The Lightness of the Sexual Being: A Short Reflection on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid”

Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, “The Little Mermaid,” has been adored by both children and parents for decades. The tale shows an astonishingly different quality to Andersen’s early genre of fairy tales, which allows the reader to sense his keenness on the meaning of human sexuality. The author used...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Seungyeon Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-11-01
Series:Societies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/8/4/116
Description
Summary:Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, “The Little Mermaid,” has been adored by both children and parents for decades. The tale shows an astonishingly different quality to Andersen’s early genre of fairy tales, which allows the reader to sense his keenness on the meaning of human sexuality. The author used the short narrative form, becoming more conservative, cautious, and concise in his ideological compromise between religiosity and human nature. “The Little Mermaid” is a tale that draws the reader in about “universal preoccupations” of femininity, self-concept, and self-actualization. Andersen’s intentions and the authenticity of this tale should not be overlooked.
ISSN:2075-4698