Isabela/Dolores similarities pt.1

It's a common misconception that Dolores and Isabela from Encanto are rivals, especially when it comes to Mariano. Many fans jumped to the conclusion of "DOLORES HATES ISABELLA CUZ SHE GOING TO MARRY THE MAN SHE LOVES SO THEY ARE RIVALS AND THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIP." But what if we've been looking at their dynamic all wrong? After rewatching Encanto, I realized their relationship is far more nuanced and, dare I say, sisterly than pure animosity. Let's start with Dolores. Her gift of super hearing means she hears *everything*. Imagine the burden of knowing every secret, every whisper, every unspoken desire in the family. She knew Isabela wasn't truly in love with Mariano. In the iconic dinner scene, when Mariano proposes, Dolores blurts out, "She's in love with someone else!" This wasn't an act of malice or sabotage against Isabela. It was, arguably, an accidental act of truth, propelled by her own longing for Mariano and the sheer weight of knowing Isabela's true feelings. She wasn't trying to hurt Isabela; she was simply stating a fact she couldn't keep inside, a fact Isabela herself was suppressing. Isabela, on the other hand, was trapped in her own kind of prison – the pressure to be perfect, beautiful, and the family's golden child. She played the role expected of her, even agreeing to marry Mariano because it seemed like the 'right' thing to do for the family. Her outward perfection hid a deep dissatisfaction, something Dolores, with her super hearing, undoubtedly picked up on. Isabela likely wasn't fully aware of Dolores's deep feelings for Mariano, or perhaps she was too self-absorbed in her own perfect facade to notice the subtle cues. Think about the "We Don't Talk About Bruno" song. Dolores's line, "He told me that the man of my dreams would be just out of reach, betrothed to another! It's Dolores's turn next!" clearly shows her yearning for Mariano. This doesn't make her an adversary of Isabela; it makes her a heartbroken sister who is also a victim of circumstances and familial expectations. Her pain isn't directed at Isabela as a person, but at the situation that puts Mariano with Isabela when both of them know it's not meant to be. By the end of the movie, after the family's healing and the miracle's return, we see a different dynamic. Isabela embraces her true, messy self, free from the burden of perfection. And Dolores finally gets her chance with Mariano. There's no lingering resentment or rivalry shown. Instead, there's a sense of understanding and mutual relief. Isabela seems genuinely happy for Dolores, and Dolores, no longer weighed down by secrets, can openly pursue her happiness. Their journey highlights that they weren't true rivals, but rather sisters navigating immense pressure and expectations, both yearning for their own form of freedom and love. Their bond, though strained by circumstances, was ultimately one of family, not hate.