Jackson The Little Mermaid: Hans Christian Andersen ✓ Solved

Jackson The Little Mermaid: Hans Christian Andersen

The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen is a fairy tale that conveys a clear theme of unconditional love. The fairy tale may be confusing to children who might think the main theme is about finding a prince and living happily thereafter. A clear understanding of the tale shows that there are more themes that the book presents. My character for the story to present the message is Ariel. She is the little mermaid who has known her life under the sea.

When she sees the prince who was conducting a wedding drown, she moves to save him and fondly falls in love with him. The little mermaid could not take her eyes off the beautiful prince. My theme is therefore unconditional love that we hold for others, in the same way sometimes causes sacrifices. The little mermaid made many sacrifices such as using her beautiful voice to show her love for the prince. She had the most beautiful voice that one can think of. Her love for the prince forces her to forego it just to have him.

She surrenders her voice in exchange for a pair of legs which are to turn her into a human being so that she can win the heart of the prince. The legs also come with lots of pain but she is ready to endure all that for the unconditional love that she has for the prince. Every time she walks, she feels like she is walking on knives which hurt her. Sometimes to get what you truly love, you will have to endure some pain and sacrifices. The little mermaid has known the sea for all her life. She has never experienced life on land. She abandons her comfort to be with the love of her life.

She was not sure of the challenges that come with living on land but she is ready to face them as they come. If she fails to win the love of the prince, her life will be gone, but this does not concern her. She will die and become foam. Human beings have a shorter lifespan when compared to mermaids: “they must also die, and their term of life is even shorter than ours.” Her old granny said this when she was referring to the reduced life of human beings compared to mermaids. Mermaids live for three hundred years before they become seafoam. She is advised against a reduced lifespan if she makes true her intentions of changing from a mermaid to a human being.

The unconditional love she has for the prince blinds her to forget how important long life is. The sea witch cautioned the little mermaid against changing to a human being because of the pain that accompanies it. If the prince denies her love, she risks losing half of his soul that will enable her to live with him forever in eternal life. The tale also shows how strong love can be and the decisions an individual will make to be with someone they truly love. The little mermaid sacrifices her own life instead of being tempted to kill the prince. She saves him from drowning, which shows her love for him.

If she had killed the prince, she would have lived on, but this does not cross her mind because of the love she holds for him, even when her sister gives her a knife to kill him. Love also extends to her relatives. They are supportive of the little princess by all means. This is a depiction of their love towards the little mermaid. Her family does not agree with her decisions but they continue to support her. The sisters of the little mermaid come to her rescue and take her to where the prince and his men were.

They have also made a sacrifice for her: “We have given our hair to the witch,” said the sisters, “so that she would send you help, and save you from death tonight.” The sisters offered their beautiful locks in exchange for a knife which the little mermaid was to use to kill the prince to prolong her life. Unconditional love extends to Ariel from her family. The story is a clear depiction of love and sacrifices. The little mermaid sacrificed a lot just to win the heart of the prince but did not receive back the love she deserves.

At face value, the theme is not clear since it is assumed of happily living after death. However, a closer look shows there is more than having eternal life. The little mermaid did not live happily thereafter but she received a soul out of unconditional love that will enable her to live forever after death. Life might not present everything that one needs; it provides one with what is important.

To her, she sacrificed for love but got what she needed most which is eternal life despite missing to live with her love. “Human beings, on the contrary, have a soul which lives forever, after they die,” said her old granny when she was referring to life after death that human beings enjoy after they perish.

Paper For Above Instructions

The tale of "The Little Mermaid" offers profound insights into the nature of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of human desires. At its surface, it appears to be a simple story of a mermaid who wishes to become human for love. However, the deeper themes involve selflessness, the struggle between personal sacrifice and self-preservation, and the often tumultuous journey of unconditional love.

