Extra Credit Reading Week 15: Hans Christian Anderson Part B

The Little Mermaid, by Hans Christian Anderson

This classic story varies a lot from its Disney version but remains a great (though admittedly long) bedtime story. The plot is mostly the same as the Disney movie. In this original version, Princess Ariel rescues the prince when his ship wrecks. She becomes obsessed with him and humans. She seeks out a witch to help her become human. The witch tells her it will bring her great pain and suffering, but it is possible. 

"Your tail will then disappear and shrink up into what mankind calls legs, and you will feel great pain, as if a sword were passing through you. But all who see you will say that you are the prettiest little human being they ever saw. You will still have the same floating gracefulness of movement, and no dancer will ever tread so lightly, but at every step you take, it will feel as if you were treading upon sharp knives and that the blood must flow. If you will bear all this, I will help you.”

(Image Information: Little Mermaid,
by Edmund Dulac. Blogspot)

Not only will Ariel have to deal with great pain, but if she cannot convince the prince to marry her, she will die and turn into sea foam. As well, she must pay the witch by trading in her beautiful voice. Ariel agrees, so the witch cuts off her tongue and gives her a magic drought. Princess Ariel swims to the palace of the prince and drinks the potion. She passes out and is rescued by the prince. She and the prince become close, but the prince falls in love with someone else. Ariel's sisters make a bargain with the witch and obtain a knife, that, if used by Ariel to kill the prince, would return her to mermaid form. Ariel takes the knife but cannot bring herself to kill her loved one and then turns into sea foam. Ariel finds herself among spirits thanks to her final selfless act. They tell her that after 300 years of being a good spirit she will rise to heaven. 

Like the Little Match-Seller, this story is dark and tragic. Hans Christian Anderson makes the story even more horrid by including details like how Ariel feels pain in every step but tries to win the prince over by dancing (even though it is agonizing.) His descriptive writing is part of what makes his stories so fascinating and memorable. The beauty of the underwater world he creates is truly awesome.