The Mighty Mermaid Analysis

The Deeper Tale of the Mighty Mermaid When people think of Disney fairy tales, most immediately associate with fun, happy endings, imagination, and dreams come true. While this is not inherently wrong, it seems they can take it too far. Historically speaking, the majority of fairy tales intend to impart life lessons, values, and morals. However, when Disney sets out to create fairy tale films, ultimately, they tend to alter the original story line so much that the original context tends to disappear. The Little Mermaid is an example of this, and after further examination the contrast of the original intent of Andersen will be established. The original tale has a much more profound lesson to teach, compared to the shallow, more diluted version fashioned by Disney. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid contained in The Penguin Complete Fairy Tales and Stories of Hans Andersen displays the virtues of selflessness, obedience, and strength while Disney’s version appears self-serving, rebellious, and portrays a false sense about reality that one can choose lower morals and still achieve the desired outcome. Generally, most people are quite familiar with the Disney version which involves a young teenage girl named Ariel, who wistfully yearns to be a part of the human world. To the disobedience of her father, she explores the surface and eventually falls in love with a human prince, named Eric. Desperate to meet him, she makes a deal with the sea witch, Ursula, who gives her legs in return for her voice; however, if she does not succeed in making the prince fall in love with her, she will remain mermaid for all eternity. Ariel’s strategy eventually fails, and Ursula, almost wins, but when the Prince realizes that he loves Ariel, he rescues her from the evil sea witch and the story ends as it usually does with Disney; happily ever after. While this version of The Little Mermaid is enjoyable to watch, the original has much more to communicate than Disney’s can, even if there isn’t a fortunate ending. In the original tale, by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, the little mermaid also longs to visit the human world. When she finally becomes the age that she can explore the surface, she discovers a prince on a ship and falls in love. However, “it’s important to note that the Mermaid not only wants to be with the prince, but would gladly give up her extended life to have a soul.” (Singh) Now she has two reasons to become human. In an attempt to gain what she desires, she strikes a deal with the sea witch in exchange for her tongue and her tail. Should she fail to succeed, she will turn into sea foam and die. Despite the pain, the mermaid agrees. The prince ends up falling in love with a princess from a neighboring kingdom, to the devastation of the mermaid. Just before she is about to become sea foam, her sisters appear on the surface and tell her that they too struck a deal with the sea witch so that their sister could live, …show more content…
(Özgenalp, 6) It’s as if the idea conveyed is that it is acceptable to compromise integrity for the short term gain. Whereas, the original Andersen version insinuates a deeper message: At times, life is disappointing and one may not always receive what one desires, but doing the right thing is nobler and will eventually be rewarded. Children shouldn’t be sheltered from bad things happening or disappointment because it develops character and gives them a greater understanding of courage. Vigen Guroian states that “The great fairy tales and fantasy stories capture the meaning of morality through vivid depictions of struggles between good and evil where characters must make difficult choices between right and wrong… “(4) They prepare children for the unpleasant realities of life. Entertainment need not be for amusement only, but can also teach valuable lessons. If our culture continues to use entertainment as a means of escape from reality, then it will continue to produce people of weak character with no perseverance. Perhaps it’s time Disney stopped sugar coating life and demonstrated real values in their productions that will equip us when life’s circumstances are