Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pacing
- Moderate
- Mood
- Melancholy, Poignant, Romantic, Hopeful
- Read it if
- You enjoy classic, poignant fairy tales with a bittersweet ending and themes of sacrifice and unrequited love.
- Skip it if
- You prefer happy endings, lighthearted stories, or the Disney version of The Little Mermaid.
The Little Mermaid Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
Life Under the Sea and a Glimpse of the Human World
The Little Mermaid is the youngest of six daughters of the Sea King, living in a coral castle. She is quiet and thinks a lot, fascinated by human world stories told by her grandmother. Each of her sisters, at fifteen, can rise to the surface to see the human world. The Little Mermaid waits for her turn, decorating her garden with a statue of a boy from a shipwreck, which makes her want to see what is above the waves. Her grandmother explains that humans have immortal souls, unlike mermaids who turn into sea foam when they die.
A Fateful Rescue and Unrequited Love
On her fifteenth birthday, the Little Mermaid goes to the surface. She sees a celebration on a ship for a handsome young prince's birthday. A storm starts, capsizing the ship and throwing the prince into the sea. The Little Mermaid saves him from drowning and carries him to the shore of a temple, where a young woman from the temple finds him. She watches as the prince wakes up, believing the temple maiden saved him. The mermaid returns to the sea, sad but in love with the prince, wanting to be with him.
Desperation and the Sea Witch's Bargain
Filled with love for the prince and wanting an immortal soul, the Little Mermaid tells her grandmother. Her grandmother says mermaids can only get an immortal soul by marrying a human who loves them most. Upset, the Little Mermaid decides to visit the Sea Witch. She goes through dangerous depths, past a garden of polyps and creatures, to the witch's lair. The Sea Witch, a powerful figure, agrees to change her tail into human legs, but for a high cost.
The Price of Love and the Painful Transformation
The Sea Witch demands the Little Mermaid's beautiful voice as payment, cutting out her tongue. In return, the witch gives her a potion that will give her legs. However, each step the mermaid takes on land will feel like walking on sharp knives, causing extreme pain. Also, if the prince does not fall in love with her and marry her, she will turn into sea foam on the morning after his wedding day, losing all hope of an immortal soul. Despite the terrible terms, the Little Mermaid accepts, driven by her love and hope for a soul.
Life on Land and the Prince's Affection
The Little Mermaid drinks the potion and washes ashore near the prince's castle, where he finds her. Though unable to speak and in constant pain from her new legs, her beauty and grace charm the prince. He takes her into his palace, where she becomes his closest companion. She dances for him, despite the pain, and sleeps at his door, wanting his love. The prince likes her, calling her his 'little foundling' and showing affection, but he sees her more as a pet or a beloved sister, never knowing her true identity or her deep love for him.
The Prince's Search for His Rescuer
The Prince often talks about the beautiful maiden he believes rescued him, the one he saw at the temple shore. His parents pressure him to marry a neighboring princess. He travels to a distant kingdom to meet her, saying he does not want to marry anyone but his perceived rescuer. However, when he sees the princess, he recognizes her as the maiden he saw at the temple, believing her to be the one who saved his life. He is happy, convinced he has found his true love, and announces their coming marriage.
A Sister's Sacrifice and a Desperate Choice
The Little Mermaid is crushed by the news of the prince's engagement. She knows that with his marriage to another, she will turn into sea foam. On the wedding night, as the prince and his bride celebrate on a ship, her sisters rise from the sea, their long hair cut off. They made a new deal with the Sea Witch: in exchange for their hair, the witch gave them a magical knife. If the Little Mermaid kills the prince and lets his blood drip on her feet before sunrise, her legs will turn back into a tail, and she can return to her family, regaining her mermaid life.
The Ultimate Sacrifice and Ascension
The Little Mermaid takes the knife, her heart heavy with sadness. She enters the prince's cabin, where he sleeps peacefully with his bride. Despite her great pain and the certainty of her own death, she cannot harm the man she loves. As the first rays of dawn appear, she throws herself into the sea. Instead of dissolving into sea foam, she feels herself change into a spirit, a Daughter of the Air. She learns that she has a chance to earn an immortal soul by doing good deeds for 300 years, because of her selfless love and suffering.
A New Purpose and Enduring Hope
As a Daughter of the Air, the Little Mermaid floats above the waves, invisible to humans. She joins other spirits who explain her new existence. She is told that for every good deed she does, 300 years will be taken from her penance. If she finds a good child, she can shed a tear, and that tear will shorten her time by a year. If she sees a naughty child, she weeps, and each tear adds a day to her trial. She now has a path, though long and hard, to eventually earn an immortal soul and go to God's kingdom, finding peace in her selfless sacrifice.
