She is based on the witch Dame Gothel from the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Mother Gothel first appeared as an antagonist in the 2010 Disney animated film Tangled in 2010, voiced by Donna Murphy.
Mother Gothel, embracing Rapunzel, from Tangled. Origin " Oh, I just listened for the sound of complete and utter betrayal and followed that." -Mother Gothel to Rapunzel about how she found her She later stabs Flynn in both an act of cruelty against him and Rapunzel. Gothel also cruelly binds and gags Rapunzel when Rapunzel attempts to leave the tower to rescue Flynn. Although Gothel tells Rapunzel that everything she has done is to protect Rapunzel, Gothel's methods are extreme and overbearing. Her narcissism manifests itself in consistent psychological abuse towards Rapunzel: consistently telling her that the world is a dangerous place in order to keep her in, and even gaslighting her with the implication that a good, loving daughter would never leave the tower.
However, she is actually rather selfish, narcissistic and deceitful, having lied to Rapunzel about her past and stolen her away from her true family in order to keep the mystical powers of Rapunzel's hair all to herself. Mother Gothel, to Rapunzel, appears to be a kind and loving mother. Now I'm the bad guy." -Gothel trying to excuse her future actions by blaming Rapunzel Personality " You want me to be the bad guy? Fine. In the last moments of her life, her face and hands are gaunt and wrinkled, and her curly hair is a silvery white. After Flynn cuts Rapunzel's hair, Mother Gothel begins to age rapidly. She wears a shiny dark magenta dress with a black cape. Mother Gothel has curly black hair and gray eyes. Marluxia observes from a distance, determining that her lingering darkness now poses a threat to Rapunzel's pure light, and subsequently uses that darkness to create the Grim Guardianess Heartless, which Sora and his friends destroy. Gothel begins to rapidly age before Pascal trips her, which causes her to fall out the window and wither away until only her cape remains. While talking with Flynn, he cuts off Rapunzel's hair, removing its healing properties. Rapunzel tells Gothel that if she lets her heal Flynn with the powers of her hair, Rapunzel will do whatever Gothel asks, sacrificing her freedom for the rest of her life, which Gothel accepts. When Flynn, who has managed to avoid his death sentence, comes, Mother Gothel stabs him. Mother Gothel is able to trap Rapunzel, then bounds and gags her. Mother Gothel tells Rapunzel that she was trying to protect her, but Rapunzel leaves to save Flynn from his death sentence. However, at the tower, Rapunzel confronts Mother Gothel about her realization that she is the lost princess of Corona. įollowing the lantern festival, Mother Gothel seems to save Rapunzel from Nobodies using a log and she convinces her to return home after it appears that Flynn has abandoned her for the tiara. Gothel eventually finds Rapunzel and gives her the tiara Flynn stole, plotting to split the two of them apart. Sora tells Mother Gothel that they accidentally lost Rapunzel, causing her to dismiss them as useless as she walks away to search by herself. Gothel presents herself and asks them if they know Rapunzel, informing them that she is her mother. Gothel watches for a few moments before dismissing the conversation as unimportant, but doubles back when Sora calls out for Rapunzel and Flynn. While searching for Rapunzel in the forest, Mother Gothel encounters Sora, Donald, and Goofy walking around and remarking on Marluxia, whom they had just met. As he approaches her, Mother Gothel's eyes glow pink. She is approached by Marluxia, who offers to help her retrieve Rapunzel. Upon finding that Rapunzel has disappeared from their tower, Mother Gothel discovers a wanted poster for Flynn Rider within a satchel containing Rapunzel's stolen tiara. Mother Gothel deems the trio useless in locating Rapunzel as she walks away.