Analyzing a "Tangled" Scene: Part 2

Rapunzel is about to turn 18 at the start of the movie. In today’s society, 18 is considered the starting age of becoming an adult. In the time period that Tangled takes place in, 18 was well into adulthood due to the life expectancy being so low. Despite this, Gothel treats Rapunzel as if she were a baby or young child. In the beginning of the song she says to Rapunzel “look at you, as fragile as a flower. Still a little sapling, just a sprout”. Towards the end of the song she even uses a word commonly used with young children. She says, “I'm just saying cause I wuv you”. In both cases as well as with the entire song, Gothel is speaking to Rapunzel, a full grown woman, as if she is a young child.