Ariel, The Little Mermaid, seeks adventure in exploring the human world. Her first warning to "get [her] head out of the clouds and back under water where it belongs" comes by way of an encounter with some persuasive sharks that encourage her to ignore the orders of her father and become human. As the show progresses, the warnings become stronger. Because she succumbs to the temptations of the human world and falls in love with Prince Eric (at first sight, no less), she gives her voice to the sea witch in return for legs. For her freedom, her father must sacrifice his title as king of the merpeople to the sea witch. In true Disney-style, everything works out in the end, i.e., the villain is killed and the spell is broken, but Ariel certainly learns a "lesson" about choosing adventure. In the end, she is able to become a human and marry Prince Eric. Leaving her father and sisters is a sacrifice she makes naturally because of her desire to explore that shore above.
