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

Seungyeon Lee
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Seungyeon Lee: School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Arkansas at Monticello, 562 University Drive, Monticello, AR 71656, USA

Societies, 2018, vol. 8, issue 4, 1-5

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Hans Christian Andersen; fairy tales; genre; human sexuality; The Little Mermaid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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