The Little Mermaid Characters
The Little Mermaid
Protagonist
Youngest daughter of the Sea King, who sacrifices everything for love and an immortal soul.
The Little Mermaid is the most beautiful and contemplative of her sisters, possessing a deep longing for knowledge of the human world and an immortal soul. She is characterized by her quiet nature, her stunning voice, and her profound capacity for love and sacrifice. Her fascination with humans drives her to extreme measures, leading her to endure immense physical pain and emotional heartbreak. She embodies innocence, unwavering devotion, and ultimately, selflessness, choosing the prince's life over her own, leading to her transformation.
Relationships: The Sea King (father); Grandmother (wise maternal figure); The Prince (unrequited love); Sea Witch (antagonistic enabler); Her Sisters (supportive siblings)
The Prince
Supporting
A kind but oblivious human royal, the object of the Little Mermaid's affection.
The Prince is a handsome and kind young man, beloved by his people. He is depicted as compassionate, taking the Little Mermaid into his palace and treating her with affection, though he views her as a cherished companion rather than a potential lover. He is preoccupied with finding the mysterious maiden who he believes saved his life, and his memory of her prevents him from recognizing the Little Mermaid's true identity or her profound love. He is ultimately unaware of the immense sacrifice she makes for him.
Relationships: The Little Mermaid (object of her affection; he sees her as a beloved companion/sister); The Princess (his eventual bride)
The Sea Witch
Antagonist
A powerful and fearsome sorceress who grants the mermaid's wish at a terrible cost.
The Sea Witch is a grotesque and cunning figure who lives in the dangerous depths of the ocean. She is a dealer in dark magic, known for her ability to grant wishes but always at an exorbitant and often cruel price. Her appearance is terrifying, with her hair made of snakes and her home adorned with the polyps of those who failed her. She represents temptation and the harsh realities of making desperate bargains, exploiting the Little Mermaid's love and longing for her own amusement and gain.
Relationships: The Little Mermaid (bargain-maker and victimizer)
The Grandmother
Supporting
The wise matriarch who educates the mermaid about the human world and immortal souls.
The Sea King's mother and the Little Mermaid's grandmother is a wise and knowledgeable figure. She provides the mermaids with stories and explanations about the human world and, crucially, about the concept of immortal souls, which mermaids lack. Her tales ignite the Little Mermaid's longing and provide the initial understanding of what it means to be human and the path to an eternal existence. She is a source of both comfort and information, though ultimately powerless to prevent the mermaid's tragic choices.
Relationships: The Little Mermaid (grandmother; source of wisdom and stories)
Her Sisters
Supporting
Five older mermaid sisters who share a bond with the protagonist and ultimately try to save her.
The Little Mermaid has five older sisters, each of whom gets to visit the surface on their fifteenth birthday. They are initially a source of shared excitement and curiosity about the human world. When the Little Mermaid is in despair, they demonstrate their deep familial love by making a significant sacrifice – cutting off their beautiful long hair – to bargain with the Sea Witch for a chance to save their youngest sister's life, even if it means urging her to commit a terrible act.
Relationships: The Little Mermaid (sisters; supportive and loving)
The Princess
Supporting
A neighboring princess who the prince believes is his rescuer and eventually marries.
The Princess is a kind and beautiful young woman from a neighboring kingdom. She is mistaken by the Prince as his rescuer from the shipwreck, purely because she was the first human he saw upon awakening on the shore. Her role is primarily to serve as the innocent catalyst for the Little Mermaid's ultimate despair and sacrifice, as her marriage to the Prince seals the mermaid's fate. She is unaware of the mermaid's existence or her love for the Prince.
Relationships: The Prince (his eventual bride)
The Daughters of the Air
Mentioned
Ethereal beings who guide the Little Mermaid to her new purpose.
The Daughters of the Air are invisible, benevolent spirits who greet the Little Mermaid after she sacrifices herself and explain her new existence. They are ethereal beings who have the potential to earn immortal souls through acts of kindness and good deeds over 300 years. They represent a spiritual path to salvation and provide the Little Mermaid with hope and a new purpose after her earthly desires are thwarted.
Relationships: The Little Mermaid (spiritual guides and companions)
The Little Mermaid Themes
Love and Sacrifice
The main theme is the Little Mermaid's deep and selfless love for the Prince, which makes her make great sacrifices. She gives up her voice, endures constant pain, and ultimately gives up her own life for his happiness and the small hope of an immortal soul. Her final act of choosing not to kill the prince, even if it means her death, shows her pure, unrequited love and the ultimate sacrifice she makes.
