Lately, there has been some discussion on here about princesses and their personalities- specifically whether certain princesses have personalities or whether they have sufficiently rounded personalities. I thought it would be a good idea to actually look at the personalities and the different dimensions to them to get a clearer picture of just how well-developed the princesses are as characters. This is not an article about whether the princess is introverted or extroverted or personality type (I’ll leave that to LightningRed,) but the personality traits of the princesses. I will be looking at positive traits, negative traits, neutral traits, and traits that can go either way depending on the situation (for the sake of convenience, I will be referring to these as “border traits”) for each of the princesses.
I know, you’re all going to be mad because I’m treating them as one character, but ultimately I just decided to divide up the articles by time period (mostly) because… well, you’ll see how long these get.
The classic princesses are much more idealized characters than are common in much of any movie/ book/ general story today, where having an abundance of flaws is actually considered a good thing (and not just for the sake of character development.) Interestingly, these older characters are belittled for not having flaws and being “unrealistic,” but a lot of the “kick-butt” characters of today are just as idealized (or, at least, you can tell the author wasn’t thinking of flaws while writing the characters *cough, cough* Katniss Everdeen *cough, cough*) but since they are “tough,” no one cares. Anyway, the princesses of the classic era were clearly written with a perfect woman in mind. And while they do still have flaws (as any good character should,) they were definitely made to be more perfection-oriented than realism-oriented.

Snow White
Snow White is a very good example of the idealized princess, despite the fact the she is actually a very well-rounded character. The only thing she might be lacking in is flaws, but I personally think she makes up for it with a wide variety of border traits which are positives that can act as a negative because of the extremity of the presence of that trait in her personality.

Positives: Snow White is kind to everyone she meets, of course. She never has any hard feelings against anybody, not even Queen Grimhilde. She helps the dwarfs, and she is determined it will only take some kindness to break Grumpy’s hardness- and what do you know, she was right! Snow White is optimistic and always sees the good side of everything. She believes that everything is going to be alright and she won’t do anything to contradict it. She is hard-working. Snow makes herself useful even after being sent away. She uses her talents of cooking and cleaning (things she had mastered and the dwarfs hadn’t) to repay them for their kindness (honestly, that makes much more sense than her working in the mines, her only real other option- the dwarfs were already skilled in that and had more than enough workers, so why shouldn’t she offer her unique skills? Done ranting.)

Negatives: Snow White is bossy. She comes to the dwarfs’ house and tells them what they have to do and the orders they have to follow to eat. She intrudes on their territory and then tells them what they have to do. Snow White can also be very passive. She needs the huntsman to tell her to run away when the Queen is going to kill her. She has to be told to run away! Snow is also very naïve. This goes with her optimism, but Snow White really doesn’t understand anything about the world. She doesn’t take any precautions and believes everything will be alright even if she is in a dangerous situation with no protection.

Neutral: Snow White is hopelessly romantic. She knows in her heart that the Prince is going to be coming back for her. She has a mind for business. This goes with her bossiness, but she also runs a tight shift and never lets anything go without passing her standards.

Border: Snow White has a lot of border traits. She always believes there is good in people. This is good when she is dealing with Grumpy and is kind to him, but she also lets herself be, um, killed. She is also very innocent. This is part of the reason all the dwarfs, the prince, and even the huntsman fall under her spell. However, it can also be a disadvantage to her because others use it against her. The queen uses her innocence against her in her attempts to kill her. It’s not the same as naivety, naivety is more being gullible while innocence is more purity and positivity. Also, part of the reason the queen wants to kill her is because of how much everyone (the prince specifically) loves her, in addition to her beauty, and people love her so much because of her purity and innocence. Snow White is cheerful- very cheerful. This is a huge positive for her in many ways. It is a good thing because she doesn’t do anything with the assumption that anything will turn out badly, and she goes into every situation treating it as if it will have a positive outcome. This serves her well because she never does anything halfway, she goes all out for the best possible outcome. However, a certain degree of pessimism is a good thing. If a person has absolutely no pessimism, they won’t be able to look at things in a realistic manner. Ultimately, the world is not a perfect place, and so if you can’t see anything bad in the possible outcome, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.


