Spoiler: show
I thought Hans' plan - in order - was: to marry Elsa and become King or to marry Anna, remove Elsa and become King. At best, he wanted to kill Elsa and make sure Anna became Queen so he'd be Prince Consort/King and de facto ruler. It was only because Anna turned up at death's door that her death became part of the plan.
Historically, the husband of a legitimate Queen - see Stephen and Mathilda - was effectively in charge... but his situation was precarious.
The possible-husband of the now-dead legitimate Queen would be effectively in charge but not even slightly secure. He'd be out on his ear within months. Either from an outside invasion taking advantage of his insecurity, or from a proper challenge by a distant cousin who would have a greater claim to the throne than he did.
I wasn't suggesting Anna IS out of touch - although it's fairly likely that she would be. She's not just had a life sheltered from the regular folk, but sheltered from EVERYTHING. It's probable that she had a governess and was taught regular lessons, but it's also clear that she's had no contact with more than a small handful of people ever. I was simply noting that Hans IS looking out for the regular folk - maybe just to further manipulate and cement his standing: he needs the common folk on his side because his situation is precarious. But he may also 'just' be being nice. It happens!
My point on the siblings was exactly that: he has twelve older brothers, but he probably also has some sisters. Anyone with older siblings can probably sympathise with how difficult his childhood would have been with that many older brothers and sisters - multipled tenfold by the confines of a palace and the probable associated parental distance. He SAYS he was ignored for several years by several of his brothers. That's probably true, and also likely barely scratches the surface of how much resentment and complexes (esp. an inferiority complex) he brings to his current motives and actions.
Yes, his sisters probably don't factor into the succession scheme, so they don't count. Consider that also - here's a boy brought up knowing he barely matters, but still he's more important than the women... and now he's confronted with a pair of sisters who stand to inherit a throne and kingdom. He probably feels entitled to just waltz in and justified to take it!
I don't think it's ego in the way you imply. I think certainly he considers himself more worthy than Anna and Elsa to rule a kingdom, but I think it's motivated more from feeling inferior and knowing he has to prove himself: he says as much. (Some would also say that, historically-speaking, a 'Good' illegitimate ruler is better than a middling legitimate one..! Not that Anna or Elsa are likely to be bad rulers. Many thrones change hands through murder, and yet Hans DOES NOT seem inclined towards killing as a primary move. He wants Elsa exiled and Anna subservient (neither good, but neither murder), until circumstances turn a different way. He's on the ice to kill Elsa (because of the prophecy and) because of the weather. No other reason.
He does get off lightly, and that's due mostly to Elsa's generosity. But it's also because his potentially-treasonous actions are largely justifiable in the context of the film: he didn't try to kill Anna, he just didn't try to save her*; he didn't kill Elsa on the mountain or in the cell, just on the ice when the weather was getting worse and his advisors (Weselton et al.) concurred that her death would end the winter. So he doesn't really deserve to die - and both sisters can sympathise that family and upbringing can mess you up: Elsa got sequestered because her parents over-reacted, Anna's judgement is impaired because she never got to learn about the real world.
Weselton didn't challenge Elsa personally because he's a coward. He hides behind his minions, and tries to manipulate events without having to do his own dirty work. This is very Disney-villain (and most villains). Very Scar, very Gothel. He publicly brands her "monster" and creates/fosters the fear that is, again, the REAL VILLAIN here. He turns the people against her. He turns the court against her. He alleges she tried to deliberately kill him. He sends assassins. He's clearly the main agitator and problem - hence the harsher punishment to him and his duchy than to Hans.
Hans didn't engineer the final showdown. Hans wanted Elsa locked away so he could produce her should his legitimacy as king be challenged, and so he could personally fix the winter. Or publicly execute her after a show trial that legitimised his rule. The Kristoff scene may or may not be canonical - I think it was deliberately cut for plot-change/character reasons - but Hans was defeated when Anna appeared. That Anna, the next in line, doesn't hold Elsa (criminally) responsible for the weather undermines his whole position and would have removed any passing claim he had to the throne. Added to which, her being alive proved him a liar: remember, he said he married her and then she died, hence he can claim to be king. Obviously that wasn't true. He's already defeated without Kristoff being involved. He's lost and alone and not the hero he wanted to be.
This feeling of personal defeat mirrors Elsa's. She doesn't just 'react with horror' about her people's plight at finding finding out about the weather, she reacts with despair. She ran away to save everyone, because she's been brought up to believe that everyone will fear her - but it's her own fear that's even more important. She believes herself solely responsible.
And then when she's locked up and Hans reminds her that she can't stop the winter AND tells her that she killed her sister, she gives up entirely. She doesn't try to break out, as such, she's totally losing control - the whole castle starts sprouting ice spikes - and escapes almost be accident. She finds her way onto the ice and collapses in terror and despair. Hans and his sword are all she feels she deserves, so she numbly waits for the punishment she feels she deserves.
I'll watch for the assassins' potential fates next time - I thought they were stuck on the boat with the Duke, but that may have been wishful thinking - but I'm reasonably sure there's no death-by-Elsa involved. For Disney reasons if not for plot ones!
