Rapunzel (Tangled) or the history of an abuse

A few days ago I watched Rapunzel (Tangled) on DVD.

STORYLINE (according to imdb):

After receiving the healing powers from a magical flower, the baby Princess Rapunzel is kidnapped from the palace in the middle of the night by Mother Gothel. Mother Gothel knows that the flower's magical powers are now growing within the golden hair of Rapunzel, and to stay young, she must lock Rapunzel in her hidden tower. Rapunzel is now a teenager and her hair has grown to a length of 70-feet. The beautiful Rapunzel has been in the tower her entire life, and she is curious of the outside world. One day, the bandit Flynn Ryder scales the tower and is taken captive by Rapunzel. Rapunzel strikes a deal with the charming thief to act as her guide to travel to the place where the floating lights come from that she has seen every year on her birthday. Rapunzel is about to have the most exciting and magnificent journey of her life.

Actually, the film is a metaphor for the life of an abused child. The bad Mother Gothel (of course it was not her real mother, but the witch who kidnapped Rapunzel) is the universal symbol of the narcissistic and abusive mother who wants to thrive on the "healing powers" of the little princess's hair = she wants to suck the life out of her child by controlling her every breath and manipulating her with fear of the real world outside the tower (=prison!), and of course she wants nothing else but to feed her own narcissistic and selfish needs by forbidding her daughter to live her own life. Doesn't it sound familiar? ;-(((

Well, the princess becomes a teenager and upon turning 18 she wants to go out into the world "to see all those lights", which were actually lanterns that her parents and all the kingdom's people released to the sky once a year on Rapunzel's birthday to remind them of their once lost princess. The lights are of course the symbol of freedom, of new things to discover, of a new life that was waiting...

It is then that we start seeing behind the "loving" mask of Mother Gothel. Just read the lyrics of her song and you'll see too ;-((

Mother Gothel:
You want to go outside?
Why, Rapunzel...!
Look at you, as fragile as a flower
Still a little sapling, just a sprout
You know why we stay up in this tower

Rapunzel:
I know but...

Mother Gothel:
That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear
Guess I always knew this day was coming
Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet

Rapunzel:But --

Mother Gothel:
Shh! Trust me, pet
Mother knows best
Mother knows best
Listen to your mother
It's a scary world out there
Mother knows best
One way or another
Something will go wrong, I swear
Ruffians, thugs
Poison ivy, quicksand
Cannibals and snakes
The plague

Rapunzel:
No!

Mother Gothel:
Yes!

Rapunzel:
But --

Mother Gothel:
Also large bugs
Men with pointy teeth, and...
Stop, no more, you'll just upset me
Mother's right here
Mother will protect you
Darling, here's what I suggest
Skip the drama
Stay with mama
Mother knows best

Go ahead, get trampled by a rhino
Go ahead, get mugged and left for dead
Me, I'm just your mother, what do I know?
I only bathed and changed and nursed you
Go ahead and leave me, I deserve it
Let me die alone here, be my guest
When it's too late
You'll see, just wait
Mother knows best

Mother knows best
Take it from your mumsy
On your own, you won't survive
Sloppy, underdressed
Immature, clumsy
Please, they'll eat you up alive
Gullible, naïve
Positively grubby
Ditzy and a bit, well, hmm vague
Plus, I believe
Gettin' kinda chubby
I'm just saying 'cause I wuv you
Mother understands
Mother's here to help you
All I have is one request
Rapunzel?

Rapunzel:Yes?

Mother Gothel:
Don't ever ask to leave this tower again.

Rapunzel:
Yes, Mother.

Mother Gothel:
I love you very much, dear.

Rapunzel:
I love you more.

Mother Gothel:
I love you most.
Don't forget it
You'll regret it
Mother knows best

It doesn't get any clearer than this.

And I am not telling you more. You have to see the movie yourself, trust me, it's worth it!