Hercules is one of my absolute favourite films made by Disney, and I find it to be one of their most underrated movies next to The Emperor's New Groove. Although it doesn't get as much attention aside from a few exceptions where Hades is a huge fan favourite, Megara is a character I find just as brilliant as he is. If anything, she is probably one of the most complex characters the studio has ever written.
Looking back at the film and watching her development, it is so amazing having to watch how much she grows followed by the details we get as the film progresses. She is introduced as a woman who is quite rude, but has a quick-witted charisma you can't help but love. Later on we learn that she works for the film's villain: Hades, but not by choice.
One of my favourites scenes in the movie was learning more about Megara's past. She only works for Hades cause she made a deal with him to be in servitude in order to save her boyfriend (from possibly dying). Similar to another Disney film in The Little Mermaid, while Ariel gave up her voice for a guy, Meg gave up her life for a guy but it doesn't go the way she expected. She is left heartbroken, when the love of her life repaid her by abandoning her for someone else. This scene alone tells us so much about what Meg was probably like before she became Hades' slave, and perfectly explains why she is the way she is currently. It provides an important lesson to kids that life isn't a fairy tale, and if you aren't more careful when it comes to living in reality you could end up viewing the world in a very cynical and dark perspective much like Meg.
When we get to the scene where Hercules and Meg spend time together, the details don't end there. When Hercules talks about how much he wishes he could be like everyone else, Meg shrugs it off as him thinking in a naive manner. But she is mainly speaking from experience, Hercules' way of thinking was similar to how Meg used to think so she tries to prepare him from potential disappointment he could face when dealing with people.
"You wanted to be pity and dishonest?" That line was so realistic, especially afterwards when Hercules insists not everyone is like that, but Meg still stands by her point when she looks at her reflection in the water. She's also referring to herself, which implies she also suffers from self-loathing. She hates herself for selling her soul away to the Devil for a guy whose feelings weren't mutual, and she's deceiving Hercules in order to gain her freedom even though she knows that the way she's doing it is wrong. In her mind, she is no better than everyone else. Her guilt doesn't stop there after she falls in love with Hercules, which is something she wasn't even looking for. Another important lesson for kids, that they shouldn't focus so hard on looking for love. When the time is right and you meet the right people, that love will come to you.
This love restored apart of Meg that was lost for a long time, and she once again sacrifices a lot to save the person she loves only it is actually worth it this time. Hercules regains his super strength, and he is able to stop Hades from ruling the world. She was the real hero of this film! It was also through her that Hercules finally understood what it meant to be a true hero, a goal he has been trying to achieve throughout the entire movie.
If Hercules was released around this decade, I honestly believe that not only would Hades still be a very popular character Megara would also be just as popular next to him. Especially given how much the subject of cynicism and world-weariness has become a huge focus in media in this generation. She might even be considered a great role model for girls.
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