“The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.”
“Mulan” follows the story of Fa Mulan, a young maiden living in ancient China
during the Han dynasty. She is somebody who is not really good at anything,
whether it is the stereotypical “manly” things like working out, being physically
strong or the stereotypical feminine things like “the right way to make tea, apply
makeup and dressing up.” The lack of these latter traits was what gets her
described as a failure in the eyes of the local matchmaker and the society. When
the Huns, led by the villainous and ruthless Shan Yu, invade China, the Emperor
issues a decree conscripting one man from every family to join the army. As there
were no sons in the Fa family, it is Mulan’s father, Fa Zhou, who is conscripted to
go to war against the Huns.
Mulan (1998), is an animated Disney Princess movie and is arguably known as
one of the greatest as well as the most compelling narrative from a Disney product.
The story blends elements of folklore, adventure, supernatural and empowerment
and the movie is celebrated for its portrayal of Chinese culture. But at its core,
“Mulan” is a story of defying gender norms and female empowerment. The titular
character is the classic “I’m not like other girls” character, but this movie is one of
those rare narratives where one can see this trope from a positive lens.
Unfortunately, he was too old and frail to fight. To save her father from lifelong
injuries and possible death, Mulan, cuts her hair with her father’s sword, dons on her
father’s armour and disguising herself as a man, she secretly goes in his place. With
her unusual side-kicks, that being a little spirit dragon, Mushu as well as a lucky
cricket called Cri- Kee, she, under the alias “Ping”, goes under rigorous training
along with her fellow soldiers, led by the stern but honorable Captain Li Shang.
Mulan faces several challenges as she navigates the male- dominated world of the
military. In comparison to her comrades, she struggles to keep up and is often
chastised by Shang for her perceived incompetence.
However, despite initial struggles, Mulan, gradually proves herself to be a skilled
and courageous warrior who is worthy to fight in the war. In the meanwhile, the
Huns continue to advance and the Chinese army prepare for battle. To her dismay,
Mulan’s true identity is revealed when she gets injured during a training exercise.
Despite her lie and deception, Shang spares her life but expels her from the army.
When Mulan was gathering herself from her melancholic situation in the middle
of the snowy mountains, where she was left, she learns that Shan Yu along with
his
army is on its way to the Imperial city and plans to assassinate the emperor.
Realizing that she must stop them, Mulan devises a plan to warn the emperor
which should eventually result in saving China. With the help of her friends from
the army, including the comedic trio of Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po, Mulan
infiltrates the city and confronts Shan Yu.
Her training and presence of mind comes in handy when Mulan, with her
intelligence and resourcefulness, outsmarts Shan Yu and ultimately defeats him,
saving the emperor and China. When the fight settles down and she is summoned
in front of the emperor and the people, Mulan gets recognized for her bravery and
sacrifice and is offered a place in the emperor’s court by the emperor himself.
In the end, Mulan's actions not only bring honor to her family but makes her
China’s greatest heroines in the process. She also challenges the rigid gender roles
of her society, proving that a woman can be as capable and heroic as any man.
Somewhere in the midst of the chaos that unravels in the story, the audience sees
Mulan doubting herself and questioning her actions. But she abides by the
conclusion that she cannot back off now when so much was at stake and she knew
that her real identity and her actions will bring great dishonor to her family and
father, which was worse than death for him. This firmness in character, stern
decisions and possessing the strength of the soul is what turned Mulan from being
a clumsy and meek woman to an honorable warrior and makes “Mulan” a
beautiful & a great coming-of-age movie.
“Mulan" explores themes of gender identity and societal expectations. Set in the
time and society when women were looked down upon and sometimes even
punished just for speaking out of turn, Mulan defies
traditional gender norms, challenging the notion that women are incapable of being
warriors. The movie also sticks out in the minds of the audience for several other
reasons.
For once, it provides the audience with a strong female lead, at least stronger than
most of the other Disney princesses even though she is not really counted among
the Disney “princesses” line-up. The movie resonates with the audience,
especially young girls, for its empowering themes and encourages them to not
abide by the limitations imposed by the society. When one sees Mulan make the
decision to join the army in her father’s place, she does so out of love for him,
valuing his life over hers.
While "Mulan" celebrates Mulan's defiance of patriarchal expectations, it also
critiques the oppressive nature of gender roles for not just women but for men as
well. It was only the men who were expected to fight and die in the war leaving no
choice for the ones who didn’t want to. This lack of choice towards both the
genders is the reason why Mulan was compelled to do what she did.
In conclusion, "Mulan" offers a complex portrayal of gender dynamics,
empowerment, and cultural representation. It challenges traditional gender norms
and celebrates female empowerment, resonating with the audience across the world
and inviting rich material for feminist analysis and discussion.
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