“She saw the Prince and his beautiful bride searching for her. She gazed at them, and then she threw herself into the sea, and felt her body dissolving into foam.”
The Quest for an Immortal Soul
Beyond romantic love, the Little Mermaid's deepest wish is to gain an immortal soul, a privilege mermaids do not have, as they simply turn into sea foam when they die. This spiritual longing is a strong reason for her, leading her to accept the Sea Witch's terrible deal. The story compares the temporary beauty of mermaid life with the eternal promise of a human soul, showing how this spiritual ambition connects with, and sometimes even goes beyond, her romantic wishes.
“We have no immortal soul, we shall never live again; we are like the green sea-weed, which, when once cut through, can never blossom more.”
Pain and Suffering for Love
The story shows the physical and emotional suffering the Little Mermaid goes through for her love. Each step on her new human legs feels like walking on sharp knives, a constant, painful reminder of her sacrifice. Her inability to speak further isolates her, stopping her from telling her true feelings or identity. This theme highlights the harsh reality and personal cost of her choices, showing that her search for love and a soul is not a romanticized, painless effort.
“Every time her foot touched the ground, it felt as though she were treading on sharp knives, so that her blood flowed.”
Unrequited Love and Misunderstanding
The Little Mermaid's love for the Prince remains unreturned, not from bad intentions, but because of circumstances and misunderstanding. The Prince never realizes she is his true rescuer or that she sacrificed everything for him. He thinks another princess is his ideal, leading to the mermaid's heartbreak. This theme explores the pain of loving someone who cannot return that love, and the deep loneliness that can come with such devotion when it is not seen or known.
“He took her hand and led her into the palace, and she danced as no one had ever danced before, though every time her foot touched the ground, it felt as though she were treading on sharp knives.”
Transformation and Identity
The story has many transformations: from mermaid to human, from human to Daughter of the Air. Each change means a shift in the Little Mermaid's identity and her understanding of herself and her purpose. Her physical change is painful and not complete, failing to secure her human identity or love. Her final, spiritual change is one of transcendence, where she finds a new, spiritual identity and a path to an immortal soul, moving past her first worldly desires.
“She felt her body dissolving into foam, but instead of sinking into the clear waves, she felt herself lifted up into the air, and saw a host of glorious, ethereal beings floating around her.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Sea Witch's Bargain
A classic Faustian bargain, driving the central conflict and tragic events.
The Sea Witch's bargain serves as the primary plot device, initiating the Little Mermaid's transformation and setting the terms for her ultimate fate. It is a classic Faustian deal, where a desperate wish is granted at an excruciating, often hidden, cost. This device highlights the themes of sacrifice, the dangers of desperate measures, and the often-cruel nature of fate when one seeks to defy natural order. It creates irreversible consequences and propels the narrative towards its tragic conclusion.
The Immortal Soul
A powerful symbolic motivator, driving the mermaid's ultimate quest.
The concept of the immortal soul is a profound symbolic device. It represents not just eternal life, but also a higher spiritual existence and a sense of belonging to a divine order, which mermaids inherently lack. This desire for a soul elevates the Little Mermaid's quest beyond mere romantic love, giving it a spiritual dimension. It provides a moral framework for her choices and ultimately offers a path to redemption and peace, even after her worldly desires are thwarted.
The Knife
A symbol of a final, terrible choice and the ultimate test of love.
The knife, given to the Little Mermaid by her sisters, is a stark and powerful symbol of the ultimate choice between self-preservation and selfless love. It represents the last, desperate chance to save her own life by committing an act of violence against the man she loves. Her inability to use it signifies the purity and depth of her love, confirming her selflessness and paving the way for her spiritual salvation rather than a return to her former life.
The Voicelessness
A device highlighting the mermaid's inability to express her true self and love.
The Little Mermaid's loss of her voice is a crucial plot device and a powerful metaphor. It physically prevents her from revealing her identity to the Prince or expressing her deep feelings, ensuring his misunderstanding. Symbolically, it represents the silencing of her true self and the profound isolation she experiences in the human world. It forces her to communicate through actions and suffering, intensifying the tragedy of her unrequited love.
The Painful Legs
A constant physical manifestation of her sacrifice and suffering.
The excruciating pain she feels with every step on her human legs is a visceral plot device. It is a constant, physical reminder of the immense sacrifice she has made and the suffering she endures for love. This ongoing agony grounds the fantastical elements of the story in a harsh reality, preventing her transformation from being purely magical and instead emphasizing the brutal cost of her desires. It highlights the theme of suffering for love and the mermaid's incredible endurance.
