Hollywood’s Most Worthy Girl Power Moment of 2019:
Princess Jasmine is Modern-Day Esther
One of Disney’s most noteworthy business objectives of this decade is modernizing their classics through live-action remakes. It makes perfect sense: Disney reeled out box office successes in record-breaking proportions every year from the time I went to kindergarten until the year I learned to drive. I’m the generation of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King, and now I have kids of my own. Disney might have just found a way to replicate the level of excitement I had in meeting a Disney character for the first time and getting their autograph by reinventing my beloved childhood favorites in a way that my children and I will want to watch together. It’s nothing short of business genius to put a modern spin on these classics from Disney’s Renaissance Era [1]and reintroduce them in live-action sequence 30 years later.
The most obvious choice in a strategy to modernize, and one it seems Disney has prescribed to, is by inserting some girl power into the story line. Celebrating the strength of femininity helps bring the story up to present day, or in this case to some 2,500 years ago. You heard me right: Princess Jasmine of the 2019 live-action remake of Disney’s Aladdin is modern-day Esther, from the book of the Bible that carries her namesake.
“Jasmine has something to say to women and girls in an age where society is screaming at us to seize the opportunity for power, but often with…misguided motives”
As you probably already know, the plots of Disney movies are often inspired by original classic fairytales from the Grimm brothers, as well as other sources of culturally formative literature throughout history. The original Aladdin is adapted from a middle eastern folk tale in One Thousand and One Nights. The modern spin comes at the climax when Jasmine, in her power song “Speechless” decides to go the road of courage. As I walked out of the dark theater and adjusted my eyes back to daylight, I couldn’t stop thinking of 2019’s Princess Jasmine as a modern-day Queen Esther.
First, the plots of the two stories are essentially the same: An evil right-hand man to the King (Jafar=Haman), in his power-hungry ways, plots to destroy anyone who is unwilling to pay him homage. Mordecai and Aladdin are both exhibit A for the ones who sit in the way of these sidekicks’ rise to becoming #1. Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, in Esther 3:2, refuses to go along with the rest of the royal officials in honoring the king’s commands to kneel down to Haman. Correspondingly, if Aladdin is able to catch the eye and win the heart of Princess Jasmine, it would put a hard stop to Jafar’s schemes to be in control because whoever Princess Jasmine marries is next in line for the throne.
True villains at heart, Haman and Jafar “scorned the idea of killing only” [2]Mordecai or Aladdin, but rather made a point to extend their disdain for their people, the commoners.
Enraged by the reality that their dream to come to power is in fact withering, Haman and Jafar risk the wellbeing of the entire people to which they are in office to supposedly protect. It is Mordecai and Aladdin who uncover the evil schemes of the right-hand men to the king, but it is Queen Esther and Princess Jasmine, who out of their royal position, have come to “such a time as this.” They are poised to make a difference for their people.
“Queen Esther and Princess Jasmine…are poised to make a difference for their people.”
Only problem is both Esther’s and Jasmine’s stories are set against the backdrop of a civilization that undermines and devalues women’s place in society. Queen Vashti was disrespectfully asked to promenade her beauty to all the men in the courts and when she refused, King Xerxes burned with anger and ousted her as queen. Her predecessor Esther knows that if she enters the king’s courts without being asked, she could be killed. Jasmine, likewise, consistently battled the cultural belief of her time, spoken outrightly by Jafar and unspoken by her father, the Sultan, that women were meant to be seen and not heard.
Both women face quite the predicament. They are possibly the only ones who can save the day for both the one they love as well as the entire future of the people of their land. Esther and Jasmine both face a game-changing decision to stay silent or speak up against the evil forces that exist. The safer route would be to maintain status quo, to follow suit with the day’s spoken and unspoken rules about women’s place in the bigger picture.
“Esther and Jasmine both face a game-changing decision to stay silent or speak up against the evil forces that exist.”
But Jasmine has something to say to women and girls in an age where society is screaming at us to seize the opportunity for power, but often with the wrong focus. In a feminism that has strayed from the best of what it means to be female—from what is most beautiful and life-giving—and onto misguided motives (where power is the ends, rather than a means to a greater end), Jasmine shows us a feminism that is won tactfully and graciously with wisdom and wit. And where the biggest win of all is how it impacts others for good.
Despite culture’s limitations on women, God bestowed on us a natural ability to influence.
In today’s day in age, independence is championed more than relying on each other. It is easy (for both males and females) to chase an allusive idea of autonomy. But Esther is extremely wise in recognizing who God had given her as helpers, and welcomed a good mentor.
Mordecai, through his own life’s example, showed Esther how to gain favor in the eyes of others as a gateway to being used by God. Mordecai did good for the King, respecting him and wanting what was best for him even though he didn’t like him or what he stood for. His good motives were rewarded in due time. Likewise, Esther learned how to strategically become an influencer to the King, from an overflow of her God-fearing respect. They are both great examples of being in this world but not of this world. They do not back down from their convictions when the going gets rough. When Mordecai calls her to position: “for such a time as this” (aka: you were appointed by God!), she self sacrificially rises to the occasion.
