Little Mermaid Theory: Ariel's Rebellion Was Always About More Than Eric

Okay, so we finally saw the new Little Mermaid, and the kids LOVED it. (Haley is still singing 'Part of Your World' non-stop, send help!). But, watching it as a mom, I couldn't shake this theory that Ariel's obsession with the surface world was deeper than just wanting a cute prince. I mean, Eric is charming and all, but she was collecting human stuff long before she laid eyes on him, right? My theory is that Ariel's curiosity was a form of rebellion against Triton's control and his (honestly, understandable but still) prejudice against humans. Think about it: she asks Flounder questions about human objects with this real, almost scientific, curiosity. It's not just 'ooo, shiny,' it's 'what IS this used for? How does this work?' And when Triton smashes her collection? Thats when she is like oh HELL no. She goes straight to Ursula. He basically pushed her right Into Ursula's tenticles. I think Eric was just the catalyst, the final straw that made her decide to take a leap (or, um, swim?) towards the unknown. It really shifts how I view her deal with Ursula. It's not just some silly teenage crush gone wrong. It's a desperate attempt to define herself in a world where her father is trying to make her a mini-me and keep her locked away. It also explains why, even after all the drama with Ursula, she's still so determined to bridge the gap between humans and merfolk. She genuinely sees the good in both worlds, even If her father, Triton, can't or won't. And also, why didn't he just use his trident to give her legs?!?!? I mean, come on Triton! He loves her, you know. What do you guys think? Am I reading too much into a Disney princess movie over here? Tell me your theories!