Belle vs Ariel

[Jay]

I thought since we are comparing films why not compare characters. Who do you like and/or think is better Ariel or Belle?

[tsom]

Sometimes, I feel like Belle has a stick up her butt. I HATE when fans fawn over her because she reads and has brunette hair (yes, I've seen some of those). She does remind me of Lizzy Bennett and has very good intentions. Plus, she loves her father very much, but I choose Ariel in the long run.

[Dr Frankenollie]

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[Disney's Divinity]

^ Ariel stood up to Triton, and he has way more muscle than Beast. Also, the magic, laser-shooting fork (a very literal “spare the rod, spoil the child“).

No surprise, but hands down Ariel. I think she’s one of the few Disney heroines who are given a heavy amount of depth, imo. Of course, I also relate to her on a personal level, which is another reason for the preference. She personifies both the good and bad side of the teen years (with Triton being the good and bad side of parents).

Belle’s a character I’ve always been ambivalent towards. She doesn’t bother me, but I’m not very interested in her either. The only thing I feel is unsatisfying about her is that she doesn’t come across great enough to explain Beast’s transformation (to me). Maybe it’s just the human interaction that changes him? Still, the movie seems to make it feel as if her “holiness,” so to speak--since the movie sets her up as somewhat of a model of human behavior that Beast admires and which the audience should look up to--is what helps him overcome his past failures and what he falls in love with apparently--but she doesn’t really fill that role well. Her shining moment is when she trades places with Maurice, but she doesn’t really do anything for me after that. It could be because she takes on a more passive role following that scene. Of course, Ariel takes on a more passive role following the deal, but she is at least exploring a world she chose to thrust herself into while Belle is forced (I use that lightly, since she could’ve left) to become accustomed to a world that she hadn’t wanted to be a part of to begin with.

Sorry if that comes across really bizarre, but I’ve never put that much thought into Belle’s character until just now. Interestingly, I had read in a B&tB making of book that they had considered Jodi Benson for Belle as well--that would’ve been interesting (though I ultimately agree with the decision to take on a more “serious,” classical voice).

[Flanger-Hanger]

^ Ariel stood up to Triton, and he has way more muscle than Beast. Also, the magic, laser-shooting fork (a very literal “spare the rod, spoil the child“).

That and he was her father. It's one thing to stand up from a parent, but another to stand against them.

Ariel wins for me, for the reasons listed in other past threads.

[DancingCrab]

Ariel for the win.

I find it funny that the least human Disney princess is the one with the most genuine human traits displaying both her flaws and virtues. Belle is awesome, but she heralded a more politically correct era that I found to be a little too preachy at times. Nothing at all wrong with feminism, but when telling a story, I find characters who are less perfect to be more endearing.

[rodis]

Ariel, definitely.

I love Belle, but sometimes she can be over defensive which makes her a little annoying.

Ariel, on the other hand, is youthful and craves for things beyond her reach, supposedly. She achieves her goals eventually but not before seeing her father lose to Ursula because of her actions. I love her horrified reaction when things start to unravel toward the end. Then, she almost loses to Ursula in the final battle. In the end, when she looks at Eric laying on the beach, you can't help but feel sympathy for her. She knows what she's done, she knows it was wrong and now it's over. Just then, the king realizes he has to let her grow, and sets her free. The whole ending is emotional because of that.

I love Ariel!

[Super Aurora]

Ariel.

Belle refuse to marry Gaston. That was a very bad mistake. A missed opportunity. How can you not admire/adore Gaston?

I also like Ariel cause she's a fun red head. red heads are sexy.

[Disneykid]

I love both, but I have to get the edge to Belle. I think maybe it's because Ariel's a little too reckless and makes hasty, stupid decisions. That doesn't mean Belle is free and clear, either, though. She has a vaguely elitist view of herself in comparison to everyone around her, and her promises hold zero weight.

Still, I like that Belle is a bit of an outsider who feels dissatisfied with life and wishes for adventure. I also love that she has a passion for reading (though I'm not one of those raving Belle fans who think this automatically makes her the smartest Disney princess). And despite her somewhat high view of herself, Belle does take the time to take acknowledge others whereas I get the sense Ariel doesn't really appreciate anyone she comes in contact with unless they're doing something that benefits her needs/wants.

[Disney's Divinity]

I get the sense Ariel doesn't really appreciate anyone she comes in contact with unless they're doing something that benefits her needs/wants.

That's a little heavy. The other criticisms definitely have some weight, but I have to completely disagree here. I would agree that there's some sense that she's a little self-centered--possibly because the story's focused on a crucial moment in her life (she becomes a human and gets married within a very short time here)--but she does help others throughout the film. In the first scene with her, she saves Flounder's life, while risking her own, when she could've just let him die--he is deadweight after all. She also saves Eric later in the film before she knows him; of course there's the attraction she had, but I'm sure she would've tried to save any human who was drowning. In her words, at Triton's outrage, "He could have died!"

