Girls, Why does the older woman Ursula demand Ariel's voice as payment to join the adult world of love and marriage?

[Sixgunsound]

[XHopelessRomanticX]

It’s never revealed why she specifically wanted her voice, but one thing is apparent; Ariel’s greatest asset is her singing voice. It’s her most distinguished trait, a representation of her personhood. And Ariel willingly gives it away, silencing herself. An individual can never be accepted by others if they silence themselves, because they will always be repressing an essential part of their being. Ursula was betting on Ariel being unsuccessful in being loved and accepted by Eric.

Ursula uses Ariel’s voice to seduce the prince in her attempt to get what she wants, power in both land and sea.

[Sixgunsound]

Well done.

[Agape93]

Because she's weird. Even from an occult perspective it makes no sense, you get nothing from that.

[Sixgunsound]

And this from hard left Disney in 1989, well into third wave feminism.

[Sixgunsound]

I thought it was a commentary on male and female power dynamics and relationships in marriage, but I did find it interesting that it was the older female relative who Deprived her of her voice. Was that perhaps a commentary on women enforcing tradition? I bet most people don't think this... deeply about The Little Mermaid😅

[Agape93]

I can definitely see it, my mom was hell bent on silencing me whilst growing up.

[Sixgunsound]

But it clearly didn't stick😆

[Agape93]

Fuck no. I may have been silenced, but every thing they did and didn't do just fed the fire, and it's why I don't forgive or forget a slight.

Now they can slowly grow old, suffer and die alone. I won't help em.

[Sixgunsound]

I don't have much of a relationship with my parents either. When I started getting into Jeanine Trayer and Scott Cunningham it was pretty much over for my relationship with my mother.

[Agape93]

Eh, her loss.

[Justneedtokno]

Lol 😂 the back history to earth like she’s always wanted to get revenge for her sisters, death or banishment and what better way than to deceive his precious daughter. Because in all honesty, Ursula had the power to transform as self anyway, so it was just a bargaining tool.

[Razp_Sorbet]

Did you not watch the movie orrr? She's cunning. She asked for her voice so she could use her voice to seduce prince Eric and gain power of the land.

[Sixgunsound]

Fair enough, which on a surface reading would be the correct answer. I was looking more for a metaphorical, allegorical, or mythological answer though. I'm not saying you're wrong by any means.

[Razp_Sorbet]

Metaphorically her voice represents power she is the king's daughter and she is rebellious.

[Sour-rose]

Because it's business.

"If you're good at something, you don't do it for free."

-joker

[Sixgunsound]

Nothing more to it than that? Deeper metaphorical meaning perhaps?

[Sour-rose]

Nah, Just. Business.

You don't make a profit off of something or someone without getting something in value

[Sixgunsound]

Fair enough, that is true.