboys and I'm sorry if it offends you.
But last, but not least, this is an assessment who actually relevant to the struggles of society of the world today. So this entry may not be invigorating in itself, but at least it's something that will (vaguely) surround an relevant issue in today's world. So that`s why it was important to me to write about it. And just to be clear, this assessment revolves around Elsa from the first Frozen, not the sequel nor the shorts.



It's needless to state what a phenomenon Frozen has been! The craze seems to have settled down now (apparently). But when the film was released Thanksgiving 2013, it became a bonafide phenomenon! 

Finally making clear to the public that Disney was cool and hip again, Frozen followed some very successful films of the Revival era and outgrossed them (of course it's inevitable to dismiss how the media has raved about John Lasseter and Pixar's contribution to Walt Disney Animation Studios. But regardless of those opinions, let's swap them under the rug for now, shall we?). And it made it's mark on pop culture and created passionate debates revolving it's popularity and it's components. Directed by Disney veteran Chris Buck and newcomer Jennifer Lee (Wreck-It-Ralph) and with songs by Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, their songs have actually managed to live a life of their own (and setting the trend of having babies named after Frozen characters). 

 

 

 

 



Similarities Between Frozen and The Lion King



We're not photogenic, that's why
we're in the shadows :)

Since the genesis of this Revival era has coincidentally mirrored the Renaissance era, Frozen eventually became this era's The Lion King in terms of being the huhe Blockbuster. But it's still ironic that the Blockbuster was never an naturalistic animal movie as Lion King (and it's funny how the Revival era has been on a steady successful streak, without having a Deja Vu downfall with a movie that became the Pocahontas of the Revival era). But for those of you who likes Honest Trailers have probably noticed that they've made some similarities between the two movies in their trailer for Lion King. About the ruler becoming an outcast and fleeing from from their duties in despair and eventually coming back. While of course both movies deals with it differently (Simba's arc is essentially about him learning to face his responsibility, whereas Elsa is taken back against her will). Of course in Frozen's case the ruler is an deuteragonist, despite how Elsa is after all a catalyst for the events in her universe. But at least those were similarities which I didn`t even thought of before Honest Trailers pointed them out.

Frozen`s Disneyfication and Adjective Title-Swap

I'm the Queen of the 
world... Predating 
Jack Dawson ;)

To add fuel to a certain Disney trademark (sorry fanboys), Frozen is one of those Disney adaptations that strays away from it's original predecessor and Disneyfies the story (despite how the primary theme of the movie, a "frozen" soul can make bad things, is still a integral theme taken from the story). Since Disney usually sticks and reuses some components, the Disneyfication choices may seem contrived (also due to aging the protagonists to young adults). We could also assume that the intention to make the sisters royals was to fill them up in the Princess lineup (while they weren't even royals in an initial version). Despite this, while Frozen eventually was given the same title swap as Tangled, at least it`s title was a better fit. Mostly due to how the title symbolically embodies the theme and the purpose of the movie (and yes, I know I'm repeating myself folks, but in this case I must). 

Yes, I'm playing your 
horse for once :)

Frozen was also marketed in the same boyfriendly marketing campaign as Tangled was. With a teaser that was boyfriendly (while perhaps not as blatant). But at least Tangled itself was a result that Disney hadn't become too cynical and could make sincere fairy tales with heart and substance again. So therefore was legit to assume the same about Frozen in advance, despite it`s cynical marketing.

Elsa`s Struggles Being a Metaphor for Mental Illness, Her Popularity and Comparisons to Anna and the Beast

 

This will be my new pillow ;)
As long as it's winter :)

However, to analyze into the movie's essential theme deeper, the content is actually woven in a simplistic and package. The central mission of Frozen is a simple one; To stop a curse that has caused an eternal winter and bringing summer back. However, looking deeper into the movie, the simple mission is covered by a deeper layer. Frozen is essentially a story about the negative consequences of suppressed fear and oppression. As well as being about the destructive fear of anxiety itself and how love can be a tool to redeem it. Which all is culminated in Elsa, who`s the catalyst of the events!  

Several people have stated their conspiracy theories about Elsa's struggles being a metaphor and a paralell for mental issues (and certainly depression). And the similarities are quite overt and obvious. So on a personal note, I definitively agree on those theories (and yeah, I'm fully aware that I'm haven't been the only one who have addressed this issue, just look it up on the Internet to find the other theories out there). Disney are usually known for recycling their trope of having a loner character who yearns for acceptance. And while it would be tempting to claim that none of them have achieved the overwhelmingly popularity of Elsa (since this is just a loose theory after all), it's still legit to claim that Elsa has been given affection and popularity that few Disney outcast characters have received before and since!  

