Who the Little Mermaid is
The Little Mermaid lives beneath the sea with her father, grandmother and five sisters. She is the quietest and most curious daughter, listening closely to her grandmother's stories of ships, towns and human life. Each sister may visit the surface on her fifteenth birthday, and she counts the years until her turn.
What the Little Mermaid wants
When she reaches the surface, she sees a young prince aboard a ship celebrating his birthday. A storm wrecks the ship, and she carries him to shore, remaining hidden when another girl finds him.
Her love for the prince grows alongside a wish for something beyond life beneath the sea. Her grandmother explains that humans have souls which live on after their bodies die, while mermaids do not.
The Little Mermaid and the others in the story
Her grandmother helps her understand the human world, but the sea witch offers a way to enter it. The bargain demands her voice in exchange for legs, with pain awaiting every step she takes. Through this costly choice, the tale explores love, longing and the wish to become something other than herself.
Questions
Who is the Little Mermaid?
She is the youngest of the sea king's six daughters, drawn to life above the water.
What does the Little Mermaid want?
She wants the prince's love and a soul that can live beyond the body.
