I know most people won't agree, but I think Rapunzel is the worst role model. Yes, more than Ariel or Merida. I don't excuse them, but at least Ariel never had cruel intentions, and Merida was truly repentant of her selfishness, but Rapunzel never is. All she thinks about is what SHE wants, rationalizes it, and while at first she admits running away would be cruel to her mom and just wrong, she decides to do it anyway. She teaches, "What I want is more important than what I believe is right", which makes her far more selfish than the others.That's a pretty dangerous moral to teach kids, but Rapunzel is always portrayed as right anyway. Even ignoring that, while she's charming, she brings nothing new that the other girls don't already have, particularly regarding Aurora, Snow, and Ariel, so why does she get so much credit for being a free spirit, a lost princess, cute and girly, etc. like they already are? I also hate that yet again we have ANOTHER heroine who is morally, intellectually, even physically superior to the guy, who is always wrong and needs to be rescued by her constantly. So much for equality. And as someone who has grown up a bit sheltered living with an abusive parent, I do NOT see her as a role model for abuse victims, but rather damaging. Defying your abuser is usually, um, not the wisest thing to do. Getting help is if you're truly abused, which the movie doesn't encourage whatsoever. Also frustrating that she just magically figures out she's the princess based on pretty insufficient evidence, so really, who's to say our own parents stole us too?

I think Rapunzel is an amazing role model, especially for those who live in abusive situations. While it is admirable to think of other's before yourself, there definitely is a line and I think Rapunzel is able to navigate it beautifully. She is incredibly considerate of others, whether it is her mother, pascal, Flynn, the townspeople or even some random guys at a tavern. So much so that it is a little bit naive (thank god it' a Disney movie). Overall, I think she's a wonderful character, who has just the right balance of selflessness, optimism, intelligence, and bravery. One of my favorites.

I adore her!!!! She is smart (she figures out astronomy on her own!) and has emotionally unbelievable strength...otherwise she wouldn't be able to overcome Mother Gothel's manipulations.
I love how she spends the whole movie to overcome her fears (who cares if it is a monster or a hare, the fear is the same) and her own insecurities. She is practically growing into herself during her movie. And her romance with Eugene is Imho the best written in all the Disney movies. Especially the camp fire scene, when both reveal their deepest secret to the other and get nothing but acceptance in return is very well done.
And yes, she starts out as naïve - kind of, she is also overly cautious - but that's only the result of her isolation. I can see her becoming a great queen, eventually.