April 29, 2011 Prince William Author Philip marries Catherine (Kate) Elizabeth Middleton in what some call the “Wedding of the Century.” Every girl in the world has been hanging onto this event since news of the engagement broke out. Reason being; it is a real life fairy tale come true for one lucky girl. While watching the wedding take place I could not help but think of Cinderella, from the dress to the royal family and everything in between. Looking at Kate walk down the aisle I thought to myself, “she must be the luckiest girl in the world.” This truly is a Cinderella story come to life. However, I could not help but think that the chances for another commoner to marry into a royal family are so slim, almost barely there. Cinderella met her Prince and fell in love within a few months. Prince William and Kate took almost ten years of dating and getting to know each other before finally tying the knot.
The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella all thin beautiful girls with money and an ideal man to match. Walt Disney has portrayed this image that this is what happiness is and that if you do not look like one the girls or have money or a perfect man, then you are not ever going to be truly happy. So as a teenage girl going through lives changes you start to feel very insecure. You have to try and figure out who you want to be, while still having good looks and the brains.
As far as teenagers, they are considered to have everything and nothing all at once. They are expected to be smart and have a good head on their shoulders. Knowing right from wrong, while still maintaining their innocence. The level of expectation for kids during this awkward time in their life is almost to unattainable. All girls want to be Cinderella, but the truth is, majority of girls don’t fit the criteria. Girls also have to be pretty while still being a virgin until she gets married. As for boys, they have to be strong and respectful, but still have good looks. Teenagers have to find themselves, and adults have to give them the space they need without putting kids into a standard set too high for them to reach.
It is unsettling that Disney movies expect two people to be amrried after knowing each other for a day or two in these movies. In Cinderella, the Prince met Cinderella once and already wants to marry and spend his life with her. In reality, I agree with you that it takes a few months, or years to truly get to know someone in order to marry them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for connecting the royal wedding with Disney. In seeing all of these images, I really believe that we are preparing those who want to marry for the wedding and not the marriage. The idea of happily ever after is so not true! It takes work to make any relationship work, maybe Disney should focus on that.
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