The Little Mermaid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the fairy tale. For the Disney film, see The Little Mermaid (1989 film). For other
uses, see The Little Mermaid (disambiguation).

"TheLittleMermaid"

TheLittleMermaidandthePrinceinanillustrationbyEdmundDulac

Author

HansChristianAndersen

Originaltitle

"Denlillehavfrue"

Country

Denmark

Language

Danish

Genre(s)

Fairytale

Publisher

C.A.Reitzel

Publicationdate

7April1837

"The Little Mermaid" (Danish: Den lille havfrue) is a fairy tale by the Danish author Hans Christian
Andersen about a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a
mermaid to gain a human soul.
The tale was first published in 1837 and has been adapted to various media, including musical
theatre and an animated film.

Contents
[hide]

1Summary

2Publication

3Debate over ending

4Adaptations

5The Little Mermaid statue

6References

7External links

Summary[edit]
The Little Mermaid dwells in an underwater kingdom with her widowed father (the sea king or Mer-King),
her dowager grandmother, and her five older sisters, each of whom had been born one year apart.
When a mermaid turns fifteen, she is permitted to swim to the surface for the first time to glimpse the
world above, and when the sisters become old enough, each of them visits the upper world one at a time
every year. As each returns, the Little Mermaid listens longingly to their various descriptions of the world
inhabited by human beings.
When the Little Mermaid's turn comes, she rises up to the surface, watches a birthday celebration being
held on a ship in honor of a handsome prince, and falls in love with him from a safe distance. A violent
storm hits, sinking the boat, and the Little Mermaid saves the prince from drowning. She delivers him
unconscious to the shore near a temple. Here, she waits until a young woman from the temple and her
ladies in waiting find him. To her dismay, the prince never sees the Little Mermaid or even realizes that it
was she who had originally saved his life.
The Little Mermaid becomes melancholy and asks her grandmother if humans can live forever. The
grandmother explains that humans have a much shorter lifespan than a mermaid's 300 years, but that
when mermaids die, they turn to sea foam and cease to exist, while humans have an eternal soul that
lives on in heaven. The Little Mermaid, longing for the prince and an eternal soul, visits the Sea Witch in
a dangerous part of the ocean. The witch willingly helps her by selling her a potion that gives her legs in
exchange for her tongue and beautiful voice, and she warns her that once she becomes a human, she
will never be able to return to the sea. Consuming the potion will make her feel as if a sword is being
passed through her body, yet when she recovers, she will have two human legs and will be able to
dance like no human has ever danced before. However, she will constantly feel as if she is walking on
sharp knives. In addition, she will obtain a soul only if she wins the love of the prince and marries him,
for then a part of his soul will flow into her. Otherwise, at dawn on the first day after he marries someone
else, the Little Mermaid will die with a broken heart and dissolve into sea foam upon the waves.
After she agrees to the arrangement, the Little Mermaid swims to the surface near the prince's palace
and drinks the potion. She is found by the prince, who is mesmerized by her beauty and grace, even
though she is considered dumb and mute by everyone in the kingdom. Most of all, he likes to see her
dance, and she dances for him despite suffering excruciating pain with every step. Soon, the Little
Mermaid becomes the prince's favorite companion and accompanies him on many of his outings. When
the prince's parents encourage their son to marry the neighboring princess in an arranged marriage, the
prince tells the Little Mermaid he will not because he does not love the princess. He goes on to say he
can only love the young woman from the temple, who he believes rescued him. It turns out that the