The Little Mermaid Quotes
“But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.”
“I would give all my three hundred years of life for one day as a human being, to have a soul that lives forever.”
“Only if a man were to love you so much that you were more to him than his father or mother, and if all his thoughts and all his love were fixed upon you, and he let the priest join his right hand to yours and promised to be true to you here and hereafter, then his soul would flow into your body.”
“She had always been silent and thoughtful, and now she was more so than ever.”
“The sea witch lived where the polypi, half animal and half plant, writhed like snakes in the deep.”
“Every step she took was as the witch had said it would be, she felt as if treading upon the points of needles or sharp knives.”
“He did not know that she had saved his life. She had seen him more nearly, and he was handsomer than even the marble statue in her garden.”
“In the morning the ship sailed into the harbor of a beautiful town belonging to the king whom the prince was going to visit.”
“She laughed and danced with the thought of death in her heart.”
“The sun rose above the waves, and its warm rays fell on the cold foam of the little mermaid, who did not feel as if she were dying.”
“You, poor little mermaid, have tried with your whole heart to do as we are doing.”
“But the mermaid kissed his hand, and already she felt as if her heart was breaking.”
“Far out in the ocean the water is as blue as the petals of the most beautiful cornflower, and as clear as the purest glass.”
“She had a beautiful voice, more beautiful than that of any human being.”
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
What is the primary reason the Little Mermaid desires to become human?
- To explore the human world out of curiosity
- To gain an immortal soul
- To escape her strict father under the sea
- To become a famous singer among humans
Show answer
B. To gain an immortal soul In Andersen's story, the Little Mermaid learns that humans have immortal souls, while mermaids dissolve into sea foam upon death. Her longing for a soul drives her desire to become human, beyond just her love for the prince.
Question 2
What does the Sea Witch give the Little Mermaid in exchange for her voice?
- A magical potion to turn her into a human
- A spell to make the prince fall in love with her
- A pair of legs that will never cause pain
- A map to find the prince's kingdom
Show answer
A. A magical potion to turn her into a human The Sea Witch takes the Little Mermaid's beautiful voice as payment for a potion that will give her human legs, but every step she takes will feel like walking on sharp knives.
Question 3
What must the Little Mermaid do to avoid dissolving into sea foam after becoming human?
- Kiss the prince under the full moon
- Make the prince fall in love with and marry her
- Return to the sea within a year
- Sacrifice her sisters to the Sea Witch
Show answer
B. Make the prince fall in love with and marry her The Sea Witch warns that if the prince marries someone else, the Little Mermaid will die at dawn and turn into sea foam. Gaining his love is her only chance to obtain an immortal soul.
Question 4
How does the Little Mermaid first save the prince's life?
- She pulls him from a burning ship
- She rescues him from drowning after a shipwreck
- She heals him with a magical seaweed poultice
- She fights off a sea monster attacking him
Show answer
B. She rescues him from drowning after a shipwreck The Little Mermaid sees the prince during a storm and saves him from drowning after his ship sinks, bringing him unconscious to shore, which sparks her love for him.
Question 5
What poignant detail does Anthea Bell's new translation include that might be new to readers familiar with the story?
- The Little Mermaid's sisters have names and distinct personalities
- The prince explicitly rejects the Little Mermaid due to her muteness
- Additional descriptions of the mermaid's pain and emotional struggles
- A subplot about a rival mermaid in love with the prince
Show answer
C. Additional descriptions of the mermaid's pain and emotional struggles The description notes that Bell's translation includes 'many lovely and poignant details,' such as enhanced emotional depth, likely elaborating on the mermaid's suffering and inner turmoil.
Question 6
Why does the prince ultimately marry another woman instead of the Little Mermaid?
- He believes the other woman saved him from drowning
- He discovers the Little Mermaid is a mermaid
- His parents arrange a political marriage
- The Little Mermaid's muteness makes communication impossible
Show answer
A. He believes the other woman saved him from drowning The prince mistakes a temple girl he finds on shore for his rescuer and marries her, unaware that the Little Mermaid saved him, leading to the tragic climax.
Question 7
What role does Lisbeth Zwerger play in this edition of 'The Little Mermaid'?
- She wrote a new introduction analyzing the story
- She provided the illustrations in her signature style
- She translated the text from Danish to English
- She adapted the story into a shorter version for children
Show answer
B. She provided the illustrations in her signature style Zwerger is the illustrator of this Jubilee edition, known for her award-winning art in classics, and her illustrations are highlighted as making the tale seem 'brand-new.'
Question 8
What happens to the Little Mermaid at the end of Andersen's original story?
