Pressure For Perfection In The Little Mermaid, By J. K.

Although many know that perfection is not realistically achievable, perfection is thrusted upon people from parental and educational expectations.

Pressure for perfection is derived from parental expectations. Parents pride themselves on having “perfect” children and they pit themselves against other parents when it comes to who has the better child. This competition causes parents to put unachievable goals upon their child in order to “win” the race between other parents. This idea of parental pressure is seen through so many different areas of media and, quite notably in Disney movies. Movies such as “ Moana,” “Tangled,” “The Little Mermaid,” and most recently, “Encanto” all showcase a form of parental pressure to be the most ideal person

Educational pressure for perfection is one of the most common portrayals of pressure in adolescents, a study from PEW Research Center stated that over 60% of teenagers feel pressure to excel in school. The pressure is stemmed from the idea that good grades is equivalent to a better future. Students who are anxious for the future will put more pressure on themselves, paired with pressure they may receive from parents, to be perfect in school. Many book characters represent the unrealistic expectations of being a perfect student. Hermione Granger is a famous character from J.K. Rowling’s infamous “Harry Potter” series who reflects the livelihood of a young person attempting to be perfect in a scholarly setting. Hermione Granger spends her entire schooling years as a obsessive academia who drains herself out year after year attempting to be the best. The pressure to be the best is self-expectations that Hermione places upon herself after she realizes that many see her as the “brightest witch of her age.” The reader sees a clear example of just how much pressure Hermione is under, because, when faced with her biggest fear in on of her classes, she sees her teacher telling her she’s “failed.” Hermione is a representation of millions of young men and women who are crushed by the weight of educational excellence. Hermione shows the daunting life that this