By this time last year, Disney’s film, Frozen had already enchanted long lines of little girls, as well as little boys and grown ups. And rightly so. It deserved the admiration. The film also got its fair share of negative attention, with some critics accusing its creators of an anti-Christian agenda. Some even claimed that Queen Elsa was a lesbian simply because she didn’t fit in and didn’t have a current love interest.
I don’t know if Queen Elsa was a lesbian or if Frozen had any kind of ideological agenda. However, there was something in Frozen that disturbed me, a brief moment, but something blatantly obvious and clear, and I can’t get past it. It’s found in eight words of Elsa’s ballad, the Oscar nominated “Let it Go”:
“No right, no wrong, no rules for me.”
Now, I’m a music snob. I can’t really handle any of those Disney songs unless they’re particularly lovely, like “Once Upon a Dream,” or dripping in the nostalgia of my toddlerhood, like “Circle of Life.” But the “Let it Go” scene in Frozen was intense, perfectly choreographed, so badass and in your face and fun — I really liked it. So much so that I even bought the song on iTunes. So when I first noticed those lyrics, I tried to talk myself out of being concerned. I said to myself, “she’s not really rejecting morality. They’re trying to emphasize Elsa embracing her uniqueness, using her talents and powers even if they intimidate people, and not being afraid.”
But here’s the thing. You can describe the strength of Elsa’s character without using the words, “no right, no wrong, no rules for me.” These words have a clear meaning, and they mean a very different thing from what the rest of the song says. In eight words the ballad goes from being acceptably humanistic to relativistic. This is not a subtle or conspiratorial issue: “Let It Go” is the Frozen theme song, its words occur during one of the most poignant and dramatic moments of the entire movie.
Those parents who notice may think that these words will be overlooked by their children. Let me say this— your children know the words, and they’re listening to them at their most formative time.
It’s precisely these kinds of messages that tend to be the most confusing for a child. The singer/performer Iggy Azalea’s song “Fancy” is easier to warn children against. Her whole manifesto is obviously sleazy. But Elsa? Elsa is a strong role model. Most parents have zero qualms about their children emulating Elsa and I don’t blame them. Eight little words are easy to disregard.
But those words stick. And they are heavy words. They equate self-actualization and confidence with the rejection of objective morality. This is an extremely common trap in our culture and we know it — I think we just assume it will stay out of our children’s movies.
It’s there. It’s real. And it’s obvious. I’m not saying don’t watch the movie. I’m just saying be aware. Think about it, talk about it, and explain to your child the danger in those eight words. Be blunt — let them know what “no right or wrong” can actually mean. They will understand if you tell them.
At the end of the day, Elsa is helping to form our children. That means she may be giving them self-confidence and courage — but she may also be teaching them one of the oldest lies of human history.
Beautifully put! I am so glad that you wrote about this from the heart, despite the potential backlash from crazed Frozen fans. Well done! God bless.
While I definitely agree that the lyrics in Elsa’s song pose a problem & should be discussed, especially because it is the most popular song from the movie, I do not think that song ultimately defines her character or the general message of the movie. That song comes relatively early in the movie during her panicked decision to run away from the world & live in isolation. The rest of the movie shows her sister’s valiant, self-sacrificial effort to bring her back to the world. Anna succeeds. Elsa learns the ‘rights & wrongs & rules’ of living in community. She learns to control her unique gifts & use them for the benefit of others.
Thank you. Exactly so. The lyrics of “Let It Go” describes Elsa’s feelings and attitudes at that precise moment. She’s a dynamic character, meaning she changes and is different by the end of the film. Do you think Queen Elsa at the end of the movie would have the same attitude about rules? Of course not. And any parent doing their job should be able to discuss this with his/her kid. A simple conversation could go something like this:
Parent: “Hey, kid, what do you think about this line that Elsa sings in “Let It Go”?
Kid responds.
Parent: “And you do you think Elsa still thinks that way at the end of the movie? That the rules don’t apply to her? That there is no right and wrong?
Continue discussion.
Films like Frozen should generate discourse between parents and children. They don’t have to be mindless entertainment.
