Emotional maturity is often overlooked in personal development, but it is the key to becoming your best self. Disney’s Frozen perfectly exemplifies this with Elsa and Anna’s journey towards emotional maturity.
Elsa, the older sister and future queen of Arendelle, has an innate ability to manipulate ice and snow, which she hides from everyone including her younger sister Anna. Elsa’s parents’ sudden death made her feel more alone, leading to her tendency to isolate herself from others. Her fear of her powers made her expressionless and cold, ultimately resulting in a devastating incident in which she nearly caused the kingdom’s eternal winter.
Anna, on the other hand, yearns for the love and attention that Elsa never gave her. Despite the years that Elsa had been distant, Anna is still eager to reconnect with her sister. That is when Elsa’s powers get out of control, and the kingdom is thrown into a deep freeze. Elsa then disappears into the mountains, leaving the kingdom under an eternal winter.
In a conversation between Kristoff, Anna, and Olaf, Kristoff tells Anna, “Elsa’s hurting — she pushes people away to protect them.” Anna, surprised to hear his observation, asks Olaf, “How do you know Elsa’s feeling?” Olaf answers, “Because she’s dancing through the ice palace belting out a power ballad, she’s pretty upset.”
Anna’s selflessness arises from her father’s words, “Fear will be your enemy.” In the process of saving her sister, she meets Kristoff, Olaf the Snowman, and Sven the Reindeer, who are all willing to help her reach her goal. Upon encountering Elsa in her ice castle, Anna reminds Elsa of the good memories they once shared. Elsa then joins Anna, but accidentally hurts her sister in the process, putting her deeper into the shadows. Elsa’s fear of her emotions and thoughts take over, and she realizes that being alone was the best way to stay in control of her abilities.
In one scene, Anna tells Kristoff that she has to go after Elsa. She then self-reflects, saying, “I’m not leaving without you, Elsa. You don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m not afraid of you.” Anna no longer yearns for Elsa’s attention but is genuinely concerned for her sister’s mental health.
After seeking counsel from Grandpabbie, an elder troll, Anna realizes the value of self-discovery. She acknowledges that her actions had consequences for others and that everything has a moral obligation. Anna’s emotional maturity is evident from that point onwards.
Elsa, on the other hand, struggles to control her emotions, and her hurtful actions lead to Anna’s death. Finally realizing Elsa’s mistakes, she removes her gloves and begins to cry. After seeing that the ice is beginning to thaw, Elsa gains enough confidence to restore Arendelle’s summer.
Elsa’s turning point is realized when Anna tells her, “I’m here for you no matter what.” The two sisters, who have been at odds with each other for the majority of their lives, resolve to pursue their sisterhood and bond. Elsa finally steps into a phase of emotional maturity where she was no longer afraid of her emotions or resulting actions. Elsa realizes that her actions have consequences, and she strives to better understand them, exploring her purpose and abilities beyond her ice powers.
Elsa and Anna’s journey towards emotional maturity highlights the importance of recognizing our strengths and limitations and learning to trust others. It’s also essential to learn to accept our emotions, be it sadness, fear, or anger. These emotions should fuel our actions instead of being negated.
To sum up, Disney’s Frozen has taught us that emotional maturity is an essential part of personal development. It’s the maturity and growth we undergo through our individual journey striking a balance between putting up walls and vulnerability. Emotional growth isn’t a one-time thing, and it comes from a consistent journey towards self-discovery, as seen in Elsa and Anna’s journey. It trains one to confront challenges, take responsibility, and create meaningful relationships that our life calls for.
Disney’s Frozen teaches that emotional maturity is key to personal growth and developing meaningful relationships. Elsa and Anna’s journey towards emotional maturity involved recognizing their strengths and limitations, accepting their emotions, and learning to trust others. Emotional growth requires consistent self-discovery, confronting challenges, and taking responsibility.
