I think Ariel is a great role model. She teachers you to fight for your dreams, be determined, don't wait around for your dreams to happen, don't just whine but make the best with what you got while still working to get your dream, don't be afraid to take chances, and speak your mind. Some may think she's a bad role model but I think they fail to realize that she's just a 16 year old girl, that's they way they all are. As for Merida I don't think so as much. I absolutely love her but she's not that good a role model.

Only slightly. I think both are actually pretty good role models, but Merida is slightly better to me because she owns up to her mistakes and tries to undo them, while Ariel does not.

I don't think they are horrible role models but they made stupid decsions that can't be ignored. I think Merida's decision was slightly worse.

I don't think either one of them are good role models. But Merida tried to change her mom, that is a big problem. If her mom was being abusive, I could've understand but no, that was not the case.

Yeah that's one of the reasons I prefer Ariel, she didn't want to change her dad she just wanted to make him understand.

a bit...

Ariel is worse because not only is she disrespectful to her father and irresponsible but she gets what she wants in the end and it is her father who ends up giving in and not Ariel who learns a lesson. Merida made a mistake but she also owned up to her mistake and tried to fix it and she ended up compromising with her mother as well.
KataraLover not all 16 yr old girls are like Ariel...for one they do not all disrespect thier parents, two they don't all make rash decision that put thier parents and loved ones in Danger, three they don't all jump at the first guy they think is hot, and four they all don't act like spoiled Brats....I respected my parents and was thankful for what I had and waited till I left home and was on my own before I did things I thought my parents would disapprove of...

I might have more respect for Ariel except for the fact she did not change in the end and instead of dealing with a punishment for her actions she got exactly what she wanted and her father changed for her. The movie is basically saying it is okay to act out and get what you want when you want it becuase your parents will be there for you no matter what and save your reckaless butt and give you an award for being thoughtless

^ You said it so well SweetPea2007. I do not think either are very good role models, but Merida's reason is a lot more valid than Ariel's. Merida's mother was forcing her to act like a traditional princess would, even to the point of an arranged marriage. Ariel wired to leaguer would to become a human. Merida had responsibilities to do, while Ariel clearly had none.

The problem is that Ariel never owned up to her mistake, and that Merida did immediately. Her and her mother changed from the experience, while only Triton did. He was the one who gave her what she wanted; there was no compromise like Merida and Elinor did.

Not all 16 year olds act like that. The ones I know we're a lot more respectful than either of them were to their parents. Either way, both are in my bottom 3 princesses list

SweetPea2007 I think Ariel did change and realize her mistakes, not only when she said "Daddy I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't know". But there was also when her father changes into that plant thing I could see that she knew it was her fault, even though she took it out on Ursula. There's also when Ursula was ruling the ocean and she saw all of the destruction happening because of her, I think she really did realize what she had done. Also if she was a spoiled brat she would've begged her father to turn her back but she didn't, she just wanted to see Eric and then knew she'd have to return to the sea. Plus I felt that change in her the most when she said "I love you daddy". But hey to each their own point of view.

Jayden-G immediately owned up to her mistakes? Yeah I could tell when she said the following: "It's not my fault, I didn't ask her to change you into a bear. I just wanted her to change... you", "There's no point at having a go at me, the witch it to blame", and "A witch turned mom into a bear, it's NOT my fault". Yeah CLEARLY she owned up immediately.

how the fuck is Merida a bad role model? omfg

At least Merida tries to mend her mistakes, and her reasons were a lot more reasonable than Ariel's for her actions... I'm beginning to think that Triton was too soft on Ariel in the end. Ariel is very rash, selfish,and reckless in my opinion and rebels without justifiable reason in my book. Though I do like her, I think she's a terrible role model.

Pretty_angel92, she isn't a horrible role model, but people don't like how she tried to change her mom. I personally agree with them, she should have tried to make her mom understand.

Just saying;)

I think both could be better role models, but they're not the kind I would like my little sister seeing as her hero.

The only reason Merida trys to fix her mistake is cause her mom is a BEAR. If her mom changed into a robot that let her do whatever she wanted I dont think Merida would have been so quick to change her.