The Woman and the Metaphysical Conceit in the Romanticised Postmodern Fairytales Frozen, Frozen 2 and Moana

Abstract

Born out of a challenging attempt to unravel the nature of the relationship and connectedness between the woman and nature, hatched from years of research regarding the exploitation of the woman and the degradation of the natural world, the present research work addresses the interrelation between the woman and nature in the selected Walt Disney Princess movies of Frozen (2013), Frozen 2 (2019) and Moana (2016). Pertaining a peculiar focus to the functioning of the woman/nature dichotomy, this study aims at revealing the way the woman and the environment are perceived and treated in a completely patriarchal-dominated society. Analyzing female characters endowed with an ecofeminist spirit and attitude, this study uses the feminist ecological philosophy as the theoretical framework upon which women and nature relations are examined, the environmental issues are divulged and the destroying patriarchal beliefs and patterns are exposed. As an entity examined within the gender and ecological contexts, the work claims that there are environmental issues as a result of the dominating patriarchal system. Indeed, the Frozen franchise and Moana highlight an occurring natural destruction due to male domination; a one which confines and subverts both of the woman and nature. Accordingly, the study demonstrates that the female characters of the selected movies sustain a fundamental role in repairing the existing natural devastation. Throughout feminine values of care and nurturing, the environmental universe is restored. Admittedly, the study reveals the female characters as powerful and determined women fuelled by an oppressive system to bring about change to a long muffled and oppressed world. In a long way towards nature empowerment, the study shows that the female heroines represent an appeal to maturity, and experience an unprecedented journey of self-discovery, affirmation and emancipation. Therefore, the result of the study projects the female characters as empowering leaders capable of restoring the natural world and establishing balance and harmony between humanity and the environment. Certainly, these female leads highlight triumphs of unconditional, female familial love without a male presence, glorifies female bonding and redefines values attributed to female’s femininity and males’ masculinity.