I read “The Little Mermaid” when I was a boy. Back then, I tried to read all books that I could read, on the bookshelves at home, neighbors’, and friends’…including all fairy stales written by Hans Christian Andersen.
I cannot remember exactly what I thought when reading the stale. At the end, the mermaid was dissolving into foam. I didn’t want to read that part again when I re-read the book. Interesting thing is that is the part I remembered the most. I remembered I wished the prince could open his eyes when the little mermaid saved his life.
In American’s version, the mermaid has a happy end. You may be entertained or relieved, but you are never touched. You cannot feel the warm sun rays and cold wave with the foam...
The soul of the little mermaid needs three hundred years to float into the kingdom of heaven, “But when we see a naughty or a wicked child, we shed tears of sorrow, and for every tear a day is added to our time of trial!” as Andersen described at last.
The little mermaid will have an immortal soul, she obtains one when she wins the love that she should have.
