Why didn't The Little Mermaid opt for an ultimate exchange with the prince, sacrificing herself for him without receiving love in return, accumulating enough disappointment, and considering that saving a life should be reciprocated with a lifelong commitment?
Because the Little Mermaid longed for an eternal soul, she learned to be human, resembled humans, and became human. Yet, this question asks: I’ve paid, so why doesn’t Giegie pay attention to me but loves that vile person?!!! Go to hell, all of you! Aargh!!!
Because the Little Mermaid didn’t desire love, but an eternal soul like humans, without which she would turn into sea foam whether she kills the prince or not, merely a difference between dying immediately or after three hundred years. The prince owes her nothing; in the end, she obtained an eternal soul because of her kindness and inability to kill the prince. Had she killed the prince in the end, she would never have become human, reflecting Hans Christian Andersen’s religious views.
The Little Mermaid’s Eternal Soul and Love Story
In the story of “The Little Mermaid,” there was a great demon who wanted to become an immortal by severing his three corpses. The evil corpse was easily severed, but the good corpse couldn’t be cut. So, he began to desperately do good deeds.
Did he do good deeds because he had a sudden realization and decided to turn over a new leaf?
The original story made it clear that after a mermaid dies, she turns into foam, while humans go directly to heaven because human souls are eternal.
In other words, when humans die, it’s just their physical bodies that perish, but their souls remain and continue to enjoy life somewhere else. However, when a mermaid dies, she truly perishes and disappears into the sea foam.
The Little Mermaid thought about having an eternal soul, just like humans. However, there is a limit to being a mermaid if she wants an eternal soul. To achieve this, she did something no mermaid had ever done before – she fell in love with a human, played the role of the Norse Princess, and, while foraging for vegetables, dedicated herself for love. She also submitted an application report to God, who, upon seeing her dedication, approved it instantly.
The Little Mermaid obtained an eternal soul, the prince and the princess found love, the witch gained a voice and hair, but only the love brain was broken.
Original Setting of “The Little Mermaid”
Let’s talk about the original story, setting aside the modified movies and animations.
Mermaids Do Not Have Souls, Only Humans Possess Souls.
Mermaids have a lifespan of three hundred years, but when their life ends, they turn into sea foam, leaving no trace behind. In contrast, humans have eternal and indestructible souls, even if their physical bodies perish, their souls can still experience the beauty of the world.
How Mermaids Can Obtain Souls
To obtain a soul, mermaids need to receive true love from a human. This was the only known method at the time.
In the original fairy tale, the Little Mermaid’s ultimate goal was to gain an eternal and immortal soul through human love, even desiring the love of a prince. However, from the beginning, her love for the prince was not purely romantic; it was more about her longing and desire for a soul.
The Initial Attraction of the Little Mermaid to the Prince
Initially, her attraction to the prince was because he resembled a statue in her garden. Whether this hazy affection can be considered true love is debatable.
When her sisters used the most peculiar things they had found in sunken ships to decorate their gardens, she would only want a beautiful marble statue. It was the statue of a beautiful boy, carved from pure white stone, who had sunk with a ship in the sea. Beside the statue, she planted a red weeping willow tree. This tree grew luxuriantly. Its delicate branches hung down over the statue, all the way to the blue sand at the bottom. Its reflection had a bluish-purple hue. Like its branches, its shadow never stopped moving; the roots and the treetop seemed to be playing a game of mutual kisses.
The bright red sun rose and shone brightly on the water. It seemed to inject life into the prince’s face. However, his eyes remained closed. The Little Mermaid kissed his fair forehead and combed his wet hair back. She thought he looked like the marble statue in her underwater garden. She kissed him again, hoping he would wake up.
Many nights and mornings, she swam to the place where she had left the prince. She saw that the fruits in the garden had ripened and been picked, but she couldn’t see the prince. So, every time she returned home, she felt even more sorrowful. Her only consolation was sitting in her little garden, holding the beautiful marble statue that resembled the prince. However, she no longer cared for her flowers. They grew as if in a wilderness, covering the ground, and their long stems and leaves intertwined, making the place look very dark.
Brainwashing of the Little Mermaid by the Witch
When the Little Mermaid appeared hesitant, the witch tried to “persuade” her to use her beauty to “win” a man’s love. This situation still exists in today’s society and should be criticized.
