“Mulan”; Movie Quote Analysis, Essay Example

The animated movie “Mulan” is an inspiring movie that shows the rigours of the ancient Chinese culture and the roles that each member of the society had to play. T shows how honour, duty, service, loyalty and family were important facets of the culture at that time. The movie has numerous quotes that make for a good depiction of the culture and society at that time. This is an analysis of three of the best quotes that caught my attention in the movie.

Quote 1: Mulan, “Why is my reflection someone I don’t know?”

This quote is said by Mulan after a bad and disheartening encounter with the matchmaker. Mulan’s father, mother and grandmother were counting on Mulan to keep family tradition and bring honour to the Fa Family. However, she is late to the match maker who when he immediately sees her has negative and disapproving comments. Mulan’s perfect recital of wifely duties causes him to be suspicious. He leads her to the next room and in pouring tea after smearing off the make up on her faces reveals the cheat notes that Mulan had written on her arm. On her way home, she utters this phrase in a melancholic song.

This is a great quote that depicts Mulan’s internal war with herself. She struggles to find her true identity amid a series of events that only bring disgrace to her family. The fact that the matchmaker sent her away saying she will never become a bride and will never bring honour to her family get her questioning her identity. However, she realizes that she has tried to be who she is not and through the reflection realizes that she has become something else apart from herself. This depicts the themes of honour and self-realization in society. It shows how on the Chinese society, the honour of the family is held in high regard and even the daughter a huge role to play in it.

Quote 2: Fa Zhou, “I am ready to serve the Emperor”

This quote is said by Fa Zhou when word is sent out by the emperor that all families are expected to send at least one man. This is however not possible as Fa Zhou has an old injury on his leg that would mean that he would not survive long in the rigours of battle. Mulan tries to persuade his father and Chi Fu to let Mulan go in his stead as he is not in any condition to fight. Fa Zhou has his mind made up and nothing can persuade him otherwise.

This quote bring out the themes of honour, duty and service. Mulan’s father Fa Zhou is determined to go to war in order to maintain the family’s honour despite his injury. His sense of duty and service to the kingdom of China and the emperor, the symbol of the Kingdom, is unquestionable. This points out how important honour, duty and service was in the Kingdom of China at that given point in time. The expectations of family towards service to the kingdom and observing their duty was paramount to societal placement and position. This is what Fa Zhou seeks to ensure as he disregards his old wounds that meant he would not last long in battle. He also seeks and honourable death, a common facet of the culture at that time.

Quote 3: Fa Zhou, “The Greatest gift and honour is having you for a daughter”

This is by far one of the most memorable and powerful quotes in the movie. It takes place when Mulan returns home after saving the whole of China. She accomplished this in a great fete where she managed to warn the Shang of the presence of Shan Yu in the city. With Shang not believing her and insisting that he had died in the snow storm, Mulan took matters into her hands. Moments later Shang Yu managed to kidnap the emperor and lick himself in the tower. Mulan, Shang and three other soldiers sneak into the palace. They manage to encounter Shan Yu and save the emperor, in the course of battle, Mulan defeats Shang Yu. Later on the emperor forgives Mulan of her treasonous acts of impersonating an officer of the army and as a gift offers her a job in the council. Mulan humbly refuses the offer and the Emperor gives him Shang Yu’s sword and the Imperial Crest. She goes back home and presents these gifts to her awaiting and distraught father, Fa Zhou. Her father drops these gifts and embraces her daughter uttering this quote, “The Greatest gift and honour is having you for a daughter”.

This quote embodies one of the major themes that are highlighted in the movie. The theme of familiar relationships, in particular, father and daughter relationships. Out of the love that Mulan had for her father, she took his place in the army. She also did this to protect his honour. In the end, Fa Zhou is only glad to see his daughter safe and sound. The bond between father and daughter is depicted as a strong bond that goes beyond honour.