Encanto: The Real Meaning Of Luisa's Song "Surface Pressure" (2024)

Luisa's song "Surface Pressure" is filled with symbols that give theEncantocharacter real meaning. Luisa (Jessica Darrow) is the "strong one" of the family whose gift of strength can always be relied upon to carry the burdens of the Madrigal family. Yet, in her song "Surface Pressure," she symbolically pulls up the ground beneath her feet to show that "under the surface," she has anxieties about supporting her family and community.

The song is the only part of Encanto where reality falls away, and the viewer gets a glimpse into a character's mind. In a dreamlike sequence,"Surface Pressure" displays plenty of referencesto historical events and myths. As well as a historical reference to theTitanic,there are classical allusions to Greek hero Hercules, the three-headed dog Cerberus, and the god Atlas as Luisa holds up the world. Throughout the song, the donkeys she carries in the real world are re-imagined by Luisa to fall from above, turn into flying unicorns, play a string quartet on theTitanic, and bust some moves as they join her in a dance.

These references reveal the deeper meaning behind "Surface Pressure," uncovering Luisa's inner struggle as she questions her identity and fears that she is the only one who can support the family.Just as other Encanto songs secretly reveal information about characters, Greek myth references in “Surface Pressure”indicate Luisa’s heroic persona. While Hercules runs away from Cerberus in the song, Luisa takes up a sword and shield to fight the gigantic, growling dog. In Luisa's mind, she has to be even stronger and braver than the strongest of Greek heroes. Yet this is not what she wants. When she asks, "Was Hercules ever like 'yo, I don't wanna fight Cerberus'?" she implies that she doesn't truly want to be a hero, but she believes she will be "worthless" if she "can't be of service" to those who need her.

Encanto: The Real Meaning Of Luisa's Song "Surface Pressure" (1)

Disney's best character introduction songalso reveals Luisa's fear that the Madrigal family will fall into ruin without her. Worried that"something is gonna hurt us,"Luisa imagines that aTitanic- esque ship with the family name "Madrigal" written on the hull is about to crash into an iceberg. While Mirabel stands terrified on the ship's deck, the donkeys beside her are equally powerless to act as they comically imitate the string quartet which played on theTitanicas it sank. Brave Luisa emerges as a reluctant hero once again, stepping in to smash the iceberg and protect the family who will crash and sink without her. Confused about why the "ship doesn't swerve" and her family doesn't try to prevent disaster themselves, it is clear that Luisa believes she takes on the greatest responsibility and has the most important of all the Madrigal family's gifts as she protects the family with her strength. In her song sequence, she endlessly saves Mirabel from all kinds of perils, including falling from a cliff and being crushed by rocks and doors. She also symbolically holds upcasita, the family home.

Yet, Luisa is scared that she cannot fulfill this protective role.Although she tries to hold up the world like Atlas, she is concerned that she doesn't have his godlike power as the ground tips beneath her, and the globe she is holding falls. This possibility of failure leaves her uncertain about who she would be if she failed to live up to "the crushing weight of expectations,"which forces Luisa out of her secret room to constantly act as a protective hero. Asking"Who am I if I don't have what it takes?"the constant pressure to use her gift for the good of the community makes her question whether her gift of strength is her entire identity. When Luisa pushes against her magical glowing door, which threatens to crush her, it is clear that the gift is a burden. All theEncanto hero really wants is the freedom tofly away from her constant fighting and drift into a world of clouds, unicorn donkeys, and confetti.