Mulan (1998 Film)

Mulan (1998 Film) Quotes and Analysis

“You don't meet a girl like that every dynasty.”

The Emperor

At the end of the film, after Mulan has returned home, the Emperor advises Shang to go after her. He alludes to the fact that Mulan is very special as a way of encouraging him to follow her, and not give up his chance at love.

"You...you fight good."

Shang

After Mulan receives her honors from the Emperor and goes to return home, Shang approaches her and says this. As he struggles to speak, one gets the sense that he wants to say much more, but he can only say this, as he accustomed to interacting with her as a soldier rather than as a woman.

“I've heard a great deal about you, Fa Mulan. You stole your father's armor, ran away from home, impersonated a soldier, deceived your commanding officer, dishonored the Chinese Army, destroyed my palace, and…you have saved us all.”

The Emperor

At the end of the film, after she has saved the Dynasty, Mulan is rewarded by the Emperor. He begins his interaction with her by listing all the things she has done wrong, but then reveals that he is actually impressed with all that she has done. While he might easily punish her for impersonating a man to serve in the army, the Emperor sees that Mulan is a brave and capable soldier and was invaluable to protecting China.

“How about a girl who's got a brain, who always speaks her mind?”

Mulan (in song)

The rest of the warriors around Mulan are singing about what makes a girl worth fighting for. Among the feminine attributes that are mentioned are admiring brute strength, being a good cook, and not finding any fault in her man. Mulan, in disguise as Ping, tries to suggest that perhaps the woman "worth fighting for" is smart and outspoken.

"Did you see those Huns? They popped out of the snow, like daisies!"

Mushu

After Mulan has been banished from the army, she and her companions see Shan Yu and his fellow Huns emerging from the avalanche that she believes killed them. Mushu, lending a characteristically humorously perspective to the action, compares the giant resilient Huns to daisies popping out of the ground.

"Punch him. It's how men say hello."

Mushu

This is Mushu's first bit of advice when Mulan arrives at the military camp. She wants desperately to fit in with the male soldiers, and Mushu (misguidedly) believes that the best way to establish herself as a man is to resort to violence.

"A life for a life, my debt is paid."

Shang

After finding out that Mulan is a woman in disguise, Shang is entitled to kill her, as this is a punishable offense. However, since she recently saved him and exhibited great bravery as a soldier, he decides to simply banish her, sparing her life. He says this to communicate that he is repaying her for saving his life by sparing hers.

"You risked your life to help people you love. I risked my life to help myself."

Mushu

After Mulan is banished from the army, she feels sorry for herself, as does Mushu. In a self-pitying monologue, Mushu says this, suggesting that he has been selfish, lying to the ancestors in order to win favor and become a guardian once again.

"Who spit in her bean curd?"

Grandma

When Mulan visits the matchmaker, the matchmaker is a very ornery and snobbish woman, and escorts Mulan into her dwelling haughtily. As she watches them go, Mulan's grandmother says this, commenting on the matchmaker's sour attitude.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?'

Mulan

When Shang comes to Mulan's home at the end of the film, he tries to make it seem like he is just returning her helmet, when he in fact wanted to see her again and spend more time together. With this line, Mulan invites him to stay, giving them an opportunity to spend more time together, and suggesting that their romance will blossom.