Cinderella
Cinderella is the most realistic of the classic princesses. She is optimistic and doesn’t give up, but at the same time you can tell she really has strong dislike for Lady Tremaine. You can tell she resents the obstacles. Walt said Cinderella was his favorite fairytale because he could relate to Cinderella’s struggles before he got his big break, so I’m sure that’s where she got some of her resentment and why she is so realistic. Cinderella has a lot more gray area to her personality and decisions than, certainly Snow White, and either of the other classics.

Positives: Cinderella is optimistic. She never gives up hope and is always determined that the dream that she wishes will come true. She is emotionally strong beyond comparison, able to hold up under abuse for years. Cinderella is basically kind. She has to help those in trouble, even though she is in such a low situation herself. Cinderella is selfless. It would be easy for her to wallow in her own self-pity and ignore the plight of others, but Cinderella always helps those less fortunate than even herself. Cinderella is also assertive, able to stand up against Tremaine, showing that she isn’t going to let herself be walked all over and still has self-respect. She is dignified in the way she treats those abusing her, she never sinks to their level. There’s a difference between having dignity and class and being a doormat or pushover, something Cinderella’s often accused of. Cinderella also has a lot of foresight and understands that it will be better in the long run for her to stay with the Tremaines for the time being, and she has the patience to wait out the time.

Negatives: Cinderella is bitter and truly resentful. You can clearly see her anger she holds against Lady Tremaine. She almost takes it out on Lucifer when he ruins her cleaning, she would have if the bell hadn’t rung right then. She has a chip on her shoulder and knows how to hold a grudge. You can also see the pleasure Cinderella has when she pulls out the shoe in front of Lady Tremaine. Cinderella wants revenge and is vindictive. She is truly happy that she ruined Lady Tremaine’s plan to keep her out of the castle. She is aggressive and passive-aggressive. Again, Cinderella almost takes out her anger on Lucifer. Cinderella makes fun of Anastasia and Drizella’s musical ability when they can’t hear her. Unlike Snow, the abuse Cinderella has been subjected to has actually effected and taken a toll on her. Cinderella can also make a martyr of herself. Contradicting her compassion for others and optimism (and hey, don’t all of us have traits that would seem self-contradictory?) when Cinderella is in a low moment, she lets herself be sorry for herself and just gets angry and generally disappointed instead of really trying to do something about it. Cinderella could have just screamed her head of when the duke was there, but instead she cried and almost let him go without her opportunity. While I’m not saying she really wanted to stay, she was sorry for herself and didn’t really do everything in her power. Wow, I wrote a lot for Cinderella’s negatives. I promise, I’m not hating on her, just trying to show how realistic she is, since most people tend to overlook that and make it seem like she’s just this inhuman example of perfection.

Neutral: Cinderella is dreamy. She makes dreams and hopes for herself and takes happiness in her dreams. Cinderella is also realistic. Seemingly against her optimism and dreamy nature, Cinderella can see the grit of the situation and the grim possibility. An example of this is when Cinderella doesn’t have time to make her dress (though why she didn’t just go in the dress as it was, ignoring fashion of the day, I don’t know.) Cinderella tries to tell herself that she isn’t really missing out (optimism,) but, opposed to Snow White, she also realizes that there is no apparent way she can go (realism.) Cinderella is also opportunistic. She took the chances she had to try and free herself. This is another trait that would seem to contradict a previously mentioned aspect of her personality (self-pity.) When the order came, Cinderella reminded Tremaine that she was an unmarried woman of the country and therefore ordered to come. Cinderella kept the slipper on her at all times and pulled it out when the duke was not there (though she could have gone back to the castle with the other shoe, though that could raise suspicions I suppose.) Ultimately, all the times I am pointing out flaws in Cinderella’s logic is just another example of how Cinderella is a realistic character.

Border: Cinderella has less border traits than Snow White. However, she also has more definitive flaws than Snow White does. One border trait of Cinderella is her patience. While this can work to her advantage because she ends up having a much better end situation than she would have had she given up and left, this also does cause her to be more passive than she needs to be and not stand up for herself in many situations. Another border trait is her tendency to stuff her feelings and not express them. Unlike most border traits, this is more commonly a negative trait than a positive trait. While this is bad because it causes her to be bitter and resentful in her situation and she has a lot of pent-up anger, this also serves her well because it stops her from making any rash moves that would cause her to be in even more trouble and make her life even more difficult.


