When I was 5, and yes it’s been a long time since then, the Disney movie that most caught my infant eye was “The Little Mermaid.” I loved the little fishies playing the tuba, the seahorses dancing, and the talking crab! The movie itself seemed pretty interesting too, don’t get me wrong, but I mean I was a child for goodness sakes, a distracted child. I have now realized I should’ve paid more attention to this movie because it is as full of intriguing hidden messages as Da Vinci’s paintings.
The original story of “The Little Mermaid” was written by the famous outsider, the great Hans Christian Andersen. You guys probably know the story but here’s the link to the original version http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html. It is basically the story of a young mermaid ready to give up her life in the sea, her family, and even her identity in order to get a human soul and the love of a human Prince.
For now, let’s dismiss the fact that in the Disney version, the mermaid is wearing provocative clothing (a seashell bra), there are more important matters at hand. Okay, so apparently mermaids can go to the surface at the age of 15, so when the little mermaid’s turn came up she was super happy to go see these “humans” her sisters had described so much. So she swam to the surface one day, saw a Prince in a boat, and fell in love. Love? I guess…
Now, the little mermaid becomes obessesed with this guy she saw from afar. She sells her soul to the devil, oh wait, never mind, she “takes potion from the Sea Witch” and her tail becomes a pair of legs. Oh, and the Witch takes her tongue so she can’ t sing anymore. I know I wouldn’t cut my tongue for a guy I just randomly see across the street, no matter how hott or sexy he is!
The question that Kathy Maio presents in her website, http://www.newint.org/easier-english/Disney/diswomen.html#beautybeast, is: What kind of message does this give to little girls?
TO KEEP QUIET AND BE BEAUTIFUL ^.^ Yay!
So girls, we should do what we were born to do: hide behind other people’s shadows; sacrifice our happiness to find our “Prince Charming” right?
And the ending doesn’t help the cause at all. The Prince marries a Princess whom he “loves” because he believes she was the one who rescued him from drowning. The mermaid’s heart is officially broken. Since she didn’t get the Prince to love her she has to die. But if she kills the Prince and lets his blood drip on her feet, she will live and go back to her normal mermaid life. But the little mermaid is too nice and loves the Prince too much so she decided to commit suicide instead (well, she throws herself into the sea and becomes foam). THE END.
This is a great end isn’t it? First she was mute and invisible, and now she is dead and invisible.
See, this is why we should think thorougly before fixing our eyes on the cute guy at the register, we might end up as sea foam and go POOF! into thin air =)
It was enlightening to hear your take on a Disney classic. Thank you for bringing up the original (Hans Christian Andersen) version and explaining concepts more in-depth. I especially enjoyed the idea that the removal of the tongue symbolized that girls were to be seen, not heard which was fitting for the time period. Although, the Disney version differs much from the original, I find Ariel’s determination and curiosity rather inspiring (and a favorite for young girls even now). Though I think you argue a strong point, I don’t think I will refrain from showing the movie to young children. I especially encourage the idea that (in the Disney version) love conquers discrimination (King Trident’s judgment of humans like Eric).
This is very true as children we are carried away by the fantasy world and don’t really understand what a movie is actually conveying. Not to say that we should go back and hate all children films but maybe become more conscious about their message and understand that there is a difference between fantasy and reality.
Even at 18 I am still in love with Prince Charming. Pined108 says that there is a difference between fantasy and reality, in someways i agree with this. But my actual opinion is that fantasy should be reality. I think that everyday is a fairy-tale, we just have to make it. Both the disney version and the Hans Christian Andersen version take this to the extreme- for obvious reasons I do not thing that we should sell our souls or tongues. But if you like they guy at the check out line, and you are convinced the he is your “Prince Charming” why not go for it… what do you really have to loose? To me that is what these stories portray, the need to go after your dreams, with dedication and perseverance. This is my motto, and i love and live by it… make everyday a fairy-tale!
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