ABSTRACT
Can you imagine: Arthur ruling Camelot without his trusty sword, Excalibur? Luke defeating the Empire without his light saber? Indiana Jones surviving one archeological boobytrap without his bullwhip? John Henry beating the steam drill without his hammer? Bruce Lee facing a cadre of ninjas without his nunchucks? The answer in all cases is an emphatic “No!” In all five examples, these props are extensions of the character’s personality, signifies of strength or ingenuity. But props don’t have to possess such masculine traits, they can also act as more benign, feminine metaphors, such a young girl’s doll, a child’s storybook, or Cinderella’s glass slipper. In the case of Disney’s film the legend of Mulan, her choice of props reflect her shifting character: A jade hair comb remains part of her feminine costume until she symbolically casts it away (along with her role as a naïve girl), only to replace it with her father’s helmet, armor, and sword (accepting the role of a male warrior).
