Maimed wings and broken hearts : physical disability, social exclusion, and maternal love in Disney’s Maleficent and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Helm, H

Abstract

This chapter argues that Maleficent’s physical difference and social exclusion can be analysed as disabling rather than villainous trajectories in Maleficent (2014) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019). I explore how Maleficent is (re)represented in the twenty-first century as a more sympathetic figure who contends with disability and social prejudice in her attempt to form meaningful connections with others. I analyse Maleficent’s ‘villainous’ traits using Feminist Disability Studies (Garland-Thomson, 1997, 2017; Wendell, 1989) to argue that her physical and cultural differences invite hostility from the human kingdom, especially in relation to her maternal connection with Aurora. While critics have examined themes of disability and motherhood in Maleficent (Connelly, 2016; Wehler, 2019), I argue that these narratives are continued and subverted further in the sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019). In re-visioning Maleficent in this way, it becomes possible to challenge narratives of female villainy by paying attention to physical disability, social exclusion, and maternal love.

Citation

Helm, H. (2022). Maimed wings and broken hearts : physical disability, social exclusion, and maternal love in Disney’s Maleficent and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. In N. Le Clue, & J. Vermaak-Griessel (Eds.), Gender and female villains in 21st century fairy tale narratives : from evil queens to wicked witches (177-190). Bingley: Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-564-720221020

• Publication Date: Feb 11, 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 17, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 17, 2022
• Publisher: Emerald
• Pages: 177-190
• Series Title: Emerald Studies in Popular Culture and Gender
• Book Title: Gender and female villains in 21st century fairy tale narratives : from evil queens to wicked witches
• ISBN: 9781801175654-(hardback);-9781801175647-(ebook)
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-564-720221020
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-564-720221020
• Related Public URLs: https://doi.org/10.1108/9781801175647
• Additional Information: Access Information : This author accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact [e-mail]