'Sleeping Beauty's Protagonist Actually Isn't Who You'd Expect

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By Rachel Sandell

Updated Sep 30, 2023

While Aurora sleeps, who’s actually the protagonist of her story?

Image via Disney

Sleeping Beauty's titular character, Aurora, may not actually be the protagonist of the story. The fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, go through the most character development and are the driving force behind defeating Maleficent.
While Prince Philip is more action-based and fights in the climax of the film, he himself doesn't undergo much change or development. He is not the true protagonist of Sleeping Beauty.
Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather's dedication to protecting Aurora and their own character arcs make them the real protagonists of the film, as they learn and change throughout the story. They are the ones who defeat Maleficent and are the focus for most of the runtime.

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