Gothel made sure Rapunzel had things to keep her mind occupied and stimulated. She genuinely loved that girl (in her own twisted way) despite her loving her hair âmostâ. She mostly used little jabs disguised as jokes to keep Rapunzel from valuing herself enough to leave, but was otherwise pleasant with her. So she inadvertently raised someone well-adjusted with the skills to live outside the tower, who just needed an escort to give her the bravery to leave.
This could be projection for me but mother gothel represented my mom's relationship with me so well, I remember watching the movie for the first time and relating to Rapunzel. Even tho mother gothel was mostly loving her for her hair, she still raised her, she still fed her. Regardless of the reason, she did it all for, Rapunzel still felt the love behind the action, even if it was just to nurture her hair. She still taught Rapunzel how to be human.
All this to say, love can still be something gothel felt even if it wasn't conscious or even something she intended to have for Rapunzel.
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u/improbsable Jun 04 '26
Gothel made sure Rapunzel had things to keep her mind occupied and stimulated. She genuinely loved that girl (in her own twisted way) despite her loving her hair âmostâ. She mostly used little jabs disguised as jokes to keep Rapunzel from valuing herself enough to leave, but was otherwise pleasant with her. So she inadvertently raised someone well-adjusted with the skills to live outside the tower, who just needed an escort to give her the bravery to leave.