Let It Go: Parting Thoughts on Elsa

Frozen was a very unique film in a lot of ways and it’s something I’m interested in discussing farther because there really are a lot of layers to it. Warning, spoilers ahead.

One thing that has been mentioned across the internet from various critics is that Elsa (I spelled it correctly this time) is a metaphor for homosexuality or is, in fact, homosexual herself. While I can be naïve at times, I never really got that feeling from her during the entirety of the movie. Sure, she could be, but the more important question is what proof do you have to support such a claim and why is such a claim relevant to the films overall message?

The evidence presented (at least from what I’ve seen thus far) is that she is one of the only (if not THE only) Disney princess in canon that doesn’t end up with a man at the end of her film. The other bit of evidence, though a bit of a stretch, is that her solo song, “Let It Go,” is her big “coming out” piece of the film. On top of that her powers making her different and “born this way” is supposed to, at the very least, be a metaphor for the common notion that you’re born gay in a much similar way to how the X-Men were a metaphor for Civil rights and that mutations were a metaphor for being of a different race. 

You know what? I can see the argument, but I fail to see what the purpose of the metaphor actually serves? Because for it to be a properly functioning metaphor, it has to be one that people not only can see as a metaphor BUT ALSO they have to take something away from it. By that, I mean there has to be a message about what you’re making a metaphor for or there’s no point in having it. And is there a point to her being gay, whether she actually is or not? I don’t think so.

Breaking it down, let’s start with the whole fact she doesn’t have a man at the end of the film. This criticism feels a tad forced because Disney is breaking tradition and people are trying to pin down why rather than accept the fact that in the 21^st Century that, while nice, there is no requirement to be in a relationship. I’m in a perfectly happy relationship at the moment, but I don’t need to be in order to live my life. And that mentality of who everyone in this movie needs to be with someone or they’re “playing for the other team” sounds really unhealthy to me. 

Besides, the film wasn’t about Elsa finding love and living happily ever after and never was. The film was about two sisters putting aside their problems to help each other, when you get right to the core of it. And Elsa’s problems were essentially her going through puberty (because she’s mentally trapped in the mindset of a teenager) as her body is going through significant changes (represented by her uncontrollable powers). She has enough to deal with WITHOUT trying to maintain a happy relationship with someone else. Ergo, her not being in a relationship isn’t a message about her character because it isn’t relevant to her character.

That said, Anna WAS looking for love. She was mentally in a younger age when the concept of love is still somewhat naïve as showcased by her willingness to marry a guy she only just met. So the romantic subplots and everything were supposed to be circled around her anyway. Not to mention that she actually interacts with far more characters than Elsa does, mostly because for latter isolates herself because she’s still learning to deal with the changes she’s going through and doesn’t have the support of her mom and dad to guide her.

And looking back at older Disney films for comparison: Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine ended up with a guy because the central plot for her was that she was supposed to find a suitor. Little Mermaid’s Ariel ends up with a guy because she was going out to land to experience new things and finding him was, in fact, one of those new things. Beauty & The Beast’s Bell ends up with the Beast because he’s trying to break a curse (basically) that requires him to make that happen. Love and romance were the central premise for those characters. Elsa was not as her problems were internal and personal, not external and interpersonal.

Now on to the musical number, “Let It Go.” For this, I kind of have to explain my take on the film. And, like most Disney films, especially since the growth of the Pixar Era, I feel the central theme is about growing up, especially with Elsa. For her, she has to let go of her fears and worries and embrace the changes she’s about to go through. Because, as you noticed in the movie, her powers became unstable when she was filled with fear or doubt, which is how the storm gets started in the first place. But when she was alone and willing to accept what she was going through, her powers were capable of doing amazing wonderful things.

Not to make this get too adult, but I feel this does actually get close to the realm of sex, but I don’t think it necessarily speaks about sexuality yet. Because when you go through these changes, a la puberty, that’s your body growing into sexual maturity and preparing itself to actually have sex. Look at the scene again, Elsa secludes herself, goes into full-on effect using her powers, and finally expresses joy in using and having them. To borrow a phrase from MovieBob, she essentially had her first snowgasm by letting out all her pent up frustration and fear and finally expressing and enjoy herself for what she is. Take THAT any way you want, but I think that all it really represents is what I’ve already mentioned, growing up, but in a more literal and physical sense. 

Here’s my overall estimation as to what this film may be a metaphor of, and you can take this in a different direction if you like. After all, film analysis is all about individual interpretation and there really is no one right answer.

Simply put the movie is all about growing up with two very different ways one can grow up and experience their teenage years going in into adulthood. You have Elsa who is the reclusive introvert that wants to deny how she’s changing because the changes scare her because she doesn’t understand them (much like anyone else). You have Anna who is the lonely extrovert that wants to meet people, find love, and wants to just have fun with everyone and damn the consequences, which makes her rather naïve. Or, another way to put it, the socially awkward and the social butterfly.

In Elsa’s story, we’re supposed to take away that growing up and experiencing the changes one goes through during puberty (or really any stage growing up) is something you have to accept and embrace because there’s really no going back. And to deny that only makes it harder when you have to deal with adult responsibilities and decisions (like ruling a kingdom or saving it from eternal winter). In Anna’s story, we’re supposed to take away that, yes, you can’t do things alone but that you need to be careful of who you trust because not everybody is a good person and the sooner you learn that, the sooner those not-so-good people won’t be able to hurt you… as much at least. Which makes Anna’s lesson seem much darker when looking through it from that angle. 

Again, is this the only interpretation? No, of course not. But I interpreted it this way because I grew up as that socially awkward kid who didn’t really like people or want to be with people. And, now that I’m all grown up (physically anyway) I’ve learned how to better deal with people and be around them (mostly). So I can definitely see that in Elsa’s story. And Anna’s story reminds me of how my brother was growing up though with a different ending because she eventually found the right people she could actually trust.

That’s all for today. This was fun and I might have to pick on more movies to see how I interpret them into some horrible (or interesting) new idea. If you have suggestions for what you want to see, leave a comment and I’ll certainly look into that. See you next time and have a good day.