The Prince’s Feelings for the Little Mermaid
The prince’s love for the Little Mermaid always seemed like the love one would give to a child. What the prince truly loved was the princess who had rescued him in the monastery. The affectionate kisses might seem ambiguous, but this could be attributed to cultural differences in perceptions. In Europe and America, parents and children, as well as siblings, often kiss each other, so this was a common occurrence.
In some classic novels, two knights who meet for the first time, spar, and appreciate each other, often express their admiration and affection by kissing each other a hundred times. The key is that they are both heterosexual and have their own loves. This excerpt is from “The Death of Arthur,” written in the 15th century, featuring Lancelot and Tristan.
The Little Mermaid Earns a Soul Through Her Good Deeds
In the end, the Little Mermaid didn’t follow her sisters' expectations by stabbing the prince’s heart with a knife. Instead, she chose to help and bless him. Just when she thought she would turn into lifeless foam, she felt her own soul.
She was originally a daughter of the sea, and she could only obtain an eternal soul through the love given by humans. However, the Little Mermaid, through her persistence and kindness, had the opportunity to obtain a soul.
Now, she became a daughter of the sky, and as long as she continues to perform good deeds for three hundred years, she will create an eternal and indestructible soul for herself.
The prince and the princess in the end realized that the Little Mermaid had disappeared and went in search of her, showing their kindness.
Conclusion
The original story carries a strong religious undertone and centers around discussions about souls rather than romance. The Little Mermaid’s obsession with the prince seems more like a desire for a soul and a fear of nothingness after death.
The prince’s love is one of the ways the Little Mermaid can obtain a soul. In the end, through her perseverance and goodness, she earns a soul and strives to continue doing good deeds to make her soul eternal.
In the story, the Little Mermaid, the prince, the princess, her sisters, and the grandmother are not villains. The Little Mermaid has her own ideals and pursuits, and she remains true to her original intentions. The prince and the princess are a loving couple who care about the Little Mermaid, and her sisters and grandmother care for her in their own way but fail to understand her ideals.
This could have been a story about determination and female independence, but it was later modified into various love triangles, leaving us with mixed feelings.
It’s her own business to love the prince, and how she loves and gives is also her own affair. How the prince treats her is the prince’s matter. People can only control themselves, not others. Why be so attached?
Because the Little Mermaid is not a love-struck character, what she desires is not the love of a prince but an eternal soul. Therefore, she won’t turn into a resentful woman just because a man doesn’t love her. The love she receives is merely a means to obtain an eternal soul, not the ultimate goal. The result is that she remains kind and gains an eternal soul just like living to death. She doesn’t necessarily require love in return. If she plays her cards right, trading one thing for another might prevent her from getting what she truly desires.
The Little Mermaid: A Tale of Good Hearts
The Little Mermaid is a kind-hearted character, not an aggressively affectionate “licking dog.” She doesn’t resort to destruction when she can’t get what she wants, unlike the typical protagonists in romance novels.
Furthermore, in the story, no one does anything wrong:
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The Little Mermaid: She rescues a drowning man on her first day at sea, demonstrating her kindness.
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The Princess: Despite encountering a stranger, she intends to save him, showing her goodwill.
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The Prince: Unfortunate victim of a shipwreck, he’s fixated on marrying his savior and treats the mute girl he finds kindly, making him a good-hearted character.
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The Witch: While not a good person, she clearly explains the price and effects of the potion she offers, highlighting a sense of professional ethics.
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The Sisters: They want to rescue their sister, which is understandable and justifiable.
The Little Mermaid encounters no villains in her story, and she ultimately refrains from harming anyone. Is there any problem with that?
In the end, she overcomes her fear of death, runs towards the sea, gains recognition from the gods, and joins the celestial daughters in performing acts of kindness. There seems to be no benefit in killing someone at this crucial moment, except for causing unnecessary trouble for oneself.
Evaluation: It is recommended not to read Andersen’s fairy tales; instead, consider investing in stocks to stay clear-headed. Isn’t there enough content on Zhihu where people tear apart scummy men for you to read? Please don’t squander the daughter of the sea.
P.S.: Aren’t those who demand that I love you, and if you don’t love me, I will destroy you, really a different form of love obsession? The Little Mermaid’s ideals and pursuits are completely invisible; they only focus on whether she killed the prince or not. In reality, she probably hasn’t had much romantic experience.