The reasons for her popularity has been aforementioned in my previous entry about Frozen. But those reasons are obviously about her struggles and how people find her relatable. As well as her ice powers, Let It Go, how some find her attractive and last, but not least that she becomes a Queen. And that her ice powes is somewhat an equivalent of a superhero. And yes, it would be tempting to turn this into another rant of an evergoing Anna vs. Elsa comparison, but let's face it, guys; Elsa merchandise was doing better than Anna's (yet some parents wished that Anna was the favorite and how Olaf`s a tripple threat). And yes, fanboys, I'm sorry to cite this, but there are people who are genuinely astonished by Elsa's popularity and really despises her. 

It's remarkable to think that Elsa wasn't originally conceived to be that way. That she was going to be a villain. But Elsa happened to be a reason for people to look forward to the movie in advance. While it was assumed that Frozen`s hype was preceeded by it's Revival predecessors, several have said that people looked forward to Elsa for her iconic position. For being an magical, iconic character with powers in the vein of Maleficent and Tinker Bell. Many thought that she was going to serve the same purpose as the Beast and being a complex, conflicted and dimensional character (which the Beast really was).

Regardless of all the subjective opinions around that issue, there's no denial that Elsa is overall less complex than the Beast. Who showed a wider range of menace, while Elsa is essentially a good character. At least Elsa does serve as a tragic figure and legitimately so, since she is unfortunately hampered by a tragic fate. At least Frozen shall have credit forhaving a different take on it's depiction of the Snow Queen. Since her stock role is usually a villainess (while the issue of Elsa's ice powers being unanswered have been widely discussed, yet some fanboys have cited that the opening song Frozen Heart was be an explanation of the powers. Before Frozen II being released, of course).  

The White Witch would've
been jealous of me :)

What differentiates Frozen from your usual Disney outcast movie, is how Elsa is a deuteragonist after all. And therefore her screentime and characterization is reduced. The choice is after all fair, I guess, since the Snow Queen is a secondary character in the original tale (the character of Snow Queen has been reminiscent of a similar Japanese mythological creature). But that's really one of Frozen's biggest flaws, in my opinion: How Elsa isn't given enough screentime.

 

 

 

The Negative Sides of Elsa Being a Deuteragonist, Her Fandom, The Actions of Her Parents and The Symbolic Analysis of Let it Go

It's certainly less satisfying that Elsa's screentime have been reduced in the first Frozen, due to her actually having the biggest dilemma of the film. Her stakes are high and a her consequences quite intense. It would be tempting to claim that she should've been the main character all along. And regardless of the opinions about this issue (feel free to disagree), at least her screentime should've been definitively been increased (which fortunately some reviewers and users have agreed with). 

Another problem with it is that Elsa's characterization is essentially all about her inner struggle. And how little there is to her character besides it! And I apologize if this seems as an attack to her character, but it's still a pity that her angst is what her character is essentially about. Of course there have been various opinions about her characterization. Her fans loves her for being a gift from Heaven and praised her strengths, yet haters (and neutral people) have criticized her, for being too passive and acting like a victim in despair. While I'm sorry if this comes as across as offensive towards her fans, those criticism are actually true. 

But regardless of this, Elsa isn't a callous character. As aforementioned, she's just a misunderstood loner who serves her purpose. And acts cold for having a reason for it (it's rumored that Idina Menzel and the songwriting team actually wanted Elsa's powers to represent a talented gift). And she does the right things for the reasons; To protect her sister. It's also very remarkable how the lyrics for Let it Go uses the phrase "perfect girl",. A parallel to superficiality of appearence of society and how social medias has caused a wave of depression during the later years. Which I've personally seen (while Let it Go has been unsurprisingly enough been critcized for it's content as well). 

Lucky me, huh? 
I'm a millionaire :)

Of course the events starts by the simple mistake of Elsa accidentally hurting Anna (which wasn't even Elsa's fault to begin with). And that their parents (which their names have been unmentioned in the first movie, were named Agnarr and Iduna, proven to the Runic alphabet) and the troll-leader Great Pabbie who trigger her fears. Which has made people hate the parents and frankly for a good reason. Despite their good intentions, their actions are still perceivable as wrong. 