*Indeed, because she told him the way to save her was "true love's kiss" and he didn't love her, a kiss wouldn't have made any difference. By her stated reasoning, he could do nothing to help. Obviously he also doesn't try, which is harsh, but inaction isn't automatically negative action.
Historically, the husband of a legitimate Queen - see Stephen and Mathilda - was effectively in charge... but his situation was precarious.
The possible-husband of the now-dead legitimate Queen would be effectively in charge but not even slightly secure. He'd be out on his ear within months. Either from an outside invasion taking advantage of his insecurity, or from a proper challenge by a distant cousin who would have a greater claim to the throne than he did.
I wasn't suggesting Anna IS out of touch - although it's fairly likely that she would be. She's not just had a life sheltered from the regular folk, but sheltered from EVERYTHING. It's probable that she had a governess and was taught regular lessons, but it's also clear that she's had no contact with more than a small handful of people ever. I was simply noting that Hans IS looking out for the regular folk - maybe just to further manipulate and cement his standing: he needs the common folk on his side because his situation is precarious. But he may also 'just' be being nice. It happens!
My point on the siblings was exactly that: he has twelve older brothers, but he probably also has some sisters. Anyone with older siblings can probably sympathise with how difficult his childhood would have been with that many older brothers and sisters - multipled tenfold by the confines of a palace and the probable associated parental distance. He SAYS he was ignored for several years by several of his brothers. That's probably true, and also likely barely scratches the surface of how much resentment and complexes (esp. an inferiority complex) he brings to his current motives and actions.
Yes, his sisters probably don't factor into the succession scheme, so they don't count. Consider that also - here's a boy brought up knowing he barely matters, but still he's more important than the women... and now he's confronted with a pair of sisters who stand to inherit a throne and kingdom. He probably feels entitled to just waltz in and justified to take it!
I don't think it's ego in the way you imply. I think certainly he considers himself more worthy than Anna and Elsa to rule a kingdom, but I think it's motivated more from feeling inferior and knowing he has to prove himself: he says as much. (Some would also say that, historically-speaking, a 'Good' illegitimate ruler is better than a middling legitimate one..! Not that Anna or Elsa are likely to be bad rulers. Many thrones change hands through murder, and yet Hans DOES NOT seem inclined towards killing as a primary move. He wants Elsa exiled and Anna subservient (neither good, but neither murder), until circumstances turn a different way. He's on the ice to kill Elsa (because of the prophecy and) because of the weather. No other reason.
He does get off lightly, and that's due mostly to Elsa's generosity. But it's also because his potentially-treasonous actions are largely justifiable in the context of the film: he didn't try to kill Anna, he just didn't try to save her*; he didn't kill Elsa on the mountain or in the cell, just on the ice when the weather was getting worse and his advisors (Weselton et al.) concurred that her death would end the winter. So he doesn't really deserve to die - and both sisters can sympathise that family and upbringing can mess you up: Elsa got sequestered because her parents over-reacted, Anna's judgement is impaired because she never got to learn about the real world.
Weselton didn't challenge Elsa personally because he's a coward. He hides behind his minions, and tries to manipulate events without having to do his own dirty work. This is very Disney-villain (and most villains). Very Scar, very Gothel. He publicly brands her "monster" and creates/fosters the fear that is, again, the REAL VILLAIN here. He turns the people against her. He turns the court against her. He alleges she tried to deliberately kill him. He sends assassins. He's clearly the main agitator and problem - hence the harsher punishment to him and his duchy than to Hans.
Hans didn't engineer the final showdown. Hans wanted Elsa locked away so he could produce her should his legitimacy as king be challenged, and so he could personally fix the winter. Or publicly execute her after a show trial that legitimised his rule. The Kristoff scene may or may not be canonical - I think it was deliberately cut for plot-change/character reasons - but Hans was defeated when Anna appeared. That Anna, the next in line, doesn't hold Elsa (criminally) responsible for the weather undermines his whole position and would have removed any passing claim he had to the throne. Added to which, her being alive proved him a liar: remember, he said he married her and then she died, hence he can claim to be king. Obviously that wasn't true. He's already defeated without Kristoff being involved. He's lost and alone and not the hero he wanted to be.
This feeling of personal defeat mirrors Elsa's. She doesn't just 'react with horror' about her people's plight at finding finding out about the weather, she reacts with despair. She ran away to save everyone, because she's been brought up to believe that everyone will fear her - but it's her own fear that's even more important. She believes herself solely responsible.
And then when she's locked up and Hans reminds her that she can't stop the winter AND tells her that she killed her sister, she gives up entirely. She doesn't try to break out, as such, she's totally losing control - the whole castle starts sprouting ice spikes - and escapes almost be accident. She finds her way onto the ice and collapses in terror and despair. Hans and his sword are all she feels she deserves, so she numbly waits for the punishment she feels she deserves.
I'll watch for the assassins' potential fates next time - I thought they were stuck on the boat with the Duke, but that may have been wishful thinking - but I'm reasonably sure there's no death-by-Elsa involved. For Disney reasons if not for plot ones!
*Indeed, because she told him the way to save her was "true love's kiss" and he didn't love her, a kiss wouldn't have made any difference. By her stated reasoning, he could do nothing to help. Obviously he also doesn't try, which is harsh, but inaction isn't automatically negative action.
