In Essay #1; I explored how Disney subverts the traditional female villain narrative in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (1959) by retelling the original narrative from Maleficent‘s perspective in Maleficent. In doing so, I argued that Disney debunks the traditional “Evil Queen” villain trope and reinvents Maleficent as a redeemable villain protagonist and an empowering feminist model.
Here’s why I think so:
1. Disney grants Maleficent a backstory (strongly suggesting that she is a victim of rape)
Angelina Jolie, who plays Maleficent, confirmed this interpretation in an interview with BBC Radio when she noted that Maleficent having her wings ruthlessly ripped off by King Stefan “was a metaphor for rape”.
Its noteworthy that Maleficent does not have wings in the original Sleeping Beauty. By illustrating the link between Maleficent’s freedom and her wings, Disney shows how without her wings, Maleficent loses her freedom and agency. Consumed with hatred and revenge, she rises from the ashes of defeat and despair to become the menacing dark “Evil Queen”.
Yet, when Maleficent reevaluates her life, recognizes that her vision has long been shrouded by hatred and revenge and learns to love again, she recovers from her deepest wounds. In the end, she not only reclaims victory over King Stefan, but also reclaims all that she has lost, including her wings and her humanity and emerges as stronger and more resilient woman.
Angelina Jolie, who plays Maleficent, confirmed this interpretation in an interview with BBC Radio when she noted that Maleficent having her wings ruthlessly ripped off by King Stefan “was a metaphor for rape”.
Its noteworthy that Maleficent does not have wings in the original Sleeping Beauty. By illustrating the link between Maleficent’s freedom and her wings, Disney shows how without her wings, Maleficent loses her freedom and agency. Consumed with hatred and revenge, she rises from the ashes of defeat and despair to become the menacing dark “Evil Queen”.
Yet, when Maleficent reevaluates her life, recognizes that her vision has long been shrouded by hatred and revenge and learns to love again, she recovers from her deepest wounds. In the end, she not only reclaims victory over King Stefan, but also reclaims all that she has lost, including her wings and her humanity and emerges as stronger and more resilient woman.
2. Disney shows that Maleficent capable of extraordinary motherly love
Surreptitiously watching over Aurora, Maleficent, rather than the three fairies, proves to play a crucial role in Aurora’s upbringing and survival.
Notably, Maleficent’s dislike for Aurora gradually evolves into maternal feelings. When a fifteen-year-old Aurora finally meets Maleficent, the feelings are mutual and she instantly acknowledges her as her “fairy godmother”. In a twist of events, Maleficent, instead of Prince Philip, delivers Aurora’s “true love kiss” and proves to be Aurora’s true savior.
Here, Disney depicts an emerging surrogate mother-daughter relationship between Maleficent and Aurora. Disney even renders Aurora’s biological parents’ somewhat useless since they don’t play a substantial role in Aurora’s upbringing.
3. Disney makes Maleficent a redeemable character
The most important change that Disney brings to Maleficent is making Maleficent recognize and admit her own mistake.
After forming a surrogate mother-daughter relationship with Aurora in the woods, Maleficent wholeheartedly, but vainly, attempts to revoke the curse on Aurora, and expresses remorse for casting a curse on her in the first place. In the pivotal kissing scene, Maleficent lets go of her pride and confesses to Aurora, “...what I have done to you is unforgivable. I was so lost in hatred and revenge...I swear, no harm will come to you as long as I live.”
By demonstrating Maleficent’s ability to overcome the character flaws that define her in the first place, Disney deconstructs the notion that villains, including “Evil Queens”, are incapable of change. Consequently, Disney debunks the traditional “Evil Queen” villain trope by portraying Maleficent as the redeemable and relatable villain protagonist, who finally reverts to her original goodness and re-earns her wings when she shows that she can love again.
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