In both tales the girl is punished for falling in love by having her hair cut off. Such was the shame of having one's hair cut off. But don't despair, both girls are eventually rescued by their love and they live happily ever after (presumably with their long locks repaired).
Studies have shown that cutting one's hair (especially when going through a traumatic life change, such as a breakup) can provide a sense of control and emotional release. Changing one's hairstyle can also be a powerful tool in helping redefine or solidify one's identity. Even a simple trim has mental health benefits.
Rapunzel herself is a symbol. Named after the food her mother could not ignore, Rapunzel symbolizes desire. Dame Gothel treasures her so much, she hides her in a tower so that the world cannot share her. The prince struggles and strives to find her after his eyes are pierced.
Cutting off hair in ancient Asia (Japan, china, Korea & possibly some other Asian cultures) symbolizes being banished or rejected from their home. In the more modern age that is now, cutting long hair into a short cut means to forget the past, leaving the old and starting anew.
Why Rapunzel Having her Hair Cut is Bad - The Moral of the Story
What does cutting hair symbolize in literature?
When a character cuts off their hair, it often symbolizes a rite of passage or bout of character growth. A princess striking out on an adventure, or a new recruit at boot camp, for instance. Parting with it voluntarily can be greatly symbolic.
Haircutting in anime is a very big deal, symbolizing significant character growth. Anime News Network Founder Justin Sevakis explains: “The meaning comes from the Edo period, when samurai would cut off their top-knot (or chonmage) as a way of stepping down from their position.
The story of "Rapunzel" is based on the tragic life of Saint Barbara, who is thought to have lived in the third century. The true story of Rapunzel is thought to be about a young woman in Italy named Barbara who was so beautiful that her father locked her away in a tower so no men could get to her.
– In one of the final scenes of the movie, Rapunzel stands up to the witch, telling her that she will no longer bend to her wishes. The Takeaway: Sometimes, standing up to what you believe in is hard, takes courage and may go against popular opinion.
Rapunzel Has Two Daughters Named Anastasia And Drizella
Rapunzel Tremaine has two daughters before she goes into the tower, and she devotes all her energy to them. Tying in with the Cinderella side of her character, the two girls are known as Anastasia and Drizella, the names Disney chose for Cinderella's stepsisters.
Hair holds emotional weight and memories, so much so that cutting it off can be a form of letting go of those memories that hold trauma, and a tool of empowerment.
"Your hair will continue to rub against clothing, get ripped out by sunglasses, and generally get beat up by your day to day life," Bivona notes. "This roughs up the cuticle, which will cause your hair to lose its shine and cause added dryness and weakness.
So, when they decide to chop off their tresses, it is mostly to adopt a new, fresher identity. The girl feels an intense need to move on and hence, the need to look different and new." The hairstylist Eloise Cheung agrees. "Dramatic hair changes are a way of shedding the past and moving on," she told HelloGiggles.
In the series, her new hair is revealed to be indestructible and cannot be cut. It's later revealed that Rapunzel's hair no longer possesses its original powers to heal, but is revealed to have acquired a new power, protecting Rapunzel by creating a magical shield.
In the prologue of Tangled, baby Rapunzel's hair is cut by Mother Gothel. It turns brown and remains at this length, confirmed by when she shows that piece to Eugene later on by the campfire. For whatever reason, the magic in her hair allows it to grow; its absence does not.
When the sorceress leaves, he bids Rapunzel to let her hair down. When she does so, he climbs up and they fall in love. He eventually asks her to marry him, and she agrees.
In Disney's Tangled, we get a variant of the Rapunzel story that reveals our deepest yearnings. The film explores big personal issues, like finding meaning and connection. Much of the wisdom comes from the source material. Timeless fairytales survive precisely because they explore universal issues.
She's smart and fearless, these traits help her not fall victim to the games Mother Gothel played with her. Rapunzel saw right past her lie that she only keeps her in the tower for her own protection. She shows that you are in control of your own life whether others like it or not.
Gothel withers and disappears when the hair is cut, and Flynn dies, but Rapunzel's tears contain enough magic to revive him. He returns Rapunzel to her birth parents, the King and Queen, who grant Flynn a full pardon.
Gothel is the main antagonist in Tangled. She kidnapped baby Rapunzel to get the magical power of Rapunzel's golden hair. Its magic can make people young but when the hair is cut, it will lose its power. So instead, she had to kidnap baby Rapunzel to make herself young.
In order to market the new film to both sexes and additional age groups, Disney changed the title from Rapunzel to Tangled while also emphasizing Flynn Rider, the film's prominent male character, showing that his story is just as important as that of Rapunzel.
Gothel wasn't a good parent and was capable of awful things. She was selfish, cunning, and smart, which made her a great Disney villain. Audiences know that Gothel is bad news, but in certain ways, she's still an underrated Disney villain.
Unusual hair colors, like bright red, are a common and defining trope in anime, even in realistic settings. Red-haired female characters in anime are often portrayed as hot-headed, reckless, and passionate.
The chonmage (丁髷) is a type of traditional Japanese topknot haircut worn by men. It is most commonly associated with the Edo period (1603–1868) and samurai, and in recent times with sumo wrestlers.
In anime, we see it displayed in Princess Mononoke when Ashitaka cuts off his top-knot as a symbol of his departure from his clan. It also symbolizes the start of his quest to cure the curse on his arm and discover the cause of the infection that took over the boar god that attacked him.