Why do you think the movie is called “Daughter of the Sea” instead of “Little Mermaid”?
When I was young, I didn’t understand, but now I do. The Little Mermaid didn’t want love, she wanted an eternal soul. You reap what you sow, isn’t that quite normal?
If she truly wanted love, she would have…
So, why is it so difficult for morally upright people to pursue romance!!!
Why Extreme One-for-One Swaps?
In essence, the ultimate goal of the Little Mermaid is to become a “creature with a soul.”
The prince is just a process, a path, in her journey.
Even if you view the prince in this story as an NPC or even a BOSS, it’s possible.
The Tale of the Little Mermaid’s Sacrificial Love
I actually adore the story of the Little Mermaid. It’s incredibly romantic, all for the sake of a deeply loved boy.
First, she willingly loses her sense of self-identity, enduring immense pain to transform from a mermaid into a human.
Then, she willingly abandons her cherished attributes, giving up her beautiful voice.
When the boy she loves is with someone else, she chooses forgiveness, refrains from revenge, and silently departs.
Finally, she turns herself into nothingness, becoming a foam in the sea.
Foam, oh! Isn’t it incredibly beautiful? She did it all willingly!
I love telling this story to young girls, moving them while ruthlessly practicing pickup artistry.
If you ask me why the Little Mermaid didn’t resist!
I would answer, because every moment of her existence was for love. Even if it ends in disappearance, it’s worth it, fulfilling, and magnificent.
If you insist on asking further,
I can tell you, being a loyal admirer ends this way. I shrug, put away the plot to assist, respect others' destinies. What else can I do?
The prince neither liked the mermaid nor knew everything she had sacrificed for him. He only knew that she was washed up on the beach by the sea, without realizing it was the mermaid who had saved him. The mermaid had given so much, but the prince knew nothing.
Upon closer examination, Disney’s fairytale, “The Little Mermaid,” is deeply infused with male-centric ideals. It is laden with the significance of power and status for women. While we used to think that princes and princesses were a perfect match in fairytales, reality shows that true compatibility often comes from being on equal footing socioeconomically. Perhaps, watching fewer foreign animated films can help us avoid many pitfalls in life, with the exception of “Inside Out,” which offers valuable life lessons.
Because Little Mermaid is a typical narcissist, she falls in love with the prince unilaterally and desires his love, while the prince doesn’t even know who she is.
In business, the principle is to have a fair exchange of money for goods, but such rules don’t work in the world of emotions, as it would turn into a “transactional relationship.”
Since ancient times, “merchants prioritize profit over parting.” Throughout various dynasties, none of the “pipa ladies” ever had any emotional attachment to the life of marrying a businessman.
Because that wouldn’t be a fairy tale…
It’s called a revenge plan.
The Reality of Fairy Tales
My answer might disappoint you because after the founding of the country, animals can’t become enlightened, and transgenders take a different path. In matters of love, it’s important to stay rational; love cannot be obtained through sacrifice and sacrifice alone, often leading to betrayal and abandonment. However, people are different. Humans have brains, and within those brains, they calculate interests, values, and equivalent exchanges. Even if a mermaid were to acquire a witch’s magic potion, grow legs, and become more human-like, could she truly marry and have children like a human, considering that her tears may turn into pearls but eventually run dry? Forget about princes; what would she want?
Fairy tales are known for wanting to make people believe in the power of truth, kindness, and beauty. However, in real life, it’s often about survival of the fittest. The little mermaid foolishly ventured onto the land, bringing a fresh experience to the prince, but he is still a prince. Even if he can’t become a king, he is still of noble status. Apart from providing the prince with a momentary novelty and pearls from her tears, what else can the little mermaid offer?
I just have one question,
Why should the prince apologize to the mermaid?
Wasn’t the mermaid’s sacrifice willingly and wholeheartedly given?
Furthermore, the mermaid saved the prince and even traded her voice for legs, but he didn’t know!
Even if he had known,
The prince might not necessarily have accepted her, right?
Have you watched “Chang Yue Jin Ming”?
Sang Jiu is like that little mermaid,
The clam king requested Ming Ye to marry Sang Jiu in return,
What are everyone’s opinions?
Taking advantage of kindness to seek repayment, it’s a tricky situation.