# The Little Mermaid: Ursula's Decline

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-little-mermaid-ursulas-decline/138713>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 25, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-little-mermaid-ursulas-decline/138713 "2002-11-25T17:20:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-little-mermaid-ursulas-decline/138713/1 "2002-11-25T17:20:40Z")

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I was just watching Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” with my toddler. And, it occured to me that, well…what really killed Ursula? At this point in the movie, she’s all-powerful by this point usurping King Tritan’s throne. She grows to some gigantic size tossing about the sea at whim. But, Prince Eric just stabs her with the broken stem (stern?) of the ship he’s in…that’s it?

Are we simply left to believe she has this Achilles heal? Or, is it just that she didn’t see it coming? I feel like the story should have said more… or, maybe it’s just me! 😃 - Jinx

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-little-mermaid-ursulas-decline/138713/2 "2002-11-25T17:36:40Z")

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Well the broken bowsprit did go right through her. I guess having the powers of all the oceans didn’t give her any ability to survive being impaled.

Not sure why she exploded, though.