princess from the neighboring kingdom is the temple girl. The prince declares his love for her, and the
royal wedding is announced at once.
The prince and princess celebrate their new marriage on a wedding ship, and the Little Mermaid's heart
breaks. She thinks of all that she has sacrificed and of all the pain she has endured for the prince. She
despairs, thinking of the death that awaits her, but before dawn, her sisters rise out of the water and
bring her a knife that the Sea Witch has given them in exchange for their long, beautiful hair. If the Little
Mermaid kills the prince and lets his blood drip on her feet, she will become a mermaid once more, all of
her suffering will end, and she will live out her full life in the ocean with her family.
However, the Little Mermaid cannot bring herself to kill the sleeping prince lying with his new bride, and
she throws the knife and herself off the ship into the water just as dawn breaks. Her body dissolves into
foam, but instead of ceasing to exist, she feels the warm sun and discovers that she has turned into a
luminous and ethereal earthbound spirit, a daughter of the air. As the Little Mermaid ascends into the
atmosphere, she is greeted by other daughters who tell her she has become like them because she
strove with all her heart to obtain an immortal soul. Because of her selflessness, she will be given the
chance to earn her own soul by doing good deeds to mankind for 300 years and will one day rise up into
the Kingdom of God.

Publication[edit]
"The Little Mermaid" was written in 1836 and first published by C.A. Reitzel in Copenhagen on 7 April
1837 in Fairy Tales Told for Children. First Collection. Third Booklet. 1837 (Eventyr, fortalte for Brn.
Frste Samling. Tredie Hefte. 1837). The story was republished on 18 December 1849 as a part of Fairy
Tales. 1850 (Eventyr. 1850) and again on 15 December 1862 as a part of Fairy Tales and Stories. First
Volume. 1862 (Eventyr og Historier. Frste Bind. 1862).[1]

Debate over ending[edit]

Original manuscript, last page

Some scholars consider the last sequence with its happy ending to be an unnatural addition. Jacob
Bggild and Pernille Heegaard point out that:
One of the crucial aspects which any interpretation must confront is the final sequence of the tale, in
which the little mermaid, against all odds, is redeemed from immediate damnation and accepted into the
spiritual sphere, where the "daughters of the air" reside. In this, she is apparently promised the "immortal
soul", which it has been her main motivation to obtain along with the prince, of course. This ending
has baffled critics because the narrative that precedes it points rather to a tragic conclusion than to a
happy one.

Jacob Bggild & Pernille Heegaard, Ambiguity in Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid,
Andersen og Verden [Andersen and the World] (1993)[2]
The working title of the story was "Daughters of the Air".[3] The daughters of the air say they can earn
souls simply by doing three hundred years' worth of good deeds, but Andersen later revised it to state
that all this depends upon whether children are good or bad.[citation needed] Good behavior takes a year off the
maidens' time of service, while bad behavior makes them weep and a day is added for every tear they
shed. This has come under much criticism from scholars and reviewers, with one commenter writing,
"This final message is more frightening than any other presented in the tale. The story descends into the
Victorian moral tales written for children to scare them into good behavior." P. L. Travers, author of Mary
Poppins and noted folklore commentator, says, "But a year taken off when a child behaves and a tear
shed and a day added whenever a child is naughty? Andersen, this is blackmail. And the children know
it and say nothing. There's magnanimity for you."[3][4]

Adaptations[edit]

Ariel, the Little Mermaid, from the 1989 film.

Rusalka (1901), an opera with music composed by Dvok, was first performed in Prague.
Die Seejungfrau (The Mermaid, 1905), a 40-minute-long symphonic poem by Austrian
composer Alexander von Zemlinsky.

The Garden of Paradise (1914), a play written by Edward Sheldon.

Hans Christian Andersen (1952) features a ballet segment adaptation within the film.

La Petite Sirne (1957), a three-act opera version by French composer Germaine Tailleferre,
with a libretto adapted by Philippe Soupault.

Classics Illustrated Junior (1950s), an American comic book series, published a print version in
issue #525.

Angel's Hill (Angel no Oka, 1960), a manga by Osamu Tezuka.

Shirley Temple's Storybook (1961), a television anthology that broadcast a one-hour adaptation
as an episode.