After her initial “but!” moment, she finds bravery and courage within herself and willingly faces death by standing up for her people. She is wise and clever in her execution, though, which helps save her life in her willingness to lose it. She doesn’t immediately ask the King’s favor but invites him to a banquet. She is strategically using her influence to soften the hard heart of her King. Esther’s patience to wait two days to prepare the soil and deliver the message to her King, rather than rush it in fear, ended up being a part of God’s perfect timing and plan. Esther is not the Savior of her people, but she was a crucial instrument in God’s plan to save them.
“Esther is not the Savior of her people, but she was a crucial instrument in God’s plan to save them.”
Jasmine, likewise, in wisdom and courage, strategically calls upon Hakim, reminding him that he once was a commoner who rose up to his current position as a loyal statesman of the palace. She uses her good standing and relationship with him and reminds him of his loyalty to their family and to the entire royal assembly. “These men…they will follow where you lead, but it’s up to you. Hakim, will you stand silent while Jafar destroys our beloved kingdom, or will you do what is right?” Jasmine’s speech sounds familiar to when Mordecai called Esther to action. And Hakim is compelled to trust Jasmine’s righteous judgment of the situation.
We also are influencers. How can we teach our girls to unleash their God-given influence as a force for good in the world and for others?
Women represent half of God’s character, as equal image-bearers. God’s compassionate, merciful, nurturing side is often displayed through women.
Esther’s Jewish name was Hadassah, meaning “compassion.” Because of her heart for the people, she is compelled to not just save herself. She risks her life once to save her own family. She puts herself out there a second time, facing possible opposition in order to save all the Jewish people. In Esther 8:6, her heart spills out, “How can I bear to see disaster fall on my people?” She is not a product of her high position. Esther knew what it was like to be a commoner.
Jasmine is of the same heart, and purposely gains experience as a commoner in the land of Agrabah. She wants to know what her people are going through and experiencing so that she can use her influence in the palace to speak up on their behalf. And she does, knowing she was made for more than what the world’s expectations are for her. Jasmine remembers the words given to her by her mother, that “we’d only ever be as happy as our least happy subject.” And when she begins to learn that Jafar’s plans are dangerous, she calls him out: “With Jafar’s guards on every corner…soon he’d have them invading our neighbors, risking lives…for what?!” When Jafar is finally exposed for who he is, Jasmine’s true heart comes out as she passionately proclaims, “No, you seek glory for yourself, and you would win it off the backs of my people!”
Even in the famous chorus of “A Whole New World,” the lyrics remind us to use our hearts when making decisions. And Jasmine decides “I can’t go back to where I used to be.” She has seen oppression, and she must fight for it. She can’t go back to a place of blind privilege. She loves the people of her land. Of all the places the magic carpet takes her that night, “this is the most beautiful” she says decidedly. “It’s them, the people. They make it beautiful, and they deserve a leader who knows that.”
What is good? What is right? What is true? When a woman is focused on these things, coupled with courage from the Almighty, her power is unstoppable. Oppositely, when the need for personal power trumps what is good, right, and true—when control is idolized—the opposite is true. There is no end to the destruction she causes. Jasmine rebeautifies girl power by putting its focus where it belongs: being a voice for the voiceless.
Jasmine reminds us that true femininity that is powerful in effecting change is one that is dedicated to caring for the oppressed and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. She can decide to turn her head to save herself or she can decide to act from her feminine, compassionate heart.
“Jasmine reminds us that true femininity that is powerful in effecting change is one that is dedicated to caring for the oppressed and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
In the end, Haman and Jafar both take part in their own demise by their foolish pride and idolization of power. Justice is served to them. On the other hand, Mordecai/Esther and Aladdin/Jasmine are “lifted up in due time” for their courage to stand up for injustice. (Read 1 Peter 5:6 for more on this concept!) When the tables are turned and evil is exposed, King Xerxes extends more than favor, giving Esther and Mordecai authorization to make a new decree and seal it with the king’s signet ring: a sign of ultimate authority within the kingdom.
Jasmine is likewise finally validated and given permission to follow her true purpose in life to fulfill the position of Sultan. “You have shown me courage and strength,” says Jasmine’s father, the current Sultan. And when he passes on his position to her, he reminds her, “As Sultan, you may change the law.”
It alludes in the description of the movie that the Genie “may be the key to their future.” Both Esther and Jasmine prove with courage that they are the key to their future as they spur us on in the direction of true girl power—one that is selfless, courageous and world changing.
If you didn’t make it out to the theaters for Disney’s live-action Aladdin this summer, now is your chance. It was released on iTunes for purchase just last week and will be available for rent starting Sept 10. Then ask yourself:
*How will you use your position and influence to speak up for the voiceless in a new way starting as soon as now?
Who or what will you see today that needs to be seen? (an individual, a people group, an injustice)
Furthermore, how can we teach our girls to go beyond “girl power” and use our natural care for others to be used as a powerful force for good? Please leave a comment.
[1]In a ten-year span (1989-1999), ten Disney movies became instant classics after each experienced immediate box office blowout success.
[2]Esther 3:6
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