Sure, there's the concert she misses, but I don't think she intended to neglect the people around her. I was always under the impression that people helped her out so much because they knew she would've done the same in return. Of course, this is coming from a huge Ariel-fan (grain of salt), but I thought that was almost too harsh.

[pap64]

I've been thinking about this for a while now, and it's really hard to pick one based on just personality and attributes, since they are, surprisingly, equal.

They both have tenacity, the will to chase a dream and a heart that will melt even the coldest hearts. Really, when Triton gets upset and yells at her, he rapidly is ridden with guilt, because deep down he really loves her for her tenacity, happy attitude and love of life. Belle was able to tame a cursed man. Sure, some may say that Beast loved her because he knew she would break the spell at first, but note that he nearly sacrificed his life in order to rescue Belle, which is what changed her attitude.

On the other hand, both have noticeable flaws. Ariel is very rash in their attitude, forcing herself and others into perilous situations just to try and get what she wants at the moment. She is even a bit of a spoiled brat, talking back to people and whining about the stuff she isn't allowed to have.

Belle does have a bit of an elitist attitude, likely seeing life as worse than it really is. It's understandable that she wants more out of life, a common wish everyone has, but it seems she kept herself inside of a protective bubble. That's why I believe that Belle not only transformed Beast but Beast transformed Belle as well. He taught her to look into the heart and soul of a person, learning to look beyond what her eyes see and realize that there is beauty, even in a provincial life.

But in the end, I have to give the win to Belle, simply because she is far more mature than Ariel. Yes, Belle may have complained a lot about her life, but she loved and respected her father, she is very courteous in her quirky attitude and has a lovely, classy presence. Ariel might be ideal for people that love rambunctious youths, but Belle brings a level of maturity people can't get enough of.

[Goliath]

[...] Ariel is very rash in their attitude, forcing herself and others into perilous situations just to try and get what she wants at the moment. She is even a bit of a spoiled brat, talking back to people and whining about the stuff she isn't allowed to have. [...]

I have to disagree strongly here. Ariel had every right to talk back to her father, who was prejudiced against others (humans) and who didn't take her seriously. Of course Triton did it out of love for his daughter, to protect her. But that doesn't make him right. Ariel is a teenager in the middle of puberty --an excellent time to form one's own opinions and question those of authority figures. Not that this means she is automatically right (as she found out the hard way after her deal with Ursula), but you can't let someone grow up without letting her make her own mistakes and learn from them. Ariel would have been a 'spoiled brat' if she had gotten everything she asked for and then *still* not be satisfied. But that's not the way the movie goes at all.

I have to bow down to Disney's Divinity for his awesome posts. 100% right on the mark! Bravo!

It's no contest for me at all: Ariel is the better character, by far! Because, like Divinity said, she's the most deeply developed Disney heroine; the one with the deepest emotions, the most will-power, the most courage, the most passion. Belle is nice and all... but she doesn't *do* anything, nor does she *want* anything. Yes, she wants "more than this provincial life" --but what does that mean? She wanted to be in another place. Well, she could have moved. She's an adult, isn't she? Just get out. But no, she just stays in a castle and does nothing. And she doesn't do anything to appeal to the Beast. She is pretty hot, yeah. That's probably why Beast wanted to be with her. But Ariel? She's got spunk, she's got character; she's on an emotional quest. We get to *know* Ariel, but not Belle.

That's why Ariel wins.

[Flanger-Hanger]

She wanted to be in another place. Well, she could have moved. She's an adult, isn't she? Just get out.

I don't agree as much as I used to with this. I think part of the reason Belle never left home was so that she could look after her father, or his house while he was gone. At different points in the movie we see she's willing to do whatever to make him better so I don't think she should be criticised as much for not going on more frequent vacations. Still, she could have at least gone on some instead of resorting to fictional escapism in books and constantly complaining.

[Super Aurora]

She wanted to be in another place. Well, she could have moved. She's an adult, isn't she? Just get out.

You forgot one important detail:


She's a wimmin. A wimmin in the early 18th century.

[Rose Dome]

My choice would be Belle. She's not perfect (While I could understand why she would want "more than this provincial life", how exactly was she going to get it?) but she doesn't lose her freedom of spirit over a handsome Prince. She becomes romantically attached to The Beast, and he is, beneath the spell, a Prince, but her desire to be away from the small minded bumkins of her town, only becomes stronger. I also love how she doesn't declare her love for The Beast until he abandons his tempremental exterior. She doesn't think "Ooh! He has a castle and a deep husky voice. I'm just going to accept it when he goes into rages".