Fantasia 3 (1966), a Spanish anthology film, opens with the adaptation segment "Coralina: La
Doncella del Mar" starring Dyanik Zurakowska.

The Daydreamer (1966), a Rankin/Bass film that combines live-action and stop-motion,
features a stop-motion segment adaptation in the film.

The Little Mermaid (Russian: ) (1968), a 29-minute Soviet Union animated film by film
studio Soyuzmultfilm and directed by Ivan Aksenchuk.

Mah no Mako-chan (1970), an anime television series based on the story, ran for 48 episodes.

Reader's Digest (1974), 30-minute animated version narrated by Richard Chamberlain.

Anderusen Dowa Ningyo Hime (Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid) (1975), an
anime feature film directed by Tomoharu Katsumata.

Rusalochka () (1976), a live-action film that was a joint production by

the USSR and Bulgaria; directed by Vladimir Bychkov and starring Vyctoriya Novikova as the
mermaid.

Mal mosk vla (1976), a live-action Czech film directed by Karel Kachya and starring
Miroslava afrnkov as the Mermaid, Radovan Lukavsk as the King of the Ocean, Petr
Svojtka as the prince, Milena Dvorsk as the Sea Witch and Miroslava's sister, Libue afrnkov,
as the princess. It featured a score by Zdenek Liska, eschewed the traditional visual of mermaids
having fish tails and presented them more as water sprits.

"Little Mermaid" (1982), a song by Japanese jazz-fusion band The Square (now known as TSquare), released on the album Magic.

My Love, My Love: Or The Peasant Girl (1985), a novel by Rosa Guy, is based on the Hans
Christian Andersen tale and inspired the musical Once on This Island, set in the French Antilles.

My Favorite Fairy Tales (Sekai Dwa Anime Zensh) (1986), an anime television anthology, has
a 30-minute adaptation.

Faerie Tale Theatre (1987), a television anthology produced by Shelley Duvall, has a one-hour
live-action adaptation starring Pam Dawber as the mermaid, Treat Williams as the prince, Karen
Black as the sea witch and Helen Mirren as the other princess.

The Little Mermaid (1989), an animated film by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released
by Walt Disney Pictures. The film differs so substantially from Andersen's original story that it has
been said to "betray Andersen's tale while it exploits society's obsession with physical beauty and
romantic love."[5] This film launched a franchise that was continued with a TV series of the same
name (1992-1994), a sequel: The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000), and a prequel: The
Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (2008).

Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid (1991), an NHK anime television series adaptation
that ran for 26 episodes.

The Little Mermaid (1992), an animated film by Golden Films that was distributed
by GoodTimes Entertainment.

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1997), an animated television anthology series,
has an East Asian-influenced retelling featuring the voices of Tia Carrere and Robert Guillaume.

The Little Mermaid (1998), a 50-minute animated adaptation by Burbank Films Australia.

Pokmon: Indigo League (1998), an anime television series, broadcast episode 61, "The Misty
Mermaid", that was inspired by the story.

The Fairytaler (alternately titled as Tales from H.C. Andersen, 1998), a Danish animated
television anthology, has a one-hour adaptation.

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (2002), an anime television series, was inspired by the story.

Princess Mermaid (2002), a print adaptation by Japanese artist Junko Mizuno as the third and
final part of her "fractured fairy tales".

Fairy Tale Police Department (2002), an Australian animated television series, has one episode
that is based on the story.

De Kleine Zeemeermin (2004), a stage musical adaptation by Studio 100 directed by Gert
Verhulst, with music by Johan Vanden Eede. The show premiered in Belgium in 2004 starring Free
Souffriau as the mermaid, and then transferred to the Netherlands where Kim-Lian and Kathleen
Aerts portrayed the mermaid.[6]

The Little Mermaid (2005), a modern-rendition ballet by the Royal Danish Ballet, composed by
Russian-American composer Lera Auerbach and choreographed by John Neumeier, premiered on
15 April 2005.[7]

The Little Mermaid (Die kleine Meerjungfrau, 2007), an orchestral piece by Lior Navok for an
actress, two pianos and a chamber ensemble/orchestra, premiered on 28 July 2007.[8]

Rusalka (2007), a Russian film by Anna Melikyan, set in modern-day Russia.

