Arranged Marriages and Higher Beings

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Like many young women in the time that 'Brave' is set, an arranged marriage was something that was assumed to happen. The woman had little, to no, say in the matter as the marriage was often a contract made up by the respective fathers of the bride and groom. In the movie, Merida has no interest in being married at the time, and possibly no interest to get married ever.

After finding out about her suitors, Merida goes on a journey in an attempt to change her fate. There are small glowing orbs, called wil' o' the wisps, that lead Merida to a witch in the middle of the forest. The ideas of fate and destiny are very spiritual in nature to begin with, but the notion of being able to change the course of your life goes a step further. The idea that our life has a set course suggests that there is a higher power that has control over human beings. Instead of the higher power being represented as God, as in many pieces of popular culture today; the power to change a fate is in the hands of a Witch, a being that is normally associated with the religion of Wicca. Normally, Witches and Wicca receive negative attention, but although the Witch in 'Brave' may look a little frightening, I believe that Disney is aiming to shed light on the religion of Wicca, which is not about evil, but rather about the beauty the earth (in a general sense). As I've learned through my research, to be a Witch is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver and a protector of all things and I believe that this is the message that Disney is trying to portray through the Witch in the woods, because she is helping Merida change her fate, even though the spell does not work the way that Merida had originally hoped for.

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The Role of Fate and Destiny in 'Brave'

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Is Merida able to make a choice when it comes to her future?