I totally agree. “Let it Go” is the most popular and dramatic song of the movie but Elsa learns that the life she thought she could live alone, without the pressures of life with her powers or her responsibilities as Queen, was an unrealistic fantasy. There is right and wrong, and there is love. The Elsa that escaped to the Ice Palace nearly killed her sister and froze her kingdom forever. Sure, Elizabeth Pham has a point about how we help our children understand and process these lyrics, but to view them without the greater context of the movie and the character is inappropriate.
Forgive me, but I thinking you are defending the song. I could not be sure from your comment. In any case, to those against: we are not philistines, or should be in any case. These are common themes in art. Wanting to escape duty, but realizing one cannot, and should not. Yes, one might argue children are impressionable, but I think we should also not pretend they are stupid. Fairy Tales can be grim, and I would also say it would not hurt to read, say The Iliad to your kid, or Beowulf. Especially to boys. These tales are not about violence, like an action film. Well, they are not just about violence either, but in regards to children, they require more discretion due to their more blatant violence. The Iliad, Beowulf are about fighting real evils and embracing true goods. There is love and love is the cause of violence, sorrow, but also joy. In the past, children knew Homer before they were ten. If we can raise our kids to be cultured, and not on video games and movies (moderation), then the world will be a better place. And since kids knew these great classics in the past, we can, through training our kids mind early, make them intelligent like an adult before 12.
This and other children’s movies are turning the fairy story happy endings inside out. The Prince Charming who expresses love immediately and wishes to marry is shown as a cad. The lower class uncouth man is seen as a better choice for a mate. Women are being shown they should not look to marriage and love as a goal and that they are better if they proudly stand alone. The shopkeeper has a male “husband” or it is “wife”? The whole movie is kind of campy. I don’t like the messages and I wouldn’t show it to my young childen if I still had any.
I think it is a good thing for girls to understand that not every male who professes love is actually a good choice for a mate. For myself, I’d be really weirded out if a man were to have confessed love at first sight, and immediately proposed marriage.
Also, status and wealth do not make a man worthy of marriage; character does. Frozen does a good job, in my opinion, of giving examples of that, in the characters of Hans and Kristoff.
Creeped out? To be fair, this sort of stuff is not considered creeper in this sort of romance. There is meant to be something unreal about fairy tales. Love at first sight and all of that is a part of it. You cannot have a real, developing relationship in such a story. It’s not that kind of story. There is no dating. If you are using words like “weirded out” and “creeper” you really do not get it. It shows a plebeian vulgarity. You expect everything to fit your narrow, bourgeoisie worldview. Love at first site, and proclaiming it, and desiring marriage is key to the story. The “knight”, or archetype of the knight at least, that is the courtly lover, must proclaim deep and undying love. You know, like Dante for Beatrice, or Petrarch for Laura? Dante saw Beatrice once, never talked to her, but only said hello to her–he never had a conversation with her! And yet, his love for her was so great that his whole life was affected by it, and we have The Divine Comedy. Appreciate the story for an archetype of something higher, not your juvenile view of romance.
Well, let’s break this down. The first guy Anna thinks she loves and who professes immediate love for her has ulterior motives, which she would have discovered had she taken her time to get to know him. Kind of like in real life. But the “low-class” character, Kristoff, has actual good qualities. He’s loyal and genuine and wants to do the right thing. You know, the kind of stuff that makes a person worth marrying. I don’t think they could’ve have portrayed this any better. Kristoff is clearly the better choice, despite his non, one-percenter background.
