Disney Prince Review: Eric, The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid is the first Film of the Disney Renaissance, what most people would call the greatest era of Disney animated movies with this film (though some would argue it was Who Framed Roger Rabbit? but I digress). This is the film that honestly changed everything for Disney as it brought a touch of Broadway to animation with expert use of color and music, it pushed the boundaries of animation like Disney always has. With that in mind, it would only make sense that it's first film would push the boundaries in other places like a more active female lead, a father-daughter dynamic, and a more active and present prince.

Honestly, this was the film that got me interested in doing this because we often hear the argument and claims of how Ariel changes her entire body for a guy she doesn't even know who likes her for something as arbitrary as her voice. I found that to be a bit of an inaccurate and dishonest view of Ariel and the film itself. Eric is possibly the most carefree of the Disney Princes, at least so far as his story doesn't begin with him and the princess though Ariel is aware of him first. Eric is introduced just having fun, playing the flute with the ship's crew and his dog and just having a good time, there is no attempt at being regal, he seems like just another guy. Eric isn't in a hurry to get married or at least he won't marry just anyone and he is waiting for the right woman. In this same scene we see him feeling a bit awkward about his present from Grimsby, which is a statue of himself which I feel shows he is a bit uncomfortable with pomp of being a prince to some extent. When the storm comes, Eric; in classic Disney fashion rises to the occasion to help and even going the extra mile to save his dog.

When it comes to his relationship with Ariel it's actually very interesting. She saves him from drowning and in his semi-conscious state she sings to him and he sees her basked in sunlight, so he's enamored with the aesthetic of her, specifically her beautiful voice. He creates an ideal woman in his head and he's searching for her. When he meets Ariel, he doesn't recognize her but he does help her out, seeing her as someone who needs help. Eric bonds with Ariel and honestly I think we all know he starts to fall for her but he doesn't know how to talk to her because well, she can't talk. When the charm enchanting him breaks and Ariel gets her voice back, we see the two of them embrace and Eric doesn't seem that surprised as if in a lot ways, he always felt she was his dream girl.

Eric as a character is such a romantic at heart that I can't help but wonder if he is what Henry in Cinderella was supposed to be as a character and we do see some comparisons between them. Both don't seem to have any interest in just anyone, have little interest in flashy things, they fall for girls after seeing them for just a moment, and they are both very active and heroic people (sequels for Henry). It's a bit sad that Eric has even less to do in the sequel films as he just has a few short moments in the film. He is more fleshed out than some of the earlier princes as we see him interact with other characters and spend a great deal of time with Ariel (three days) and we see a really sweet romance slowly start to build.

Ponder Point

Instead of comparing Eric to someone else (I was actually thinking Ted from How I Met Your Mother) I wanted to talk about the issue of the sexist claims in the film. A while back, there was an issue of Ariel and other characters being objectified as just rewards for the prince and was a complaint about women in video games. They are acted upon instead of acting and I have to wonder if they missed the fact that it is Eric who is objectified. Looking at Ariel in the film, while she is attracted to Eric I think she is more in love with the human world and what it holds and Eric is a representation of it. Later on Ursula uses Eric to get Ariel to sign a contract and Ariel has to get him to fall in love with her, and then Ursula enchants him to get Ariel. By the logic of Subject to Object relationships (I forget what they call it) then Eric is the one objectified as no one asks him how he feels and he is acted on for people to achieve their goals as I don't think it mattered to Ariel really what she had to do to live on the surface. I don't honestly believe in this Subject to Object idea as much as most people as it more used to make claims on works that aren't there. Tune in next time where we head down to an enchanted castle with a very special rose.