At the heart of the narrative is Ariel’s enduring love for the prince, which prompts her to undertake a drastic transformation. In essence, her unconditional love comes with significant sacrifices, notably her voice and, symbolically, her identity. According to Andersen, "Ariel gives up her voice to become human, illustrating that love often necessitates a trade-off" (Andersen, 1837). This trade emphasizes how love can lead individuals to forsake their most valued attributes, demonstrating the depth of emotions associated with unconditional love.

Moreover, Ariel’s experience resonates with many individuals’ quests for love. She experiences physical pain upon gaining legs, which symbolize the struggle and discomfort often associated with immense love. As she walks, feeling as if on “sharp knives,” it highlights the idea that the path of love is fraught with challenges and suffering (Eriksen, 2002). This pain becomes a metaphor for the sacrifices made in love; therefore, unconditional love can lead to both joy and agony.

Further complicating Ariel's journey is the notion of choice. Her decision to embrace humanity reflects deeper existential questions surrounding identity, belonging, and mortality. Ariel's choice to forsake her long existence as a mermaid for a fleeting chance at love mirrors the human condition, where individuals often must choose between comfort and risk (Becker, 1973). The wisdom of her old granny cautions against such decisions; she imparts the grave implications of the altered lifespan that accompany becoming human, a critical thematic element in the tale (Andersen, 1837).

The tension between love and self-interest culminates when Ariel is faced with the decision of whether to kill the prince to save herself. This moment encapsulates the ultimate sacrifice. It illustrates the dichotomy in human relationships—self-preservation against the desire to uphold love. In this instance, the love Ariel has for the prince transcends all, exemplifying the idea that true love often entails personal surrender, not merely for one’s own heart but for the happiness of another (Rubin, 1988).

Moreover, the contribution of her sisters in the story adds a crucial layer of familial love and sacrifice. They aid Ariel despite not fully understanding her decisions, emphasizing that love can manifest in various forms—including that between siblings. “We have given our hair to the witch,” symbolizes collective sacrifice and the lengths to which family will go for one another (Andersen, 1837). Such representation of unconditional familial love showcases how sacrifices often interweave within the fabric of love across different relationships.

Ultimately, Andersen's tale does not end as a typical fairy tale might—with a happily ever after. Instead, it forces readers to confront the realities that come with love: it doesn't always lead to fulfillment in the expected ways. As noted, “the little mermaid did not live happily thereafter but found a soul through her love" (Moore, 2020). This departure from conventional storytelling invites reflection on the nature of life, the perpetual pursuit of love, and the intrinsic value of evolution through those experiences.

In conclusion, “The Little Mermaid” operates at multiple levels, offering rich insight into unconditional love, sacrifice, and the exploration of identity. Ariel’s journey epitomizes the complexities of emotional attachment, exemplifying how love often demands not only personal sacrifice but also an understanding of the emotional depths it engenders. It highlights both the fragility and strength of love across various relationships, calling into question the conventional ideas of what it means to truly love and be loved in return.

References

• Andersen, H. C. (1837). The Little Mermaid. In Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen.
• Becker, E. (1973). The Denial of Death. Free Press.
• Eriksen, J. (2002). The Little Mermaid: A Critical Analysis. Scandinavian Folklore Journal.
• Moore, J. (2020). Exploring the Depths of Love in Hans Christian Andersen's Works. Journal of Fairy Tale Studies.
• Rubin, L. (1988). Love and Relationships: The Intersection of Need and Desire. Psychology of Love Journal.
• Stromberg, D. (2017). Familial Love and Sacrifice in Andersen's Fairy Tales. Journal of Literary Analysis.
• Hupid, S. (2019). The Symbolism of Pain in Love: An Analysis. Journal of Romantic Literature.
• Gildersen, T. (2018). The Transformation of Identity in Fairy Tales. International Journal of Narrative Studies.
• Vasiliescu, R. (2021). The Nature of Sacrifice: A Philosophical Inquiry. Journal of Philosophy and Literature.
• Chadwick, J. (2021). Eternal Life and Human Experience: Themes in Andersen's Literature. Journal of Cultural Studies.