Faith Quarles, Mother Knows Best

Mother Gothel, the main antagonist in the Disney film, Tangled, is a master manipulator and powerhouse of control. At the beginning of the film, only she possessed the knowledge of the location of the mystical Golden Flower, whose power granted youth and health to any who used it. She kept it hidden and safe to maintain control over both her youth and whoever could use the Flower. Later on, the Flower is discovered and given to the Queen to save her life, in which she births her daughter and the Princess, Rapunzel. She was blessed with the same magical qualities as the Flower possessed, and its life force was part of her. Rapunzel was soon stolen by Mother Gothel and hidden away from the world in a tower, never to be seen again by the Kingdom for eighteen years. Mother Gothel uses Rapunzel just as she used the Golden Flower, and keeps extreme control over the child -through extreme manipulation and psychological damage- to ensure she never loses its power ever again. Like Machiavelli, Mother Gothel was able to deceive almost everyone around her to keep the magic

of the Flower to herself. She manipulated Rapunzel into thinking that the world was a dangerous place that was filled with brutes who wanted to steal her magical hair. Mother Gothel was able to keep this up for over 17 years, using the same techniques that Machiavelli promotes in The Prince, his guide to achieving total control. Mother Gothel knew how to maintain her power over others while gaining the most benefits in any situation. She always had leverage over her aggressors and used fear as one of her strongest weapons. Overall, Mother Gothel acted on Machiavellian ideals throughout her entire role in the film, taking control and keeping it until her death. Through an analysis of each pivotal moment in the film, it’s clear to see how Machiavellian ideals are still recognized and implemented today.

In the earlier stages of the film, we see Mother Gothel raising the young Rapunzel. Rapunzel asks, “Why can’t I go outside?” and Mothel Gothel quickly shuns the notion and responds, “The world outside is a dangerous place. Filled with horrible selfish people, you must stay here where you’re safe” (Tangled). These are just the beginning stages of Mothel Gothel grooming Rapunzel’s perception of the outside world. The irony in Gothel’s response is that in order to keep herself young and beautiful, she selfishly stole Rapunzel as an infant and kept her locked in a tower for eighteen long years. In The Prince, a major theme that occurs is human nature and self-interest. Drawing back to Gothel’s earlier statement, it becomes clear that her Machiavellian traits are rooted in her ambition and selfishness. Machiavelli asserts that people commonly use their ambition to acquire power, perfectly aligning with Gothel’s character.

Progressing in the film, we see Mother Gothel and Rapunzel together in the tower. Rapunzel has finally gathered the courage to ask Gothel if she can leave the tower on her birthday to go see the “floating lights”. Gothel reveals her manipulation in this scene and the mental hold she has over Rapunzel. In the song “Mother Knows Best” Gothel starts off with, “Oh, why Rapunzel. Look at you, as fragile as a flower… you know why we keep you in this tower… that’s right, to keep you safe and sound, dear” (Tangled). She then goes on to say, “Trust me pet, Mother, knows best. Mother knows best, listen to your mother. It’s a scary world out there. Mother knows best. One way or another, something will go wrong, I swear” (Tangled). Similar themes continue throughout the entire song, but just one verse shows the scope of what Gothel is willing to say to keep Rapunzel under her control. Machiavelli claims a Prince must be loved as well as feared by his subjects. In this case, Gothel must keep the balance with Rapunzel, ensuring she won’t try and leave the tower. Gothel has scared Rapunzel into thinking the world outside the tower is out to steal her hair and its magical properties. This way, Gothel is seen as Rapunzel’s sole protector and the only person she can trust.

Rapunzel eventually leaves the tower with Flynn Rider, a thief who mistakenly found her running from palace guards. Rider struck a deal with Rapunzel to bring her to see the “floating lights” in exchange for his satchel, which Rapunzel hid from him. Upon finding out that Rapunzel left the tower, Gothel is furious and sets out to find her lost flower yet again. During her search, Gothel meets the Stabbington Brothers. They are out to capture Rider and Gothel uses their hate for her own gain. She convinces them that if they capture Rapunzel they will become rich beyond imagination, but they have to get rid of Rider first. Gothel’s manipulation is very strong, as she can convince almost anyone to do her bidding without them even knowing.

The cycle of Gothel’s manipulation continues throughout the film. She is able to bring Rapunzel back to the tower, only to be killed by falling to her death soon after. Machiavelli claims those who come to power by crime kill fellow citizens and betray friends. They are “treacherous, pitiless, and irreligious” (The Prince). Princes who commit criminal acts can achieve power, but never glory (The Prince). These characteristics shine through Gothel’s character and actions. Gothel stole a baby to preserve her beauty, and in the end, she died a horrible death. Her “glory” being immortality and eternal beauty was lost; while she had power over Rapunzel, it’s clear that the ways she gained that power were criminal and she fell right into the Machiavellian trap. Overall, Mother Gothel used extreme, yet clever tactics throughout the movie, representing Machiavelli even in modern times and modern entertainment.

Works Cited

“Tangled” Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 24 Mar. 2021 <https://www.scripts.com/script/tangled_19376>.

“The Prince: Themes | SparkNotes.” SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/prince/themes/. Accessed 24 Mar. 2021.