Mother Gothel

Mother Gothel is a character from the Kingdom of Corona in Kingdom Hearts III. She originated from the Disney film .

She is the adoptive mother of Rapunzel, although Rapunzel has been led by Gothel to believe that she is her biological mother.

Kingdom Hearts III
Upon finding that Rapunzel has disappeared from their tower, Mother Gothel encounters a wanted poster for Flynn Rider. She is approached by Marluxia, who offers to help her retrieve Rapunzel. As he becomes closer, Mother Gothel's eyes glow pink.

While searching for Rapunzel in the forest, Mother Gothel encounters Sora, Donald, and Goofy. She asks them if they know Rapunzel, informing them she is her mother. Sora tells Mother Gothel that they accidentally lost Rapunzel, causing her to dismiss them as useless, and she walks away to find Rapunzel herself.

At Corona, Mother Gothel and Marluxia locate Rapunzel. Mother Gothel seems to save Rapunzel from Nobodies using a log and she convinces her to return home. However, at the tower, Rapunzel confronts Mother Gothel about her realization that she is the lost princess of Corona. Mother Gothel tells Rapunzel that she was trying to protect her, but Rapunzel leaves to save Flynn from his death sentence. Mother Gothel is able to trap Rapunzel, then bounds and gags her. When Flynn, who has managed to avoid his death sentence, comes, Mother Gothel stabs him.

Rapunzel tells Gothel that if she lets her heal Flynn with the powers of her hair, Rapunzel will do whatever Gothel ask, even sacrificing her freedom for the rest of her life which Gothel accepts. While talking with Flynn, he cuts off Rapunzel's hair, removing its healing properties. Gothel begins to age and die. Pascal trips Gothel, causing her to fall out the window, although she has become dust before her cape hits the ground. As the cape falls, Marluxia uses Mother Gothel's remaining darkness to create the Grim Guardianess Heartless.

Appearance
Mother Gothel has curly black hair and gray eyes. She wears a shiny dark magenta dress with a black cape.

Personality


Mother Gothel, to Rapunzel, appears to be a kind and loving mother. However, she is actually rather selfish, narcissistic and deceitful, having lied to Rapunzel about her past and stolen her away from her true family. She also cruelly bounds and gags Rapunzel when Rapunzel attempts to leave the tower to rescue Flynn. Mother Gothel later then stabs Flynn in both an act of cruelty against him and Rapunzel.

It is unknown if she harbors any true feelings of love towards Rapunzel. For example, when Rapunzel confronts Mother Gothel, Gothel claims that everything she did was to protect Rapunzel. This makes her a rather complex and ambiguous villain.

Origin
Mother Gothel first appeared as an antagonist in the 2010 Disney animated film Tangled in 2010, voiced by Donna Murphy. She is based on the witch Dame Gothel from the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

In Tangled, Gothel was an elderly woman who kidnapped the baby princess of Corona, Rapunzel, from her parents, in order to exploit the magical youthening ability of Rapunzel's hair. Gothel employed cruel psychological abuse and manipulation to keep Rapunzel dependent on her and afraid to leave her prison, but Rapunzel grew curious about the flotilla of lanterns put out by her parents' kingdom on her birthday, and manages to escape while Gothel is outside of the prison. Gothel tracks Rapunzel and her accomplice in escape, Flynn Rider, and very nearly manages to convince Rapunzel to return with her to save Flynn's life, but he surprises them by cutting Rapunzel's hair and destroying their magical power, causing Gothel to suddenly expire of old age.