Life Lessons That Disney Villains Taught Me

As a young girl, I was introduced to the magical stories of Disney. The innocent, pure, gentle-mannered princess falls for a ‘Prince Charming, who saves her from the villain. Sweet, right?

Every girl in my class wanted to be the princess waiting for her “knight in shining armour on a white horse.” After all, everyone wants a romance that will turn the world on its axis.

Well, sorry for the generalisation! Not everyone wants to sit still and be pretty. Some want to take charge, brandish their own swords, and be their own saviours.

I hated the idea of leaving my rescue to someone else. So when kids in my class fought to be the beautiful princess and the valiant prince, I chose to be the fierce villain.

Being a villain is not easy. They were complex characters and much more interesting than those mundane so-called heroes. Anger and horns may not fit everyone. I realised it was my cup of tea pretty soon, though. The more I watched those movies, the more I found traits in these villains that could serve as great life lessons.

Here are some notes you could take out of the books of my favourite Disney villains:

• Maleficient: She is magnificent! She is powerful! She is fabulous in her black gown and amazing makeup! Looking past the first layer, she is so much more. After a betrayal by her lover, she turned to the dark side. Though she becomes vindictive and spiteful, there is no denying her power as the mistress of darkness. She transformed into a dragon to try to stop the prince from getting to Aurora. Buckle down when push comes to shove and unleash your inner dragon.

Let’s not forget her making that amazing entrance to place the curse on the princess either. She knew how to command attention! Own whichever room you step into. Be dramatic, bold, and audacious! Don’t forget to step up your game with a gorgeous ensemble.

• Ursula: I never really liked Ariel; I found her too daft and naive for my taste. So when Ursula, the intimidating villain, came on screen, I rooted for her. Daring with a side of body positivity? Sign me up! In that old world of perfectly thin and delicate princesses, it was easy to feel like you didn’t fit those standards of beauty. Seeing a plus-size woman who was rocking all those curves and being undeniably confident was a much-needed lesson for the little me.

Putting that aside, there is still the fact that she used her intelligence (and a bit of manipulation!) to turn the odds in her favour. So it teaches us to be more wary and less naive, especially when it comes to signing agreements.

• The Evil Queen: Let’s start with her dearest possession, the Mirror. I loved how it was always honest. When Snow White had become the fairest of them all, the Mirror called it as it was! I loved that dynamic. It is important to surround yourself with people who will be straightforward and reliable. Though the truth may hurt, it will not kill you like lies would.

She also showed that if you want to make sure a job gets done just the way you want it, you have got to get up and get it done. Be it getting Snow White to eat a poisoned apple or acing the test, put in your best efforts to get the reward you desire.

• Shan Yu: There is no denying that he was a wonderful battle strategist. He was an impressive and intelligent warrior who led his troops to great success. Known as a fierce leader, he never backed out of a challenge. He was focused on his goal until his very last breath. If that doesn’t scream determination and dedication, I don’t know what will.

Another important thing about Shan Yu was that he never discriminated against his enemies. Be it Mulan or General Shang, he fought them with the same fervour. Although he was surprised that Mulan was the one who destroyed half his troops, he did not go easy on her just because she was a woman. Feminism done right!

• Prince Hans: Don’t even try telling me you suspected Hans from the beginning! Nobody saw that coming. He is dreamy, well-mannered, and fits in with the “Prince charming” image so well. The lengths he went to achieve his dream of ascending the throne were mind-blowing! He is an opportunist who saw a way to succeed and took it without any hesitation.

Hans knew there was no chance of him becoming king of his nation. He would have to marry into the throne, and there Anna was! Did he make her believe it was true love? Maybe. The key takeaway is to be observant. He used this skill to hatch a plan and overcome his obstacles.

• Hades: Being the God of the Underworld sure sounds cool (or hot!). Having blue fire for hair is even more fun! Hades is one of the most iconic Disney villains for a reason. He has a humour sense that kills and is always just so him! He refuses to mince words, and his sarcasm stole the show.

He is unafraid to rely on his charm to get his way without always masking his emotions. He is a go-getter to the core! He took charge of his own destiny and taught us to do the same. Don’t let others decide what you get to be or how your life should turn out; mould it the way you want.

I could go on and on about all the life lessons these awesome villains have taught me. But I only have so much patience.

Villains are the ones who teach you important life lessons. Although they resort to some nasty ways to achieve what they want, their ambition and persistence are admirable.

It is easy to be a princess, but not everyone can be a villain. Maybe that’s what Disney was trying to tell us all along.