The Hero’s Journey: Tangled A great story would be incomplete without a happily ever after. But every happy ending has to be earned through the hero’s journey. In Disney’s movie, Tangled, the main character, Rapunzel, is led on a formidable journey that takes her out of her comfort zone and introduces her to the hardships and beauties of reality and true love. She grew up in a tower isolated from society, only hearing embellished stories of the dangers that apparently occur outside the tower walls. Rapunzel embarks (5) on a journey and with her friends help finds her parents, true love, and bliss.
Rapunzel is a archetypal damsel in distress. She plays a very key role when it comes to character to audience connection. Rapunzel is a symbolic …show more content…
As Eugene is being led to his death, allies from the Snuggly Duckling come to his rescue along with his long time rivalry but wise horse, Maximus. Maximus and Eugene team up to save Rapunzel from Gothel, but upon his arrival Gothel stabs Eugene. Rapunzel makes a deal with Gothel to cooperate only if she can use her hair to heal Eugene’s wound and save him. Gothel agrees and Rapunzel is rewarded with the realization that she is the lost princess and with the ability to save the man she loves. Rapunzel's last wish is to save the life of the man she is in love with, but Eugene cuts Rapunzel's hair resurrecting her from the oppression of Gothel. However, by Eugene cutting Rapunzel’s hair and causing it to lose all of its power Gothel’s lifeline is cut off and so is his own by losing his chance to be saved. Despite her now powerless hair, Rapunzel is still able to miraculously heal Eugene with her feelings of true love for him. The return with the elixir follows as Rapunzel is able to return to her kingdom with freedom, freedom to live her life free from the shackles of enchantment.
Rapunzel’s journey was not a brisk walk in the park, though the voyage did end with a happily ever after. The hero’s journey is a long hike with bumps and bruises and life-altering obstacles coming from all directions. Happy endings have to be earned by overcoming hardships. The hero’s journey encapsulates the trials and tribulations of the hero’s voyage to rediscover themselves and grow as they reach for their reward. Without the use of a hero's journey there would be no happily ever after that we all so strongly