Hans Christian Anderson’s version of The Little Mermaid is very different than Disney’s. Christian Anderson’s type of writing is also very different than most fairy tale writers. For example, he is very descriptive in his writing. I feel as if most fairy tale writers, Charles Perrault for instance, is very to the point with their stories. Christian Anderson makes a point of being very descriptive so that the reader can get a good mental picture of what is happening in the story. For example, when each of the mermaid princesses would travel up to the surface of the water every year for their fifteenth birthdays, he would elaborate on exactly what they saw.
“The following year, the second sister was allowed to go up through the water and swim wherever she liked. She came to the surface just as the sun was setting, and that was the sight she found most beautiful. The whole sky looked like gold, she said, and the clouds- well she just couldn’t describe how beautiful they were as they sailed” (pg. 218).
Christian Anderson’s descriptions throughout the story kept it very animated and made me want to continue reading the story. Another way his stories are very different from other fairy tale writers is that in most other stories, the children are never the ones to be hurt. And if they are hurt, it usually turns out alright in the end. However, Christian Anderson’s version, the little mermaid gets her tongue cut out by the sea witch, drinks this potion that makes her feel as if she was getting stabbed by a “two edged sword” and also, whenever she walks on those legs that she got, she feels as if she is walking on knives.. She also doesn’t win over the prince at the end of this story. She turns into sea foam and has to live her life with “the daughters of the air”…
“‘We shall fly to the hot countries, where the stifling air of pestilence means death to mankind; we shall bring them cool breezes. We shall scatter the fragrance of flowers through the air and send them comfort and healing. When for three hundred years we have striven to do the good that we can, then we shall win an immortal soul and have a share in mankind’s eternal happiness” (pg. 232).
Although the little mermaid did not get to be with her first love, the young prince, she does however get a second shot at life if she does good for three hundred years. I think I’ll stick to watching Disney’s version.
Skylar Nerone 