Disney changes The Little Mermaid story so it doesn't scare children

17 October 2023 , 16:00

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Disney's The Little Mermaid differs from the original 1837 narrative (Image: DISNEY)

The live-action adaptation of Disney's iconic underwater classic, The Little Mermaid was released this year. We all know and love the classic Disney story, but not many realise the original story is much darker.

The original 1837 narrative depicts a 14-year-old mythical creature on her journey to find true love. She isn’t given a name, she is simply referred to as the Little Mermaid throughout the book. The sea Princess abandons her life living under the sea in search of a Prince, a plot thread carried over into the Disney movie.

Yet, the torture and torment the mermaid endures to achieve her goal, however, is not something a Disney picture would include. The Little Mermaid pays a visit to the Sea Witch, Ursula, and strikes a deal. In exchange for her beautiful singing voice and tongue, Ursula gives her human legs.

Despite her ability to walk on land, the former mermaid’s every step using her human legs feels like she is being pricked by sharp knives. Author, Hans Christian Andersen, wrote that the Little Mermaid’s doesn’t have a soul, which may have inspired the Disney villain’s song 'Poor Unfortunate Souls'.

“A mermaid has not an immortal soul, nor can she obtain one unless she wins the love of a human being.” Wrote Andersen in his less than child-friendly Danish novel. In order to survive and attain a soul, the Little Mermaid must win the Prince's affection.

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However, unlike the happy ending we saw in Disney's adaptations, the Little Mermaid fails her mission. In the original tale, the Prince marries another woman. The Sea Witch then gives the heartbroken Little Mermaid yet another ultimatum.

To ensure her survival she must murder the Prince, her lover, which the Little Mermaid agrees to. However, when she comes to commit the crime, she cannot bring herself to kill him and chooses to die herself instead.

She then dissolves into foam but is offered one small reprieve. As her spirit floats in the sky, she eventually earns a soul by carrying out good deeds for 300 years before ascending into heaven. It's no surprise that Disney decided to make some adjustments to the film that's aimed at children.

But the Little Mermaid's fate wasn't the only dark plotline that featured in the Danish author's tale. In the original novel, the sea creatures are not innocent. The mermaid's sisters boast about luring sailors into the water and ultimately their deaths.

And unlike Prince Eric, the Prince in the original story isn't family-friendly. The book describes him as being entertained by female slaves at his palace and his affections for the Little Mermaid are rather creepy. At one point, he even admits he loves her "as he would love a little child."

Valerie Browne