Editing Mother Gothel

|image=[[File:Mother Gothel KHIII.png|350x400px]]

|jpname=Gothel

|envan=<ref>[http://press.na.square-enix.com/releases/1274/starstudded-voice-cast-unveiled-for-disney-and-square-enixs-kingdom-he '''Square Enix Press Release''': STAR-STUDDED VOICE CAST UNVEILED FOR DISNEY AND SQUARE ENIX'S KINGDOM HEARTS III]</ref>

'''Mother Gothel''' is a character from the [[Kingdom of Corona]] in ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''. She is the adoptive mother of [[Rapunzel]], although Rapunzel has been led by Gothel to believe that she is her biological mother. She originated from the Disney film ''{{w|Tangled}}''.

Upon finding that Rapunzel has disappeared from their tower, Mother Gothel discovers a wanted poster for [[Flynn Rider]] within a satchel containing Rapunzel's stolen tiara. She is approached by [[Marluxia]], who offers to help her retrieve Rapunzel. As he approaches her, Mother Gothel's eyes glow pink.

While searching for Rapunzel in the forest, Mother Gothel encounters [[Sora]], [[Donald]], and [[Goofy]] walking around and remarking on Marluxia, whom they had just met. Gothel watches for a few moments before dismissing the conversation as unimportant, but doubles back when Sora calls out for Rapunzel and Flynn. Gothel presents herself and asks them if they know Rapunzel, informing them that she is her mother. Sora tells Mother Gothel that they accidentally lost Rapunzel, causing her to dismiss them as useless as she walks away to search by herself. Gothel eventually finds Rapunzel and gives her the tiara Flynn stole, plotting to split the two of them apart.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts III]], Gummiphone, Story, Kingdom of Corona:''''' "It was also Mother Gothel who had brought Rapunzel the tiara in an attempt to drive her and Eugene apart."</ref>

Following the lantern festival, Mother Gothel seems to save Rapunzel from [[Nobodies]] using a log and she convinces her to return home after it appears that Flynn has abandoned her for the tiara. However, at the tower, Rapunzel confronts Mother Gothel about her realization that she is the lost princess of Corona. Mother Gothel tells Rapunzel that she was trying to protect her, but Rapunzel leaves to save Flynn from his death sentence. Mother Gothel is able to trap Rapunzel, then bounds and gags her. When Flynn, who has managed to avoid his death sentence, comes, Mother Gothel stabs him.

Rapunzel tells Gothel that if she lets her heal Flynn with the powers of her hair, Rapunzel will do whatever Gothel asks, sacrificing her freedom for the rest of her life, which Gothel accepts. While talking with Flynn, he cuts off Rapunzel's hair, removing its healing properties. Gothel begins to rapidly age before [[Pascal]] trips her, which causes her to fall out the window and wither away until only her cape remains. Marluxia observes from a distance, determining that her lingering [[darkness]] now poses a threat to Rapunzel's pure [[light]], and subsequently uses that darkness to create the [[Grim Guardianess]] [[Heartless]], which Sora and his friends destroy.

==Design==

Mother Gothel has curly black hair and gray eyes. She wears a shiny dark magenta dress with a black cape. After Flynn cuts Rapunzel's hair, Mother Gothel begins to age rapidly. In the last moments of her life, her face and hands are gaunt and wrinkled, and her curly hair is a silvery white.

Mother Gothel, to Rapunzel, appears to be a kind and loving mother. However, she is actually rather selfish, narcissistic and deceitful, having lied to Rapunzel about her past and stolen her away from her true family in order to keep the mystical powers of Rapunzel's hair all to herself. Her narcissism manifests itself in consistent psychological abuse towards Rapunzel: consistently telling her that the world is a dangerous place in order to keep her in, and even gaslighting her with the implication that a good, loving daughter would never leave the tower. Although Gothel tells Rapunzel that everything she has done is to protect Rapunzel, Gothel's methods are extreme and overbearing. Gothel also cruelly binds and gags Rapunzel when Rapunzel attempts to leave the tower to rescue Flynn. She later stabs Flynn in both an act of cruelty against him and Rapunzel.