How the Disney Story Tangled Relates to Familial Trauma

Just think of the song from the movie “Mother knows best”

Yes, I am 34 with no children and not only still watch but also fully enjoy and absolutely love animated movies.

Great, now that that is out of the way, let’s move on.

For those who haven’t seen the movie, Tangled is essentially a spin off of the story Rapunzel — she is a stolen princess with magical hair that heals when she sings and her caretaker pretends she is Rapunzel’s mother who is only trying to keep her safe. In reality, she is merely keeping Rapunzel and her healing hair all to herself and using the princess for her own personal gain to stay vibrant and young forever.

How is this movie relevant to familial trauma you might wonder, well for starters Rapunzel isn’t loved for who she but rather for what she provides to her ‘mother’. In this story/case it is providing everlasting youth and beauty through the healing power of her hair.

Rapunzel is constantly being not only manipulated and guilted, but also continuously belittled and insulted by her caretaker who only wishes to control her and use her, not love her.

Starting to see the similarities?

She is never allowed to leave her tower because she has been lied to her entire life about the…