Elinor uses this legend as a lesson against selfishness-it suggests that Merida’s opposition to her betrothal is selfish, and her refusal to marry a politically beneficial suitor will have ramifications on the peace of the kingdom. The eldest son became selfish and his quest for power led to the destruction of the kingdom. Elinor uses chess pieces to warn Merida of the dangers of following one’s own path, retelling the legend of a great king who divided his kingdom among his four sons. When Queen Elinor informs Merida that the lords of the three clans of the kingdom will present suitors to compete for Merida’s hand in marriage, Merida expresses extreme anxiety at the prospect of losing her freedom. She expects Merida to behave like a princess, but her expectations are contrary to Merida’s very nature. Although Elinor loves her daughter, she lacks understanding. The main conflict of the film is between Princess Merida and her mother, Queen Elinor, which characterizes Elinor not as a kind of wicked stepmother, but as someone who has internalized the expectations imposed upon her as a noblewoman.
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The rigid confines of Merida's everyday life compared to the activities she enjoys during her rare free time, and her jealousy of the freedom so often enjoyed by her brothers, illustrate that Merida is yearning to break free from the expectations to which she is strictly bound. Merida feels her younger brothers are able to get away with anything, while she is restricted by the expectations her mother has of her and her daily princess duties. What Merida truly loves is represented by what she does on her day off, which she spends riding through the glen on her horse, shooting her bow, climbing, and enjoying nature. It is never perfection Merida craves, but freedom. She explains that a princess “rises early, is compassionate, patient, cautious, clean, and above all, a princess strives for, well, perfection.” This expectation of perfection is contrasted sharply against Merida’s unruly hair and the things her mother scolds her for-her doodling, chortling, and dinner etiquette. The Queen outlines the traits her daughter must strive for, expectations which were undoubtedly imparted upon herself as a young girl. She is shown under the close guidance of her mother practicing careful pronunciation, learning the geography of her kingdom, and playing the lyre. Some years later, Merida grudgingly participates in the tasks expected of a princess, showing that her life's purpose has been dictated by her sex and status and with little regard for her interests or skills. The importance of legends in Brave is reminiscent of the heroic epics and Arthurian myths of medieval literature, and within this context Merida can be seen as the protagonist in a role that has often been masculine-dominated. King Fergus fights off the bear but loses a leg in the process, a story that becomes legend. This scene from Merida’s childhood also features the evil bear Mer’du, who attempts to attack the young Princess and her mother. The Queen (Emma Thompson), who has spent her life adhering to the expectations placed on royal women, chides her husband for this unladylike gift. Archery is Merida’s greatest joy and talent, although it is a sport associated with male medieval characters like Robin Hood rather than princesses. The film begins with a scene from Merida’s childhood-as a birthday gift, her father, King Fergus (Billy Connolly), presents her with a bow. The opening scene of Brave introduces several of the film's central themes-Merida as an active and therefore nontraditional princess, her family dynamic as a representation of, and challenge to, the gendered expectations of medieval Scotland, and the truths behind legends. Brave directly acknowledges strictly defined gender roles while also challenging them. Some critics have argued that Merida exhibits more agency than previous Disney princesses-her story, for example, does not involve being rescued by a prince (Nowlan and Finch, 127). One of the main differences between those films and Brave is the lack of a romantic interest for protagonist Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald). Brave (2012), a Disney / Pixar animated film directed by Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews, takes a semi-radical approach towards the depiction of gender roles, especially when compared to previous Disney animated princess tales.
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