The Little Mermaid

1. The Little Mermaid A Comparison Through Four Lenses

2. Introduction • In 1836, Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author, published a fairy tale entitled “The Little Mermaid.” The very descriptive story ended on a note that was bittersweet at best. • In 1989, Disney released an animated film version of the story, though the story was “Disneyfied” to include talking animal sidekicks and a fizzy happy ending.

3. Thesis: • The comparison of these two versions of the story teach different morals to the child audience. • From the movie version, the child learns that there may be a happy ending but it’s never made clear what is right or wrong; (add story) • The two stories demonstrate the struggle of girls as they transition into womanhood and endure sex, love, and the understanding of good and evil.

4. Thesis (cont.) • The two versions of “The Little Mermaid” show that sometimes one must pay a price in order to receive what one desires…but sacrifice does not guarantee that you will receive what you desire. • The movie and the story have different styles, but they both have the same conflict, which is the sacrifice required by love. • Both versions imply that a mother figure is needed as a young lady is going through physical and developmental changes, because she questions and curiosities that she cannot figure out on her own.

5. Andersen’s Summary The Little Mermaid was the prettiest in the entire sea. The Daughter of sea king and had six sisters. Little Mermaid was very curious on what was going on the land and went to surface and saw the prince and fell in love. She wanted to become a human and so she can be with the prince. She made a sacrifice to cut her tongue and forced into trickery by the Sea Witch. She knew she was going to die because the prince had somebody to marry and he couldn’t break the spell. Mermaid went to the water and found her soul which was given for her good deeds.

6. Disney’s Summary • The Little Mermaid Ariel was the prettiest in the entire sea. The Daughter of sea king and had six sisters. Ariel was curious about the surface, humans, and why the sea king does not let her go on surface. Sebastian the Crab followed Ariel to the cave and informed Sea King accidently about her secret cave and her human connetions with the prince. Sea King pushed her away which led her to witch’s cave. Witch took advantage and fulfill her desire to be with the prince which became true but on special conditions. The conditions were to give her voice and she only had three days to make the prince fall in love with her to stay human. They were about to fall in love but eel’s came and flipped the boat over and the kiss didn’t happen. The same day sea witch seen that they were getting close and she had a spell which cause her to be human and she used the little mermaid’s voice as advantage. The prince heard a beautiful voice and saw a women on a shore and he instantly became under the spell and wanted to marry witch the next day. They found out it was witch and the prince killed her and which led her to her happiness and marry the prince.

7. Similarities • Both had sisters • Sea Snakes as pets (witch) • Witch wanted to take away her voice • Both had statue in her personal space • No Mother • Both in love with a human • Mermaid save the prince from dying • The sea king didn’t want the little mermaid to go on surface.

8. Tongue was cut off Guidance was her grandmother Witch was covered with worms Little Mermaid was 15 The sea king never destroys her collection She went to the witch She needed to kill prince in order to became mermaid again. In the end she got her immortal soul for her good deeds. Voice was taken away Guidance was the crab Witch was Octopus Little Mermaid was 16 The sea king destroys all her collections Eels led her to the witch Had to make prince fall in love in three days. Got her voice and gets married. Differences

9. Similarities/Comparisons • In both the movie and story: - Little Mermaid falls in love with the prince. - Little Mermaid goes above the surface - Forbidden to have any type of human altercations - Sea witch took her ability to use her voice - Goes against her fathers wishes - Curiosity

10. Differences/Contrast • In the Story: • Doesn’t get the prince, but gets an immortal soul. • Sea witch doesn’t intervene in the Little Mermaid trying to get the prince • Sea witch gives her an opportunity to redeem her actions with trying to pursue the prince (killing prince with knife). • In the Movie: • Little Mermaid gets the prince • Sea witch tries to ruin Ariel’s chances of getting the prince • Sea witch wants King Tritan’s throne, to do this she needs to start by having Ariel as a slave

11. Reader Response “Movie” • What is the child reader supposed to learn? • Children have to be free to live and make their own life, follow your heart. It’s important to be brave and not give up or you’ll be left with the “what if” question. For every action there is a consequence, in this case the Sea witch dies because of her maliciousness.

12. Reader Response “Story” • What is the child reader supposed to learn? • The child reader is supposed to learn that there is good and evil everywhere, one must pay for what they truly want, even if it doesn’t work out as planned. You shouldn’t have to change yourself for someone and assume everything will fall in place.

13. Literary Analysis: For the Movie • The plot of the movie is underwater, the time is during the 1800. The characters of the movie are Ariel, Sebastian, king trident, and the prince. The theme of the movie is overcoming obstacles. In the movie the conflict is that her father doesn’t approve of her going to the shore. The rising action was that she turns human. • The Rising action of the movie starts off with ariel going to the shore without permission then leads to her secret cave where she hides her collection from her father then from there her father finds her cave and destroys it because of this ariel goes to the witch where she makes a deak with the witch to become a human. • The protagonist of this story in “ The Little Mermaid”, is Ariel because she goes through many phases and obstacles in her life in order to find herself. • The statue symbolizes the love that she had for the prince.

