Mother Gothel is the main-antagonist of Tangled.
History[]
Background[]
Origins[]
Gothel was a vain woman born centuries ago (based off her outfit it is likely that it was around the 15th and 16th centuries). She is presumed to have been a follower of arcane engineer Lord Demanitus, but betrayed him for the demonic being Zhan Tiri both of whom were obsessed with finding a drop of the sun and moon capable of creating a major cosmic event. Gothel found the sundrop in the form of a flower which she kept to herself in order to restore her youth for centuries, during which time Zhan Tiri was imprisoned by Demanitus while Demanitus went into hiding.
By around the 18th/19th centuries, Gothel had a daughter named Cassandra whom she emotionally manipulated and treated as a servant. Gothel's flower wound up stolen by the King and Queen of the kingdom, Corona, who destroyed it to be used in a way that would save the pregnant queen from death. Gothel broke into their castle at night and found that their daughter had become the human incarnation of the sundrop, whom she then abducted in the night to use to restore her youth. During her escape, Gothel abandoned Cassandra causing her to be instead adopted by Corona's captain of the guards.
Gothel raised Rapunzel isolated from the world in a tower, unable to cut her hair and told stories of how dangerous the outside world was to keep her inside.
Tangled[]
On Rapunzel's 18th birthday, her tower was happened upon by the thief Flynn Rider who Rapunzel rendered unconscious with a flying-pan. After failing to prove herself as strong and capable to Gothel, Rapunzel left the tower with Rider as her guide so she could see the floating lantern event which the king and queen did every year on Rapunzel's birthday. When Gothel found out about Rapunzel's escape, she teamed up with Rider's enemies the Stabbington Brothers to find a way to manipulate her into returning while giving them a tiara Rider stole from them, and promising them revenge.
The brothers aided Gothel in subduing Rider and strapping him to a ship's helm in Corona, while lying to Rapunzel and saying he had sold her out. After this, Gothel attacked and defeated both brothers to, "Rescue" Rapunzel and bring her back to the tower while Rider was left for the Corona gallows. Rider was however able to escape and Rapunzel pieced together her true origins, causing Gothel to chain the girl up. When Rider tried to save Rapunzel, Gothel stabbed him with a mortal wound leading Rapunzel to plead that she would go with Gothel willingly if she let her heal him. However, as Rapunzel tried to heal the thief, he cut her hair, cutting off Gothel's source of youth and causing her to rapidly age then fall out the tower and crumble to dust.
Appearances[]
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After[]
Gothel is on a screen in the scene with the group of villains.
Oogie Boogie Bash[]
Mother Gothel appeared in Grizzly Peak with her dagger and the sun flower during the 2022 Oogie Boogie Bash.
Trivia[]
- Mother Gothel is often indirectly referenced in Fantasyland via the presence of Rapunzel's tower.