I remember the song where she said it just cost Ariel her voice if she wanted to turn into a human, but why did Ursala want to do that? I mean, aside from making it tough for Ariel to communicate as a human, what was in it for Ursala?
shareBecause that's how it was in the original novel, but it was never specified why either. Possibly because her voice was her greatest talent, and therefore the most valuable thing she had. The sea witch in the novel wasn't evil. As Ursula said, "If you want to cross a bridge, you'v got to pay the toll". She was simply taking payment.
There's a reason why all merfolk, no matter what form of mythology, have such splendid voices. It's because they're needed in order to speak underwater. So, having such great and powerful voices, singing comes naturally. It could have been because in most merfolk mythology, mers have enchanted voices that can draw humans in, hence why they're called sirens. She probably would have been able to enchant the prince with her voice had she kept it, easily obtaining a kiss of true love within 3 days, but that's just speculation on my part. Maybe she took it so Ariel couldn't tell Eric that she was the one that he was looking for. She couldn't write it either because, as Disney Studios stated, even though Ariel CAN write, it's a different form of writing than what humans use, so Eric wouldn't have been able to read it anyway. Or maybe she was planning in advance and took it so she could use it to deceive Eric the way she did when Ariel was winning his heart.
There's really no definite explanation. I never actually read the original novel, so I don't know if it was stated in it, but as far as I know, it was just payment. The mermaid wanted legs, she had to exchange something valuable, so the sea witch took the most valuable thing she owned.
I really wish the Disney studio had mentioned the writing thing IN the movie. That has been bothering me since I first saw the little mermaid. Possible they didn't think of it until AFTER and then said that because they realized unless there was a reason she should have written.
shareShe doesn't want her voice (although it comes in handy later). Ursula wants Ariel to default on their contract, so she'll have something over Triton (and Triton is all to quick to give up his crown for Ariel).
I think she chose her voice as a commodity because Ursula was watching Ariel earlier, and knows she likes singing.
"He's dusted, busted and disgusted, but he's ok"
Ursula wanted her voice because that way she couldn't tell Eric who she really was. In the original story the sea witch isn't quite as evil, but she does want the mermaid to pay her with the best thing she has, which is her beautiful voice with which she could captivate the prince.
shareI know I'm late posting here but I agree with Kruleworld and Stratego. Ursula didnt give a crap about Ariel's voice. But Ursula knew that the Prince would only want the girl who saved his life, and that the only way he could identify the girl who saved his life was by her voice and the song she sang, so Ursula had to take Ariel's voice. Ursula figured that without her voice, the Prince would never recognize her, let alone fall in love with her and kiss her. It was part of her plan all along. But to Ursula's surprise, Ariel almost got Eric to kiss her anyways. So Ursula realized she will have to take action herself to prevent the kiss from happening (to which she used the voice to put a spell on Eric, and you know the rest...).
shareAriel does have a pretty voice maybe Ursula just wanted her voice, she did have a 'famous' and beloved voice in the film established in the beginning of the film with the concert starring her.
But it always was just a way for Ariel to lose her agreement. Plus others have said Eric identified the woman who saved him by her voice mainly, it gave her disadvantage of him falling in love with her.