Introduction
In Reflection Mulan asks who she really is. A few scenes later her true self is revealed in her sword's reflection. That she can be a women and a great warrior
In a later song Ling, Po, and Yao image what a girl worth fighting for would look and act like. In the burned out village, the movie reveals what girls real men fight for. When put to the test, all of Shang's troops prove themselves to be real men
Most famously, Man Out of You discusses what it means to be a man. In the film's climax, the reprieve reveals what a real man is
Reflection
Honor To Us All spells out what society expects all women to be. Calm, obedient, a good breeder – that Mulan’s role is to be primped and polished to find a husband (by the end of the movie, Mulan really does bring honor to her family, on her own terms).
But should women really be defined by what man they marry? Mulan knows she’ll never be a perfect bride (in a traditional sense – her true love Shang loves her for who she really is!). What sort of an identity can a woman who is not calm, obedient or a breeder have? Covered in make-up, defined by the standard others have set for femininity and beauty Mulan cannot recognize herself in the reflection in her family’s tomb.
Yet reflection is followed by this awesome scene. Above all, Mulan has a fierce love for her father. Dressed in armor, ready to sacrifice herself for someone else, Mulan finally sees the real her staring back in the glint of a sword.
We aren’t defined by what others see on the outside. We are defined by our actions and choices
A Girl Worth Fighting For
On the hard march to battle, Shang’s men imagine their dream bride. That in order for it to be worth marching into battle, a man has to have a beautiful woman waiting for him - paler than the moon, fawning over physical strength, an excellent cook ready to obediently prepare delicious meals. Final victory means coming home to have women lining up at your door. The movie asks its male characters what woman they’d want to risk laying down their lives for.
In the wreckage of the burnt out village, the movie also gives the answer. Mulan finds a little girl’s doll. Shang is shocked to learn that his father, General Li, had failed to defend even one village from the Hun’s wrath. By laying the sword his father gifted to him alongside his father’s helmet, Shang finally accepts the responsibility General Li laid onto him in the movie’s beginning.
Ultimately, the true girl worth fighting for is all the innocent women and children – real men fight to defend those who lack the strength to defend themselves
Man Out of You
The song begins with a shirtless Shang displaying incredible strength. The chorus declares that a man has to be * swift as the coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon*.
But when the chorus is revisited the movie reveals its true message. That being a man means standing up for what you believe in. Masculinity isn’t about being strong for the sake of strength. Coursing river, great typhoon, raging fire – masculinity is about using strength to defend.
Ling, Po, and Yao may be dressed as concubines, wearing makeup and nightgowns. Yet it’s hard to think of anything more masculine than scaling up a wall to put yourself in danger in order to protect someone else.
“Man Out of You” defines men not by what they look like on the outside, but by who they are on the inside
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Q&A
When Mulan finds her "girl worth fighting for" at the end of the song is probably the most powerful moments in a Disney movie for me. The subversion is so straightforward, yet elegant. There has been no movie that my four year old daughter and I have talked about more. So much "accessible depth" and teaching opportunities for such an entertaining kids film.
Plus, I effing love Lea Salonga.
Mulan is one of my favorite films ever and just wanted to give you kudos for a great write up.
I agree with everything you've stated but have never been able to articulate it as well as you have!
Mulan is almost a masterpiece in American animation, there are moments where it’s legitimately a great adventure War film with the voice acting, scope, score, staging all being top notch.
The Calvary charge is probably the most hype set-piece in any Disney film and the way Mulan overcomes is not only an absolute genius chess move but it also critiques how knee jerk the “die fighting” meat head masculine attitude can be in the face of adversity when there’s always a solution to the problem.
For that reason Mulan herself is probably the most compelling protagonist of the Disney renaissance, hell she has more depth than most action film protagonists because of how well she uses her intelligence, wit and determination to overcome seemingly impossible challenges: from cutting her hair to disguise herself as man to save her father from being drafted, using hand weights as a grip to get an unobtainable arrow, to causing an avalanche to wipe out an entire army.
Her achievements don’t just undermine the femininity that’s expected from her as a woman but also the masculine values that are expected of men in her society.
My only problem is that I feel it falls apart part in the last third. It never made sense that her discovery as woman would bring shame and dishonour when she single handedly defeated an army by herself, if anything the film should have been the climax. But overall it’s probably my favourite of the renaissance era.
Man oh man, I’m a cinema freak & I still haven’t seen Mulan. Need to get off my rusty dusty & find a copy, as I sadly do not have Disney + anymore. I’ve been told, “If you like Shogun, you will like Mulan.”