The original story of The Little Mermaid
The original story of The Little Mermaid, written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1837, has notable differences from the Disney version. In the tale, the protagonist is not called Ariel, but simply "Little Mermaid", and the names Eric and Ursula do not exist, being only "Prince" and "Sea Witch". In addition, the king has six daughters, not seven, and the mermaid's grandmother plays an important role, teaching her granddaughters about humans.
The Little Mermaid's passion for the prince arises after she saves him from a shipwreck, but there is no rivalry between the underwater kingdom and humans. At the age of 15, she is allowed to visit the surface, but, unlike her sisters, she does not lose interest in the terrestrial world. To become human and win the prince, she turns to the Sea Witch, who demands a cruel price: in addition to losing her voice, her tongue is cut out. Her transformation is painful, and each step is like stepping on sharp blades. Unlike the film, there is no three-day deadline or kiss of love, just the mission to make him fall in love before he chooses another.
The ending is tragic: the prince marries another woman, and the mermaid receives a dagger to kill him and regain her original form. Unable to do so, she throws herself into the sea and turns into foam. However, instead of disappearing, she becomes a "daughter of the air", a spirit who helps humans.
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