Aurora
I might venture to say Aurora is the most idealized of the princesses. And while she is very idealized, Aurora still has plenty to round out her character and most certainly does have a developed personality. I, like so many others, really wish we got to see more of it in the movie, because Aurora really does have the makings of a truly compelling character had she had more fleshing-out. However, I still love her the way she is, and she’s still a great character.

Positives: Aurora is kind to others, no matter who they are. She was always kind and respectful to the fairies and she was nice to the animals in the forest. Of course, Aurora, while at first unnerved (and come on, who wouldn’t be?) was welcoming to Phillip. Another strong sign of her kindness is the way she acts when she first meets her parents and Phillip’s father. Even after they have created this plot for her that has ended up hurting her so much, she still rushes to her mother’s arms and embraces her. She kisses Phillip’s father. Aurora is just kind. Aurora is also cautious. Really, she is. Now, before you go all “don’t talk to strangers” on me, she didn’t just immediately run off with him. She made sure it was the man from her dreams before finishing her song with him. And before you get all up in arms about that, it was a fairytale, things work differently. And even after Aurora knows it is the man from her dreams, she arranges for him to meet her at her house. If Phillip were to end up being anything other than a gentleman, what safer place for Aurora to be when that was revealed than at her than on her territory with three other women there to protect and defend her. Aurora is poised and can handle anything that is thrown at her. Aurora is emotionally tough and selfless, and respectful and obedient to the fairies. Even after it is revealed to her that her entire life has been one big illusion planned by those supposed to be the closest people in the world to her, she picks up the pieces enough to go back and take responsibility for her people. She gives up a life with her dream prince to lead her people. You can’t ask for more in a ruler. Aurora has the makings to be a great queen.

Negatives: Aurora can be spineless. Going along with her obedience and respect, Aurora can sometimes not speak for herself even when it would benefit her. She really is more complex than she appears. There is more than one side to her acting on her decisions. On the one hand, she is being selfless and dutiful, on the other, she is being spineless. Aurora can also be awkward when she first meets someone. Despite the grace and elegance that is so often said the only thing anyone can say about her, and in direct contrast to her poised demeanor, Aurora is not really sure how to handle certain situations. When she first meets Phillip, she doesn’t know whether she wants to stay or whether she wants to go, and she’s not really sure how to handle either decision. Going along with this, Aurora is indecisive. She doesn’t know what to do about Phillip, and changes her mind when he asks when he can see her again. Aurora doesn’t know how to make decisions she can stick with. Aurora can have a tendency, like Cinderella, to be self-pitying. When she went back to the castle, while she was dignified, she still was simply devastated to be there.

Neutral: Aurora is very philosophical. She creates a metaphor between her life and the birds while she is in the forest. She observes patterns of behavior in the way those around her live and she wonders if there can somehow be a connection between that and the way she lives her life. I said in my house sorting article that I thought Aurora was a Ravenclaw, no in the traditional scholarly academic sense, but as an abstract, creative thinker. Aurora is imaginative and creative. She plays along with the animals and has created a world of fantasy. Aurora is a hopeless romantic. She dreams of her prince, and sure as the sky is blue, the dream will come true. She knows immediately that the man she meets in the forest is the man for her for life. Aurora is also regal and elegant. She has a royal air about her and a royal attitude to life. That is also part of why she goes back, royalty is such a part of who she is that she can’t turn her back on those who need her.

Border: Aurora is dreamy. Aurora is very imaginative and has many abstract mentalities. However, this can also cause Aurora not to be grounded in reality. Much like Snow White’s cheerfulness, Aurora can be setting herself up for disappointment, and she does when she is brought back to inevitable reality after she is told she is a princess and must serve her people and marry and man she does not love. Aurora also is very open with her emotions and lets her heart rule her head. This is usually a neutral trait, and can serve her well because others are easier to have a relationship with her. However, this can cause her to overreact and be self-pitying. I had another border trait for her, but I can’t remember it right now, if I do remember it I’ll add it. However, I do believe I have shown that Aurora certainly has a personality, and a well-developed one at that. Many times, more than one aspect of Aurora’s personality is behind her decision, and as many times, if not more, one trait influences another that are bother behind her decision. Ultimately, I don’t understand where anyone gets that ides that any princess doesn’t have a personality, or even a rounded, developed one.



You are an incredible person if you have read this whole thing!