How about this is Elsa singing a song about freedom after a growing up life of what must have been pure torment? She had to be shut away and confined because of her “power.” Her parents response was to condemn her to a life of isolation rather than teach her how to accept and manage her difference. So when she ran away and then had to face a life of isolation on the North mountain–even though she was alone–she was free. There was then no right or wrong to how she used her power or what she touched. I think competent parents can explain that to children, if it comes up. I’d rather use Elsa and even these 8 words to help my kids understand that each person is different and instead of hiding from our differences we need help learning how to live with them. We can’t hide my special needs son away, but he is definitely different and instead of locking him in his room we (as a family) help him learn how to navigate through life. As to the other comments why is it wrong that Christoff is the male hero? He is hard working and loving–isn’t that all that really matters? I think it’s awesome that “Prince Charming” isn’t a prince for once. I did notice that the shop keepers family included another male figure–but maybe it’s an Uncle. The reality is this–as Christians we may disagree with the life choices others make–but we still have to teach our children how to live in the world without being of the world. If this movie or others is so offensive–don’t watch them. Otherwise, use it as a tool to teach your children that some families are different. Maybe the shop keeper and his brother are raising their dead sister’s children. Who knows? I know our family looks different to others–we are all of different ethnicity. Some were born into our family, some adopted, and some fostered. Still the reality is–if you can’t provide a Biblical lens through which your children learn to view the world then you need to develop one. Christians don’t and shouldn’t live in a bubble.
Well said. We also sing and hum these songs all throughout our lives. As adults, we should be aware of how often we listen to things as well. The brain is what it is. One such song I can think of is Lennon’s “Imagine.”
Elsa was singing about leaving behind a past where she had to control every emotion. She was kept from her sister and then had to ready herself to be queen. When she was singing let it go she was singing about setting herself free from the rules of her past. I think we can all get to caught up and nit pick things to death. My daughter knows there is right and wrong and rules in life. Why? because I parent her and we talk about it!! seriously tired of nitpicking Disney!!
I applaud this discussion, as the whole movie has troubled me since I first saw it last summer. Elsa as a heroine? She is a broken, tormented soul who denies herself her own family and ignores her own sister. Yes, I know, she triumphs in the end, sort of. Have you noticed how many little girls have learned the sultry look to go with the phrase”the cold never bothered me anyway”. And the lyrics, no right or wrong, no rules for me, well, sweetheart, there are rules, even for you. And where are the parents????Disney has not come up with a more mesmerizing movie since the Lion King. The music runs in my head of its own free will. Parents, grandparents, enjoy the movie with your child, then discuss the alternative behaviors that would have made the movie better, more like their own lives.
In my opinion, the words to Let It Go must to be taken in context of the scene in which they were sung. Elsa sings the song right after she has run away from the kingdom. She has been forced to keep her gift hidden for all her life and now she wrongly sees no need to hold back at all. She has not yet learned to control her gift or about the power of love and sacrifice (these she will learn from her sister at the end of the film), and she sees no reason to hold back. She goes from being repressed to doing anything she feels like in one quick jump. For a brief time, she lets go and believes there are no rules and her actions will not have have consequences, but soon after the song she finds out that her self indulgence had serious consequences and she has put her entire kingdom in jeopardy.
By the end of the film, she has found balance. She has learned to control her gift and understands that her actions have consequences. I don’t believe that she would still sing “no right or wrong, no rules for me” at that point, because she has learned differently.
While it is true that Elsa eventually opens herself up those she was embittered too and even returns home, I don’t think this negates the problem of the Let It Go lyrics. I do not think the general consensus is that Elsa is “wrong” in singing what she sings. I think the general consensus is that she has BEEN wronged, that she does have some bitterness– but that she’s also developing a better sense of self and reaching a level of empowerment. The song expresses this. The song and the scene are not treated like that of a villain or somebody doing wrong- they are treated like a sort of “coming out.” The song has taken on a life of its own and I would guess that the majority of people listening to and singing it praise the lyrics. Now, whether that was the intention of the writers of the song/scene is another issue. What we have to deal with is the cultural phenomenon the thing has become regardless of intention.
I’m still trying to figure out what is bad about that line…
I have been rather controlling myself when my kids listen or watch anything to excess…… too much is always too much….I hear stories of kids repeating a listen to this dozens of times and I cry foul on the above principle….. and you are bringing out an excellent point because kids will lose the scene connection after round 17 of a listen and it becomes just what this mom is fearing….I fear along with it….
But the point is she realizes she does have to follow the rules? Doesn’t she? I wasn’t as crazy about the movie as everyone else seemed to be but I did understand that Elsa’s arc in the film was from fear to love. She goes back and tries to fix the mess she started because she loves her sister and in going back and facing her mistakes she learns to be a responsible adult. It seems like a good lesson.