The Little Mermaid (H.C. Andersen)

"The tall ship pitched and rolled as it sped through the angry sea. The waves rose up like towering black mountains, as if they would break over the masthead, but the swan-like ship plunged into the valleys between such waves, and emerged to ride their lofty heights. To the little mermaid this seemed good sport, but to the sailors it was nothing of the sort. The ship creaked and labored, thick timbers gave way under the heavy blows, waves broke over the ship, the mainmast snapped in two like a reed, the ship listed over on its side, and water burst into the hold.

"Now the little mermaid saw that people were in peril, and that she herself must take care to avoid the beams and wreckage tossed about by the sea. One moment it would be black as pitch, and she couldn't see a thing. Next moment the lightning would flash so brightly that she could distinguish every soul on board. Everyone was looking out for himself as best he could. She watched closely for the young Prince, and when the ship split in two she saw him sink down in the sea. At first she was overjoyed that he would be with her, but then she recalled that human people could not live under the water, and he could only visit her father's palace as a dead man. No, he should not die! So she swam in among all the floating planks and beams, completely forgetting that they might crush her. She dived through the waves and rode their crests, until at length she reached the young Prince, who was no longer able to swim in that raging sea. His arms and legs were exhausted, his beautiful eyes were closing, and he would have died if the little mermaid had not come to help him. She held his head above water, and let the waves take them wherever the waves went."

~Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid www.online-literature.com/hans…


H.C. Andersen's little mermaid sells her tongue to the sea witch and endures constant pain in exchange for legs and the chance to win the heart of the prince whose life she saved. She is a fragile and tormented character, driven to self-sacrifice and eventually suicide by unrequited love. Upon her death, her suffering and loyalty in life earn her the chance to prove herself worthy of an immortal soul as one of the daughters of the air.


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Watercolor on paper, 12"x18". Prints are available for $10 and up in my deviantART print shop.

My aim with this painting was to mark my progress over the last few years (2006-2013) by revisiting an old sketch: alsdale.deviantart.com/art/the…

AAH! Daily Deviation?! Thanks everyone for your comments, I promise to respond soon! Thank you to =Inku-inku for the suggestion and ^Astralseed for the feature!