The main character of the 1989 Disney film *The Little Mermaid* is **Ariel**, a 16-year-old mermaid princess and the youngest daughter of King Triton, ruler of Atlantica. Voiced by **Jodi Benson**, Ariel is defined by her curiosity, rebellious spirit, and deep fascination with the human world.
Ariel's most memorable lines often reflect her longing to understand a world different from her own and her struggle for independence from her overprotective father.
### **1. "I don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad."**
* **Context:** Ariel says this to her best friend Flounder while they are in her secret grotto, surrounded by her collection of human artifacts. It serves as the opening monologue for her signature song, "Part of Your World," establishing her optimistic and inquisitive nature. It highlights the core conflict: her belief that humans are not the "barbarians" her father claims them to be.
### **2. "I’m sixteen years old! I’m not a child anymore!"**
* **Context:** This line occurs during a heated argument with King Triton after she misses a concert she was supposed to perform in. It is a quintessential "teenager" moment that humanizes her character, showing her frustration with her father’s strict rules and her desire for agency.
### **3. "Daddy, I love him!"**
* **Context:** In perhaps the film’s most dramatic scene, Ariel finally confesses her feelings for Prince Eric to King Triton inside her grotto. This admission triggers Triton’s rage, leading him to destroy her collection of "human stuff" with his trident. It is a pivotal moment that drives her to seek out the sea witch, Ursula, out of desperation.
### **4. "If I become human, I’ll never be with my father or sisters again."**
* **Context:** Ariel says this while contemplating Ursula’s contract. It shows that despite her rebellion, she deeply loves her family and understands the gravity of the "Faustian bargain" she is making. It highlights the sacrifice she is willing to make for love and freedom.
### **5. "But without my voice, how can I—?"**
* **Context:** When Ursula explains that the "payment" for her transformation into a human is her voice, Ariel expresses confusion and fear. Ursula famously counters by telling her to use "body language." This line emphasizes the loss of Ariel's literal and metaphorical voice, a central theme in the second half of the movie.
### **6. "Watch and you’ll see, someday I’ll be part of your world."**
* **Context:** Though technically a lyric from the "Part of Your World" reprise, this line is delivered almost like a vow. As Ariel perches on a rock with waves crashing behind her, she makes a resolute promise to find a way to join the human world. This is arguably the most iconic image and line in the entire film.
### **7. "Don’t be such a guppy!"**
* **Context:** Ariel frequently uses this playful jab toward her timid friend Flounder. It showcases her adventurous and sometimes reckless personality, as she is often the one pushing them into dangerous situations (like the shark-infested shipwreck) that Flounder would rather avoid.
### **8. "My father’s gonna kill me!"**
* **Context:** Ariel exclaims this early in the film when she realizes she has missed her debut in the royal concert because she was busy exploring a shipwreck. It introduces the high-stakes relationship between her and King Triton and her habit of losing track of time when investigating human life.