Everyone loves the story of the Little Mermaid, where Ariel one day wishes to become a human and live with the people above the sea. Growing up, I never really looked at it other than another Disney movie where a princess falls in love with a prince and they live happily ever after, until one day in English class, my professor told us a story about an interpretation going around online that really made you think about Disney all around. Even though it might not be 100% true and what the creators of The Little Mermaid wanted for their audience, I just thought it was very interesting and a great story.
The story of The Little Mermaid is about Ariel wanting to become human, but in reality, she wants to become transgender. For example, she's not comfortable in her own skin and wants to change who she is. She knows she wants to be different, but doesn't want to admit it to others in fear that they might judge her. Her father, King Triton disapproves and is ashamed she wants to be like "humans" and thinks they're worthless, just like society today looks at the transgender community.
Ariel does everything in her own power to change who she is and loves her new self. At the end of the movie, her father finally sees how happy she and learns to accept the fact that she is finally where she wants to be. He gives her the OK to go out and be her own person and at the end, her father spreads a rainbow across the sky, the symbol for the LGBT community.
It shows how even Disney stories can relate to real life situations. Even though it just might be an online conspiracy, anyone can relate to it.