It's life imitating art, imitating 
life and so forth ;)

In fact, while Disney have portrayed imperfect family bonds priorly, at least Frozen may be an obvious, subconscious depiction of how parents could unconsciously hamper and traumatize a child. However, while Frozen of course ends happily with an easy resolution of Elsa's Powers (her realization about love), it has been something that has been frowned upon by nitpickers, due to how it's been sparsely elaborated. But hey, there`s always nitpicikers in this world, anyway, so we`ll know how they usually are.

Yet the Beauty and the Beast-esque ending was still a challenge to write from a story point of view (young Tarzan and Jim Hawkins' animator, John Ripa, was the one who finally came up with the ending). It's also fitting that former Disney starlet Demi Lovato (who was among the biggest stars of the peak of the Disney Channel era) performed the end credits version of Let it Go. Due to her struggling with huge mental issues herself and being deliberately open about it.

The Flaws of Frozen

We've been twitterpatted without Bambi :)

It's needless to sum up that Frozen turned some fairy tale tropes on it's head. By having the Prince being evil and true love being a sisterly act (and Kristoff's role is to serve as a departure to Hans). Of course the former issue is a progress on itself and while perhaps Hans is not the first example of such an archetype, at least he's a personification that mirrors the real World. That people are not always as they appear. 

While Frozen has been praised for this, I think it would've resonated more in a plot where it was actually needed. Elsa' internal struggle and her broken relationship with her sister, was essentially sufficient for a whole movie alone. Yet the basic focus of the movie is mostly about Anna's arc. It's basically about her learning about true love and that it doesn't include a handsome Prince (and yes, even this is given a turn, where Anna is constantly confronted about her decision to marry a man she just met). 

It's not to state that Anna should've been taken away from her role as a protagonist. But her own quest which evolves around two guys seems shoehorned in. Due to the premise frankly not needing it. The choice of making the Prince a villain has been met with both acclaims. Yet it's remarkable that Elsa is left without a love interest (giving room for the theories of being a lesbian). Another (and non-relevant) issue about Frozen on it's release, is how the comedy clashed with the dark, heart-wrenching and harrowing drama (which Frozen does have a great deal of). Which I do personally agree upon, still I personally don't find Frozen the worst case of dramatic unevenness, though (cough, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, cough). 

 

 

 

 

 

A Brief Explanation of Mine

 

Of course this was meant to be (as usual) my personal opinion on the subject. Regardless of the theories around it, I'm sure there are people who both agrees and disagrees with it. But my point isn't really to attack the movie for it's shortcomings, it's simply meant to discuss them and analyze them. Just so you know.

 

 

 

One Personal Confession of Mine (My Main Reason For Writing This Entry)

And yes, for once I'm going to be very personal; During the film's release, I was suffering from a major depression due to a real trauma/tragedy that happened in my life (my older brother's suicide). So it's pretty coincidental that Frozen was released in a time where I was deeply depressed. And frankly, where I felt that I had a frozen heart. In fact, as hackneyed as it sounds, I felt that I was Elsa at the time. 
So yeah, Elsa struggles is indeed something that I could relate to (despite that I previously picked on her characterization being all about her struggle, it wasn`t meant to be an attack). I could also relate to Anna, in terms of caring deeply about someone who's struggling with low self-esteem and depression and not being able to help them (yes, I`ve been in that position as well). So I can relate to Anna as well.

 

  

Epilogue 

Regardless of what could`ve been said about Elsa, whether you love or hate her, it`s still a nice thing that she`s managed to resonate with people. It`s nice to see how an audience can sympathize with a character who is a representation of a struggle that people can relate to. And regardless of how Frozen should`ve been acknowledged for it`s strengths alone, it`s reduntant to say that Elsa has been a huge part of it all along. 

As for the popularity of Frozen and regardless of the different opinions about it, it's needless to cite that Disney were milking it for all it's worth (as they did with The Lion King). As we`ve seen the releases of various Frozen shorts, the the full-length sequel from 2019 and the two other upcoming sequels. It's needless to cite that Frozen is still among us and that it will still be a part of Disney's ongoing legacy. So let's hope that Disney will still give it justice. And while Elsa has evolved as a character from her genesis, at least she`ll have a fandom that no Disney character has ever received before or since.

Thaw my updates on https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035703494050 and https://twitter.com/NerdyLunada.

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