The Little Mermaid (2008), a Broadway stage musical based on the 1989 Disney film, with
music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. The show premiered on 10
January 2008 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Ponyo (2008), an animated Hayao Miyazaki film based loosely on the story.[9]

"/Ningyo Hime" ("The Little Mermaid") and "/Rito Mame" ("Little Mermaid",
2009), a pair of songs produced using the Vocaloid software, is based on the story.

"Ningyo No Namida" ("Tears of the Mermaid", 2009), a song by Japanese visual

kei band LM.C, is loosely based on the story.

John Neumeier's The Little Mermaid (2010), a production of the San Francisco Ballet,
premiered on March 20, 2010.

SimsalaGrimm (2010), an animated German television anthology, broadcast a half-hour

adaptation.

The Mermaid's Madness (2010), a book adaptation by Jim C. Hines, in which the mermaid,
Lirea, is on a quest of revenge on the human prince who denied her advances, having been driven
insane due to a side effect of her transformation.

Below (2013), a stage adaptation by Adapt Theatre Productions, a small fringe-theatre

production company in Chicago, Illinois. The story is written in blank verse by actor/playwright Lane
Flores and is from the perspective of the little mermaid's sisters, who have kidnapped the story's
prince to judge his compassion for their deceased sister.[10]

Once Upon a Time (2013), an ABC television series, uses characters and elements of the 1989
animated Disney film.

Die kleine Meerjungfrau (2013), a live-action made-for-TV German adaptation directed by Irina
Popow and starring Zoe Moore.

The Little Mermaid (2013), a theatrical adaptation by Blind Tiger, a London-based Actor
Musician theatre company, focuses on Hans Christian Andersen's influences when creating the
fairytale. The show opened in December 2013 at Riverside Studios.[11]

Little From the Fish Shop (2014), a modern-day stop-motion film adaptation by Czech artist Jan
Balej.[12]

The Idle Mermaid (2014), a South Korean television serial modern retelling that ran for 10
episodes.

The Silver Moonlight (2015), an experimental film by Russian-born filmmaker Evgueni Mlodik,
retelling the story of The Little Mermaid in the style of a 1930s German melodrama made under the
Nazis.[13]

The Lure (2016), a Polish film based on the Hans Christian Andersen story.

Little Mermaid (2017), an upcoming indie film set in the modern day with Rosie Mac as the
titular character.[14]

It was announced in 2014 that Sofia Coppola planned to direct a live-action version
for Universal Pictures and Working Title Films.[15] This later developed into Coppola releasing
herself from this project due to 'artistic differences', and later announced that the script was to be
handed over to Richard Curtis and the title role to be given to the 19-year-old actress Chlo Grace
Moretz.[16]

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011), an anime series, has the character of Sayaka Miki who is
based off the Little Mermaid in the original fairy tale.

The Little Android (2014), a short story adaptation by Marissa Meyer as part of The Lunar
Chronicles series, Mech6.0 portraying the main character.

The Little Mermaid statue[edit]

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark

Main article: The Little Mermaid (statue)
A statue of The Little Mermaid sits on a rock in the Copenhagen harbor in Langelinie. This small
and unimposing statue is a Copenhagen icon and a major tourist attraction.
The statue was commissioned in 1909 by Carl Jacobsen, son of the founder of Carlsberg, after he
had been fascinated by a ballet based on the fairy tale. The sculptor Edward Eriksen created the
statue, which was unveiled on 23 August 1913. His wife, Eline Eriksen, was the model. It has been
severely vandalized several times.[17]
In May 2010, it was moved from its Copenhagen harbor emplacement for the first time ever, for
transport to Expo 2010 in Shanghai, where it remained until 20 November 2010.[18]

References[edit]
1.