Ariel is quite different. She starts off with a more solid ambition than Belle, but she looses it upon literally seeing Eric. When on land, she appeals to him not by being a fun go getting girl, but by being all coy with her bashful grins and eyelid fluttering. There are moments of zest, such as when she takes the horses' reins, and when she takes the puppet off the Person's hand, but these are hardly the intellectual persuits she originally dreamed of. It's almost as if Ursula took away half her IQ points, along with her voice.

Belle's the winner in my book for having her head screwed on right.

[Flanger-Hanger]

There are moments of zest, such as when she takes the horses' reins, and when she takes the puppet off the Person's hand, but these are hardly the intellectual persuits she originally dreamed of. It's almost as if Ursula took away half her IQ points, along with her voice.

How does one "intellectually persue" anything wihtout the ability to speak? Ariel is 16, which means she still has the ability to act like a child in wonderment over every new thing and get over excited. Remember that everything is new to her in this "world" and she finally gets a chance to explore it all. How could she be expected to stay focused or in control?

To the audience the things she gets excited over are nothing special, but to her they're amazing. For that reason I don't believe it to be out of character for her or a sign of lowered intelligence.

She falls in love with the first handsome man she sees and doesn't really know how to flirt with him when given the chance. Too me it's a sign of her inexperience which is reasonable for her age. She also knows she has only a little time to kiss so she tries all the "wrong" moves becuase of her limited experience and abilities, but this is still after all the day of dancing, horseback riding and puppet snatching so it seems wrong to suggest she didn't try to be a "fun go getting girl" at first.

[Disney's Divinity]

To the audience the things she gets excited over are nothing special, but to her they're amazing. For that reason I don't believe it to be out of character for her or a sign of lowered intelligence.

I agree. This is the same character who didn’t know what a fork was. Cultureshock much? I know I've watched Mermaid forever, but I remember once thinking seriously about that lyric "what's a fire and why does it...burn?" and I thought--that's an awesome lyric to put in there. To imagine a character who doesn't even know what warmth/heat is.

I don’t think Ariel is “different,” at least not in the way Disney Geek put it. She never has to not accept a beast like Belle, because she doesn’t get with a beast. You can’t hold it against the character just because she decided to like a man without anger management problems.

I wonder why so many people think Ariel is stupid? The fact that she can think behind her father’s repressed ideology and that she doesn't accept that rules are automatically right is very intelligent to me. Different definitions, I guess. Sure, the deal wasn’t a bright spot, but it clearly took place in an emotional moment for her, after Triton’s violent spell. I would say Belle is equally stupid for wandering into a Beast-she-doesn't-know-and-who-she-knew-was-dangerous's lair when he specifically told her to stay out, risking herself harm because of nosiness. Head screwed on right? Not if it got mauled off.

Maybe it's just the personality difference. Ariel is a very enthusiastic character, whereas Belle is somewhat cold and overly serious. I think the film relies on those stereotypes to give the impression that the character is intelligent. Because intelligent people aren't enthusiastic, and they read books. (Not saying Belle isn't intelligent, but I never thought Ariel was dumb either.)

[Super Aurora]

I wonder why so many people think Ariel is stupid? The fact that she can think behind her father’s repressed ideology and that she doesn't accept that rules are automatically right is very intelligent to me. Different definitions, I guess. Sure, the deal wasn’t a bright spot, but it clearly took place in an emotional moment for her, after Triton’s violent spell. I would say Belle is equally stupid for wandering into a Beast-she-doesn't-know-and-who-she-knew-was-dangerous's lair when he specifically told her to stay out, risking herself harm because of nosiness. Head screwed on right? Not if it got mauled off.

Nah , both do stupid things mainly because they're both wimmin. It's wimmin job to be stupid. Silly wimmin.

[Linden]

I say Belle is better. She didn't fall in love with the FIRST MAN SHE EVER SAW. She chose hers after she got to know him - the good and the bad parts of him. And she didn't choose him based on looks either. She likes to read, has pride issues, risks her life for her father's, goes back on her promise, sticks up for herself, and isn't swayed by what other people think of her. She's not perfect, but that's a good thing.

Ariel's not perfect either, but she seems so spoiled to me. I have to rewatch TLM. I think I'd identify with her character more now than I used to. But still, she always seemed one-note to me. Almost her whole character is based upon the fact that she wants to be with Eric or on her interest in humans. To me, it just seems like Belle has more to her.

[Disney's Divinity]

Nah , both do stupid things mainly because they're both wimmin. It's wimmin job to be stupid. Silly wimmin.

At least you're logic's consistent.