I realized this while watching the movie last week. Phillip is a lot more emotionally involved with her... He fought a dragon for her and she just chose to obey her aunts over staying with him

actually, the other way around. I LOVE Aurora for doing the unselfish, responsible thing. From a romantic standpoint what Philip did was great, but otherwise he kind of shirks his duty and doesn't seem to care at all about his kingdom. But it all worked out so I don't mind how it is.

I think one has to consider that those two are not in the same situation. Phillip knew his whole life that he is supposed to marry this baby he saw once at one point. He had time to think about it. And he knows exactly what giving up his throne entails, with all the possible consequences. (Question is if he acts irresponsible, he certainly puts his father in hot water with his actions...and what was he actually doing, spending his time in the woods instead of being where he was supposed to be?).

Aurora on the other hand just learned what she truly is, and how everyone did what they had to do in order to ensure that she would survive. She certainly could refuse, but unlike Phillip, she can't know the possible consequences for the country if she does.

@Swanpride I don't get your point... You're saying that because Philip was aware of how terrible the consequences were while Aurora wasn't, that makes his sacrifice not as significant? It should be the opposite..

In agreement with Audrey.

I say that Phillip only has to deal with his father in the matter, and he apparently decided that the consequences would be great (if he is right or not, we can't tell because we don't know anything about those two kingdoms aside from the plan to join them).

Aurora on the other hand suddenly learns that she is a princess in hiding. She can't know gauge the consequences of her not going because she knows nothing about the world outside of the forrest. For all she knows not marrying Phillip could cause a war. Plus, going to the castle not only means that she looses the stranger from the woods, it also meets that she will meet her real parents. The emotional stakes are just way higher.

I completely agree with Swanpride's posts. :)

^ also agree!

Um... no?

It doesn't say he's going to stop being a prince or no longer lead his country one day to marry a peasant girl; he's just saying "no" to his father's arranged marriage and will marry the girl he loves. HIs father and subjects will just have to get used to it.

So... yeah.

^actually his father says "Give up the throne? The Kingdom? All for some...some nobody?!" So yeah, its pretty much said that Phillip will lose his throne if he marries Aurora.

I'm with you, Animaluco, I think Swanpride's logic is backwards- if Phillip's aware of the horrible consequences he shouldn't be giving up the throne while Aurora should have no concept of what her actions would cause, although I do see her worrying that if she doesn't do it, something bad could happen. However, I never found Aurora agreeing to take the throne to be some noble action- I just saw her as sort of spineless in that scene, like a child who needs to be told what to do. She didn't have the willpower to stand up and run away from the throne. I really don't think she was thinking about political consequences.

That being said, no, not really.

Phillip knows what he is doing. The two kings are great friends, so they would never declare war on each other or anything of the sort, no matter the disagreement. Aurora, on the other hand, has no way of knowing what will be the extent of the consequences if she declines her responsibilities.