The Sinister Servants of Ursula
The Eels’ Look and Persona
Flotsam and Jetsam are extra than simply eels; they’re the embodiment of Ursula’s manipulative energy. They’re extensions of her will, finishing up her instructions with a quiet, unsettling effectivity. Their appearances are hanging. Twisting and turning at nighttime depths, their oily black our bodies distinction sharply with the brightness of the ocean. Their eerie, glowing eyes are virtually at all times watching, silently judging, always relaying info again to their sea witch grasp.
Their Roles within the Story
Their personalities completely complement one another. Jetsam, the extra pragmatic of the 2, at all times stays centered on the mission. Flotsam, the extra expressive eel, delivers the sly remarks and carries a figuring out look in his eyes. Their mixed presence creates a way of foreboding; they’re a continuing reminder of the value Ariel can pay for her desires.
The Eels’ Main Capabilities
Their main operate in “The Little Mermaid” is to function Ursula’s manipulative instruments. They’re the bait, the whispers within the ear, the goading voices that nudge Ariel towards making the horrible, life-altering deal. They’re essential in:
- Luring Ariel: It is by way of their sly steerage that Ariel even finds Ursula’s lair. Their guarantees and easy phrases are key in setting the wheels of the plot in movement.
- Monitoring the Contract: They oversee Ariel’s interactions with the human world, observing her each transfer and reporting again to Ursula. Their presence is a continuing reminder of the discount.
- Obstructing True Love: Flotsam and Jetsam actively work to stop Ariel and Prince Eric from sharing their “kiss of real love.” Their makes an attempt to sabotage this second create a way of pressure and hazard, pushing the battle towards its final climax.
The fixed risk they signify makes them a number of the most compelling villains of the film. They might not have as a lot display screen time as Ursula, however their presence is felt at each essential second, turning the underwater story into a really darkish narrative.
The Climax: Destruction within the Depths
The ultimate confrontation between Ursula and Ariel (with Prince Eric thrown into the combination) is without doubt one of the most enjoyable scenes in Disney animation historical past. Ursula, having stolen Triton’s trident and seized management of Atlantica, is a power of nature, a swirling vortex of energy and malice. The scene is a visible and auditory explosion, culminating in Ursula’s utter defeat. That is the second we should analyze intently to find out the destiny of Flotsam and Jetsam.
The Finish of Ursula
What occurs? The chaos is overwhelming. Prince Eric, on the helm of a salvaged ship, skillfully steers it into the guts of the struggle. He goals the bow straight in direction of the ocean witch, who then makes use of her tentacles to try to crush the vessel. At this second, a decisive second of pure heroics happens. Eric steers the ship with precision, the bowsprit piercing Ursula straight within the intestine. The ensuing blow is deadly. The ocean witch is destroyed.
Analyzing the Clues: What Grew to become of the Eels?
The query of whether or not Flotsam and Jetsam survived hinges on our interpretation of the occasions throughout Ursula’s demise. Let’s break down the scene and analyze the particular clues in an try to find out the destiny of the eels.
Visible Proof Examined
The motion is quick and livid. The digicam shifts wildly between Eric, Ursula, and the setting. The eels are usually seen close to Ursula’s face or tentacles, monitoring the occasions as they transpire. What occurs to them throughout the ship assault? They look like close to Ursula, however the focus is fully on her. It’s troublesome to verify their direct involvement within the destruction. The precise destiny of Flotsam and Jetsam is ambiguous.
The Position of Sound
Are there any sounds that give a clue? Throughout Ursula’s destruction, there’s a surge of sound results to suggest her final demise. If the eels had been together with her when the assault occurred, would they be impacted by the explosion of noise? The audio cues present no distinct sounds that verify the eels’ demise. It’s attainable they had been engulfed with Ursula, or it’s attainable they weren’t close to her.
Onscreen vs Offscreen
How a lot of the occasion did we see? Did they vanish from the display screen? Or did we witness an explosion or another decisive motion that confirmed their loss of life? The film doesn’t explicitly present Flotsam and Jetsam dying. The main target of the shot is Ursula, and as she dies, the eels’ presence and fates are left unconfirmed.
Magic and Hypothesis
The Nature of Magic: Ursula’s loss of life is brought on by a bodily assault, however she can also be a magical being. Is it attainable that the eels, linked to her by way of magic, had been one way or the other affected by her destruction? Once more, with out express visible or audio proof, this stays hypothesis.
Probably the most believable conclusion, primarily based on the obtainable proof, is that the film doesn’t definitively present Flotsam and Jetsam’s deaths. Their destiny is left unsure.
Past the Film: Variations and Their Implications
The paradox surrounding Flotsam and Jetsam’s fates continues all through the “Little Mermaid” franchise.
Sequels and Relevancy
The sequel, “The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea,” would not function Flotsam and Jetsam. Ursula, nonetheless, has a villainous sister within the type of Morgana, which brings a few new evil character for the story.
Animated Sequence
Within the animated collection that expanded on the film, the presence of the eels is sporadic, and their fates by no means get a particular reply.
Do these later diversifications present any readability? Sadly, no. The continuing absence of the characters additional complicates the query of their demise.
Fan Theories and Speculations: The Timeless Villains
As a result of the film leaves their destiny open, followers have created their very own theories:
The Survival Principle
They Survived, However Had been Severed From Ursula: This principle means that, whereas Ursula was destroyed, the eels, one way or the other not being straight connected to Ursula, managed to flee, maybe wounded, maybe misplaced, however nonetheless alive and free to return to the underwater kingdom at a later time.
Transformation Speculations
They Reworked, or Grew to become a Completely different Evil: One other principle suggests they had been completely affected by the occasions however modified, maybe discovering a brand new grasp, or maybe taking over a unique type.
The Dispersion Principle
They Had been Merely Dispersed: One of many less complicated theories is that they had been merely dispersed by the chaos of Ursula’s destruction, and the eels will sooner or later reappear from the darkness.
Many fan theories exist, however none definitively reply the query, and their ongoing relevance stays ambiguous.
Conclusion: Nonetheless Swimming in Uncertainty
So, did Flotsam and Jetsam die? The reply, primarily based on the proof introduced in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” is… inconclusive. Whereas the ultimate scene of the film does function Ursula’s demise, the destiny of her eel servants is left unsure. We by no means see them die. The visible proof is ambiguous. The audio cues supply no agency affirmation. It could appear that the film’s makers deliberately created ambiguity to depart the door open for potential additional use of the characters.
Flotsam and Jetsam stay a testomony to the ability of refined villainy, of making suspense with out grand gestures, and the lasting influence of those two sly eels may be felt throughout the universe. Their absence creates some quantity of thriller. Their presence is missed. Had been they evil? Undoubtedly. Are they gone eternally? Maybe not. The paradox of their final future solely enhances their legacy.
