It’s fascinating how Disney strives to make their princesses relatable to young girls, and it’s understandable that they do so! Representation (of many different kinds) in media can mean the world. It’s unfair for me to expect happier endings from The Little Mermaid, although up until now I think I might be anticipating them unless I see the words “Brothers Grimm” somewhere.
Besides this, I can’t seem to figure out what is this story trying to teach children. I struggle with analyzing it, and the only conclusion I can come to is that the moral is we shouldn’t be greedy or obsessed with “other-worldly” (a very well-fitting term here) things. Ariel’s personality and attitude in the story is not unlike those of other female protagonists, in fact she acts exactly how one might expect a teenager to, yet she still doesn’t get the happiest ending.
Imagine being impressionable (or maybe not, depending on you personally) and a young teen again, and you are read this story from a guardian or parent. Does it not discourage risk-taking and curiosity?
Of course not all of this is healthy, and the Disney ending is almost too happy, but what does the version we read teach young girls? To never leave home and venture out? To stay submissive and never explore?
I completely agree with you that it was hard to analyze “The Little Mermaid” and find a overall message of the story. I like that you brought up the pros and cons of reading this story to an impressionable child and how that could affect them.
I agree that The Little Mermaid has a very convoluted message, the only moral I could really glean from it was what you said about not wanting otherworldly things. Even than, that moral is sort of trite and doesn’t say a whole lot.