OVERLAY REPORT

In the 1989 film *The Little Mermaid*, the most crucial action made by the lead character, **Ariel**, is the **rescue of Prince Eric from the shipwreck** during the storm at the beginning of the movie. While Ariel makes many pivotal choices—such as signing the contract with Ursula—the rescue of Eric is widely considered her most crucial action because it serves as the **inciting incident** for the entire plot. Without this act of agency, Ariel would never have fallen in love with Eric, the central conflict with her father (King Triton) would not have escalated to the point of her visiting the Sea Witch, and the eventual bridge between the human and mermaid worlds would never have been built. ### Specific Details: * **The Action:** After witnessing Prince Eric’s ship being destroyed by a hurricane and an explosion, Ariel watches him fall unconscious into the sea. Risking her own safety among the burning wreckage, she dives deep to find him, grabs him before he drowns, and drags him to the surface. She then swims him all the way to the shore and stays by his side, singing to him until he begins to regain consciousness. * **Who Helped Her:** Ariel performed this action **entirely on her own**. Although her friends **Flounder** and **Sebastian** were nearby watching the ship, and **Scuttle** provided commentary from the air, they did not physically assist her in the rescue. This independence is often highlighted by film critics as Ariel’s defining moment of heroism, showcasing her strength and her willingness to defy her father's laws for what she believes is right. ### The Climactic "Helped" Action: If "crucial" is defined by the resolution of the film's conflict (the climax), the most significant action Ariel takes is **disrupting the wedding of Prince Eric and Vanessa (Ursula in disguise)**. In this instance, she had significant help: * **Scuttle** provided the crucial intelligence by discovering Vanessa’s true identity in a mirror and rallied the sea and land animals (seals, birds, and fish) to attack the wedding barge. * **Flounder** provided the physical assistance by pulling a human-form Ariel through the water on a wooden barrel so she could reach the ship in time. * **Sebastian** helped by notifying King Triton of the situation, leading to the final confrontation. This collaborative action allowed Ariel to **reclaim her voice** and break Ursula's spell on Eric, ultimately enabling the happy ending of the film.