English Journal Vol. 20, No. 1 Maret 2017, pp. 54-62 MACHIAVELLIAN CHARACTERS IN DISNEY’S REVERIE Movi Riana Rahmawanti English Education Program Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Universitas Ibn Khaldun [email protected] ABSTRACT This research tries to discuss the portrayal of Machiavellian manifestations of some villains in Disney‟s movies, and to what extent those characters embodied the qualities of a Machiavellian. Using a descriptive qualitative method, this study examines villains in some Disney‟s movie namely Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, from Frozen, and Jafar from Arabian Nights. By the end of the research, it can be concluded that some of Disney‟s characters employed Machiavellian manifestations varied from time to time. The portrayal of Prince Hans is more narcissists and manipulated than Jafar, and both of them have different way to achieve their goals to get more power. In term of Machiavellian traits, both of them embodied different personalities that somehow led to their downfall. For Hans from Frozen, The most appeared Machiavellian traits are disguise and he uses a lot of trick to reach his goals. Meanwhile, Jafar is more dark and seems cruel in appearance, he uses his power to threat and spread terror. Keywords: Disney’s characters, Disney’s movies, Machiavelli INTRODUCTION children‟s life. A typical Disney‟s movie Many children have access to the Disney will involve around magical fairy tales animated movies, as they are popular for this world, mostly about prince, and princesses. age group and parents perceive Disney as Most of the Disney story, since it was aimed quality family entertainment (England, for children, must include good moral value Descartes et al. 2011) Furthermore, the where most of the time, goodness will defeat marketing power of the Disney Princess line dark side of the life. The hero in most of the in particular enhances the probability that Disney‟s story embodied good personalities, children will see one or more of the films. and such a utopian prince-type, where the Most of the children all around the world hero came from royal family, ride a white must be known about some box offices beautiful horse, surrounded by all the finest Disney movie, such as, frozen, Cinderella, things, or even though the hero was not or snow white, that became some of come from royal family, usually they successful hits in cinema. embodied flawless personalities. In this case, the main actors of Disney‟s story While talking about Disney, we usually not really someone destined for probably will talk about series of iconic failure, even if the heroes come from poor figures of our childhood times. Range from neighborhood, they will definitely rise up all fairy tales to Mickey Mouse, to frozen, from the poverty because their heroic deeds Disney‟s movies create powerful figures to and goodness. Thus a typical picaresque 54 Machiavellian Characters In Disney’s Reverie (Movi Riana Rahmawanti) hero will not be a favor in typical Disney villain, instead of a nice persona. character (McLeod 2016). Machiavelli says: Frozen is a 2013 animated film “A wise prince, then, is not troubled about created and produces at Walt Disney a reproach for cruelty by which he keeps Animation Studios and distributed by Walt his subjects united and loyal because, giving a very few examples of cruelty, he is Disney Studios Motion Pictures. This film is more merciful than those who, through too inspired by Hans Christian Andersen‟s fairy much mercy, let evils continue, from which tale “the Snow Queen”. The plot of the story result murders or plunder because the latter evolved among the story of a brave princess commonly harm a whole group, but those (Ana) who have a strange sister (Elsa), she executions that come from the prince harm has magic power so that she can alter individuals only. The new prince - above everything into ice by her hands. Because of all other princes -cannot escape being called cruel, since new governments this matter, the conflict arouses and leads to abound in dangers.” (Machiavelli 2014) Elsa run away from the kingdom because she feared that her power will destroy the In Machiavellian thought it was kingdom. obvious that a good person will always have a practical decision in their way of life. All Frozen is a fairy tale about true love, form of actions needed to achieve the goal and how to reveal the hidden gem of true are permitted, including to do something love itself. At first, the audience was led to a that intertwined with our moral nowadays. Machiavellian characters are often concept that in the end as any other fairy considered as villain that will do whatever it tales, the prince charming will save the day takes to please them (Slotkin 2017). In and became princess‟s true