Jump up^ "Hans Christian Andersen: The Little Mermaid". The Hans Christian
Andersen Centre. University of Southern Denmark Department for the Study of
Culture. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016.

2.

Jump up^ "Summary of Jacob Bggild & Pernille Heegaard: "H. C. Andersens
'Den lille Havfrue' - om tvistigheder og tvetydigheder" ["Ambiguity in Hans Christian
Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid'"].". The Hans Christian Andersen Centre. University
of Southern Denmark, Institute of Literature, Media and Cultural
Studies. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016.

3.

^ Jump up to:a b "Annotations for Little Mermaid". SurLaLune Fairy

Tales. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014.

4.

Jump up^ Altmann, Anna E.; DeVos, Gail (2001). Tales, Then and Now: More
Folktales As Literary Fictions for Young Adults. Libraries Unlimited. p. 179. ISBN 156308-831-2.

5.

Jump up^ Altmann, Anna E.; DeVos, Gail (2001). Tales, Then and Now: More
Folktales As Literary Fictions for Young Adults. Libraries Unlimited. p. 187. ISBN 156308-831-2.

6.

Jump up^ De Bock, Harry (17 March 2004). "De Kleine Zeemeermin van de
Zevende musical Studio 100" (in Dutch). kkunst.com. Archived from the original on 4
March 2016.

7.

Jump up^ Coveney, Michael. "Performing Arts: Year in Review

2005". Encyclopdia Britannica Online. Archived from the original on 16 March
2016.

8.

Jump up^ "The Little Mermaid (Die kleine Meerjungfrau)". Lior Navok.

9.

Jump up^ Fred Topel (12 August 2009). "Legendary animator Miyazaki reveals
Ponyo's inspirations". Sci Fi Wire.

10.

Jump up^ ""BELOW" - Adapt Theatre Productions". Off Broadway in Chicago. 26

February 2013.

11.

Jump up^ "The Little Mermaid - Blind Tiger Theatre Company @ Riverside
Studios". The Gizzle Review. 18 December 2013.

12.

Jump up^ Tizard, Will (8 July 2014). "Czech Animation 'Little From the Fish
Shop' Dives Into Int'l Waters". Variety. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

13.

Jump up^ Smolen, Philip. "The Silver Moonlight (2014)". Rogue Cinema.

14.

Jump up^ Campbell, Tina; Alexander, Sophie (2 August 2015). "Game Of

Thrones babe Rosie Mac swaps dragons for fishtail as she lands Little Mermaid
role". Daily Star.

15.

Jump up^ Fleming, Mike (18 March 2014). "Sofia Coppola To Direct 'Little
Mermaid' Live-Action Movie". Deadline.com. Retrieved 20 March 2014.

16.

Jump up^ "Chloe Moretz set to star in Richard Curtis-scripted Little

Mermaid". The Guardian.

17.

Jump up^ "Denmark may move Little Mermaid". BBC News. 30 March
2006. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.

18.

Jump up^ Yang, Jingzhong; Lu, Ming'ou (21 November 2010). "Copenhagen
holds grand homecoming ceremony for Little Mermaid". Archived from the original on
30 November 2010.

External links[edit]
Wikisourcehasoriginal
textrelatedtothisarticle:
TheLittleMermaid
WikimediaCommonshas
mediarelatedtoTheLittle
Mermaid.

The Little Mermaid Gallery

See photos of The Little Mermaid

"The Little Mermaid", Jean Hersholt's English translation

Den lille Havfrue, original Danish text from the Danish Royal Library

Den lille havfrue, original manuscript (Odense City Museum)

Surlalune: Annotated "The Little Mermaid", Paull's translation, with annotations, scans from six
illustrated editions, and bibliography

The Little Mermaid public domain audiobook at LibriVox