14. Literary Analysis: For the Story • The characters are, The little mermaid, grandmother, sisters, king and the prince. • The theme is blinded by love. • The conflict of the story is that the little mermaid wants the prince to love her so they can be happy together since she is in love with him and becomes a human. • The rising action starts from the little mermaid having to be 15 in order to go to the shore the it leads to her falling in love with a human which it leads to her talking to her grandmother about her falling in love with the human and she tells her that is not a good idea so she goes to the witch and turns her into a human. • The plot is under the sea, in the 1800’s.

15. Psychoanalytical Approach of the Movie • Ariel experienced facing obstacles and knowing how things are not what they really are. • The father is very lovable, overprotecting, and strict with her. • The separation of land and water symbolizes an obstacle. • The reward of overcoming the obstacles is marrying the prince. • Ariel was determined and independent. • King Tritant was more involved with Ariel and cared for her.

16. Psychoanalytical Approach of the Story • When Little Mermaid turns fifteen she goes up to the surface, saves the prince, becomes infatuated with him, finds a way to be with him, and falls in love with him as she interacts with him. • The father was not involved as much in the movie but the grandmother cared more for her. • The separation of land and water is still an obstacle between the prince and the Mermaid. • Overcoming her obstacles was to have an immortal soul. • The Little Mermaid is blind because of the love she has for the prince.

17. Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” Feminist Images • There was a more mature father-daughter relationship • She had an independent urge to show her dad that she was serious about how she felt • She didn’t give up even though everything was coming to an end (she was determine) • She was strong spirited, independent, and mature.

18. Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” Feminist Images • Women are seen as entertainment, seen as amusement for man in the surface world • In the Sea Kingdom, you have to maintain an image to present your rank in society • It was not right for her to feel such a rush to be with the prince after only seeing him

19. Psychoanalytical and Feminist Analysis • The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson (1836) • Body: The little mermaid is described deferent then before she meets the prince. At first she is described as an innocent figure but after, she is more of a sexual symbol to the Prince. • Sex: The splitting of the Mermaid represents the menstrual and developing sexuality of a girl transitioning into womanhood. The loss of her tail is a physical representation of her sexual self discovery. • Witch: The witch is not evil but simply powerful she is there to help the princes but she symbolizes a women's sexual empowerment and the ability of a woman being higher then man and the natural feminine. She is also not responsible for the mermaids fate. • Prince: Is only sexually interested in the Mermaid • Princess: Youngest mermaid is unusual , quite, wistful, and suffers nobly. • Feminist: Even though she's lonely she has a strong support system with her sisters and grandmother, the father is a shadowy figure with no impact. • Disney’s Little Mermaid (1989) • Body: Female body is mature and heavily sexualized but Disney demonstrates it as pure, • Sex: The splitting also represents the pain she will endure going through woman hood. In the movie when she trades her tale for legs the shot lingers below her belly button while she stands there naked. • Witch: Ursula is evil she is an octopus: black, fat, and slippery. She seduces and collects poor unfortunate souls. Creating her personal hell. She also associates with vaginal imagery. Represents a drag queen who must be killed. • Prince: The prince falls in love with her at first sight of her pretty face • Princess: Youngest mermaid princess is adventures and vivacious, spunky and brave. Her sisters are shadowy with no impact. • Feminist: Disney offers the audiences a set of choices: virgin or whore, straight or gay, love or power, and good or evil.

20. The Lessons • The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson (1836) • Life can be lonely and difficult, even when you know you’re special • Brave women pursue their personal destiny even if it differs from the norm • Love and sex can cause pain • Hierarchies of class and status cam set up unbeatable obstacles that perpetuate injustice • Happy endings are not guaranteed • Personal integrity and virtue will be rewarded, just not in the way you might expect • Disney’s Little Mermaid (1989) • Women’s best friends are not other women but rather the men who protect them • Brave young women pursue their men even if it means endangering self and family • Female power and sexuality are dangerous and destructive; male power is natural and necessary • The world is divided into good and evil. You will know them by their looks • Romance is the road to happiness, and marriage is the happily-ever-after toward which all women aspire. The stories also explains what a guy truly wants from a girl which is sex, both witches explain that to the Little Mermaid. They also tell her that, that is the best way to get a man but she who does have sex wont have the true love of the Prince but it is the one that restrains from sex gets the man.

21. Works Cited Andersen, Hans Christian. “The Little Mermaid.” Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales and Stories. n.p. 13 Dec. 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. <http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html.> The Little Mermaid. Dir. Ron Clements and Jon Musker. Voices Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, Samuel Wright, Christopher Daniel Barnes. Disney, 1989. DVD.