love. It turns out relation to Disney‟s movies, the qualities of that the perception of true love itself evolved Machiavellian characters also appeared in the story, it is non- romantic, and not only through various characters. Different types about prince charming that will save the day, of Machiavellian traits varied in different characters from time to time. it‟s about sacrifice of sibling that want to keep her sister save. In the end of the story, This study try to reveal to what Frozen offered the conclusion that not all of extent and how some characters in some the prince charming is hero, that in reality so Disney‟s story portrayed some many people that has good appearance is Machiavellian manifestations through a descriptive qualitative method by comparing rotten in the heart. 2 characters from 2 movies namely Prince Machiavelli, in “the prince” proposes Hans of the Southern Isles, from Frozen, and a non-sentimental, heartless, and practical Jafar from Arabian Nights. look at what real man is (Mulki 2017). To him, a good ruler, in a sense, any kind of ruler, even the ruler of oneself must embodied certain qualities. His proposal on a real man perhaps little bit cruel, and in our nowadays society will be considered as a 55 English Journal Vol. 20, No. 1 Maret 2017, pp. 54-62 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND must base himself upon that which is his, not upon that which is other men‟s” Machiavellian Qualities Machiavelli stated that a leader surest Many people are familiar with the unlikely th method to control people was by spreading thinking of the 16 century Florentine fear, and frightening them to follow leader. political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli Love and respect might work sometimes, (d. 1527). His influence is widespread even but nothing much more effective than terror. until now, and has been interpreted as To Machiavelli, his statement of choosing to “duplicity and bad faith”. To him, a weak be feared than loved, rooted from human‟s personality rooted from the major basic instinct (Hulliung 2017). When people involvement of the heart and emotion, one afraid of something, they tend to follow their should be able to do whatever it takes to opponent practically, and it is an instant gain personal benefit and put his emotional effect compared to love and affection. feeling aside. For Machiavelli, since a good Affection from the people might work, but it man must only think about themselves, the takes time to settle and gain people‟s heart. selfishness that a person had defined as the primary motivation for all human activity, To Strauss (Labrecque 2016) there are selfishness is the core of human‟s several qualities that indicate whether a achievement. The success of human life is character embodied Machiavellian possible when a person will be able to manifestation: diminish the entire barrier against his way, and thoroughly persistent to be a selfish A. Being feared: to Machiavelli in 16th person (Fuller 2016). century, it is more preferable to be feared than loved. So those who embodied Machiavelli‟s foundation of politics Machiavellian traits will try to make sure is straightforward: everyone in society acts that the people feared on them instead of primarily for personal gain, they think about willingly love their ruler. A themselves even in the society. A good man, Machiavellian will make sure that they to him, is based on his ability to think did all the things needed even it‟s a cruel straightforward and practical for his one to gain the control through fear. personal gains. Even in nowadays society B. Virtue: The important character to have these notions seems so wrong because it is or pretend to have is virtue, as intertwined with ethics and moral, Machiavelli explained because with Machiavelli try to prove that for a good virtues, it is easier to gain the people‟s leader to became a good man and succeeded heart. A good virtue limits the ability to mastering this world, he had to either rule, to show the good virtue in public is manipulate or frighten people into believing considered as symbol of weaknesses. The that their interests allied with his own private life of ruler‟s life is a key for a (Hulliung 2017). successful leadership C. Control and Manipulation: For Machiavelli also mentioned that it Is Machiavelli, control and manipulation is Better To Be feared Than loved the essence of ruling. In order to get the (Machiavelli 2014): control, a ruler needs to do whatever it takes, including manipulating others. “Since men love at their own pleasure and Although Machiavellians have typically fear at the prince‟s pleasure, a wise prince been considered to be cold-blooded and 56 Machiavellian Characters In Disney’s Reverie (Movi Riana Rahmawanti) calculating, Dr Yan said.