Not a Damsel in Distress

Hercules was released by the Walt Disney Company in 1997 (IMBD).  A young demi-god, Hercules who was taken from his home as a young boy by the god of the underworld, Hades, yearns for a place to belong.  He never felt as if he fit in due to his super strength.  He finds out that Zeus is his father and is told he can return to his home with the gods if he becomes a true hero.  Hercules trains with the trusted advisor, Phil, and becomes ready to be a hero.  During his first assignment, he saves a girl named Megara and falls desperately in love.  What he doesn't know is that Meg sold her soul to Hades to save her (now ex) boyfriend's soul.  Hades finds out that Hercules isn't dead like he thought and uses Meg, in exchange for her freedom, to get him to give up his powers for 24 hours so that Hades can become ruler of the gods.  Meg and Hercules fall more and more in love with each other and Hercules is growing in fame as a hero, but according to Zeus, he has not proven himself a true hero yet.  Hercules gives up his powers to ensure that Meg will be safe and finds out she has been working for Hades the entire time.  He is furious and Meg tries to get him to foil Hades' plans.  When a pillar almost falls on Hercules, Meg pushes him out of the way and is crushed by pillar.  Hercules then get's his strength back because Hades deal was broken.  He then storms off to save the gods while Phil stays with Meg.  Hercules then defeats Hades and returns the god system to it's proper formation.  He then rushes to Meg, but he is too late; she dies.  Hercules storms the underworld and demands that Meg be revived.  Hades declines because unfortunately he cannot revive someone after they have died.  Hercules strikes a deal with Hades; if he can swim into the pool of death and bring Meg's soul she will be revived and live and he will stay and take her place.  Hades accepts because he knows he'll never make it.  Hercules jumps into the pool and swims as fast as he can to her soul and is ageing quickly.  Right as he is about to die, his godly powers are restored.  He pulls Meg out and returns it to her body.  They are then brought up to Mount Olympus on a cloud for Hercules has become a true hero; he was willing to sacrifice his life for the woman he loved.  He can now return to the gods, but he chooses to stay on earth with Meg stating "A life without Meg, even an immortal life, would be empty... I choose to stay on earth with her."  They all live Happily Ever After.

The featured Princess this week is Megara!  Although, she is not a princess or even an official Disney princess in Disney's eyes, she is one of my favorite Disney women.

Pros:
- She is cautious:  She has been burned before and is determined to never fall in love again.  Even though she does fall in love, she doesn't do it right away.
- She's a damsel, she's in distress, and she can handle it:  She never asks anyone to fight for her.  She will fight for herself and make her own decision because she is her own person.
- She is spunky: She is witty and sarcastic and is a girl who is full of sass.
- She is real:  The struggles and scars that Meg carries are real.  She is one of the most relatable Disney women in my eyes.

Cons:
- Manipulative: She manipulates Hercules and risks his happiness and safety for her freedom; at first anyway.
- Irresponsible:  She convinces Hercules to take a day off of work.  Even though it was well needed, she should have respected Hercules and Phil's time.

Let me know what you think!  Comment Below!