Reading The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson captivated me when I was young and even now as I’m in my 30’s the story remains hauntingly beautiful. From the cover it looked innocent enough, but the story is a tangled web of one-sided love, misery and misunderstandings, the hope to rise above, and ultimately in the end sacrifice. Despite the fantastical creatures, this was not a child’s tale but an adult one.
For a long time I wanted to change the ending to make it happy for the main character, despite the dire consequences of doing so. But as I grew up I began to realize that although it’s sad in a love story- it ends with a glimmer of hope. She released herself from unrequited love to find complete freedom in herself. Essentially, she gave into love. The whole book is about transforming from one thing into another; mermaid into human, human into wind. It’s about how love can transform you from one thing to another- it could be good or it could be bad, it all lies in the choices we make.
I do not think mermaids are innocent creatures but rather beautifully cruel selfish ones. They are the essential female vanity.
I cannot look at a mermaid image without thinking about that book. Ever since I finished the last page to “The Little Mermaid” I no longer see the mermaid as being a child’s character- a drawing of happiness and innocence. I see her as a cruel tragedy- a sea myth that carries beauty and death like inseparable twins.
She waves “hello” as well as “goodbye” in the same breath to those lost at sea.
For a long time I wanted to change the ending to make it happy for the main character, despite the dire consequences of doing so. But as I grew up I began to realize that although it’s sad in a love story- it ends with a glimmer of hope. She released herself from unrequited love to find complete freedom in herself. Essentially, she gave into love. The whole book is about transforming from one thing into another; mermaid into human, human into wind. It’s about how love can transform you from one thing to another- it could be good or it could be bad, it all lies in the choices we make.
I do not think mermaids are innocent creatures but rather beautifully cruel selfish ones. They are the essential female vanity.
I cannot look at a mermaid image without thinking about that book. Ever since I finished the last page to “The Little Mermaid” I no longer see the mermaid as being a child’s character- a drawing of happiness and innocence. I see her as a cruel tragedy- a sea myth that carries beauty and death like inseparable twins.
She waves “hello” as well as “goodbye” in the same breath to those lost at sea.
RSS Feed