- She marries the prince after regaining her voice
- She becomes a daughter of the air with a chance to earn a soul
- She returns to the sea and forgets the prince
- She dissolves into sea foam as predicted
Show answer
B. She becomes a daughter of the air with a chance to earn a soul After the prince's marriage, the Little Mermaid is offered a chance by air spirits to become a 'daughter of the air' and earn a soul through good deeds, rather than dying outright.
Question 9
Which award has Lisbeth Zwerger received that is specifically mentioned in the book description?
- The Caldecott Medal
- The Nobel Prize in Literature
- The Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- The Kate Greenaway Medal
Show answer
C. The Hans Christian Andersen Medal The description notes Zwerger is 'the recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for lasting contributions to children's literature,' linking her work to this edition's Jubilee theme.
Question 10
What is a key theme emphasized in Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid' that differs from typical romance tales?
- The importance of family loyalty over personal desire
- Sacrifice and spiritual longing rather than just romantic love
- The triumph of good over evil through bravery
- The value of communication in relationships
Show answer
B. Sacrifice and spiritual longing rather than just romantic love While romance is present, the story deeply explores themes of sacrifice (e.g., giving up her voice) and the mermaid's quest for an immortal soul, adding spiritual depth beyond mere love.
The Little Mermaid FAQ
What is 'The Little Mermaid' by Hans Christian Andersen about?
The story follows a young mermaid who falls in love with a human prince after saving him from drowning. She makes a painful bargain with a sea witch, trading her voice for human legs, but faces the consequence that if the prince marries another, she will die and turn to sea foam. Unlike popular adaptations, Andersen's original ends tragically with the mermaid sacrificing herself rather than killing the prince to save herself.
Why should I read this edition of 'The Little Mermaid'?
This Jubilee edition features Lisbeth Zwerger's award-winning illustrations that offer a fresh, artistic interpretation of the classic tale, along with Anthea Bell's new translation that includes poignant details often omitted in adaptations. It celebrates 200 years of Andersen's legacy and provides a more authentic, emotionally complex experience than simplified versions.
What is the background/setting of 'The Little Mermaid'?
The story is set in a fantastical underwater kingdom ruled by the mermaid's father, the Sea King, and contrasts this with the human world above the sea. Key locations include the mermaid's palace, the sea witch's eerie dwelling, and the prince's coastal castle, highlighting the divide between merfolk and human societies.
What are the most memorable quotes from 'The Little Mermaid'?
Notable quotes include the mermaid's reflection, 'But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more,' and the sea witch's warning, 'Every step you take will feel as if you were treading upon sharp knives.' These lines emphasize the tale's themes of sacrifice and unrequited love.
What writing style does Hans Christian Andersen use in 'The Little Mermaid'?
Andersen employs a lyrical, melancholic prose rich with vivid imagery and emotional depth, blending fairy-tale whimsy with dark, philosophical undertones. The new translation by Anthea Bell preserves this poetic quality while making the text accessible to modern readers.
What minor details add significant meaning to 'The Little Mermaid'?
Details like the mermaid's collection of human artifacts in her garden and the pain she feels with every step on land symbolize her longing and sacrifice. The absence of tears for merfolk underscores their emotional suppression, making her suffering more profound.
What are some subtle foreshadowing moments in 'The Little Mermaid'?
Early mentions of the mermaid's fascination with the human world and her grandmother's tales about an immortal soul foreshadow her drastic choices. The sea witch's cryptic warnings about the prince's potential marriage hint at the tragic outcome.
What unexpected character connections exist in 'The Little Mermaid'?
The sea witch is not merely a villain but a mirror of the mermaid's desires, offering power at a great cost. The prince's mistaken belief that another woman saved him creates a poignant irony, as the mermaid cannot reveal her true role due to her lost voice.
What are the unspoken character motivations in 'The Little Mermaid'?
The mermaid is driven not just by love for the prince but by a deeper yearning for an immortal soul, which merfolk lack. The sea witch's motivation involves wielding power over others' desperation, reflecting themes of manipulation and consequence.
What psychological complexities do characters exhibit in 'The Little Mermaid'?
The mermaid displays a mix of innocence, obsession, and self-sacrifice, grappling with identity and mortality. The prince's obliviousness to her true feelings adds layers of unrequited love and miscommunication, highlighting emotional isolation.
What are the major emotional turning points in 'The Little Mermaid'?
Key moments include the mermaid saving the prince, her painful transformation into a human, the prince's marriage to another woman, and her ultimate decision to sacrifice herself rather than kill him. Each step deepens her suffering and moral growth.
How do relationship dynamics evolve in 'The Little Mermaid'?
The mermaid's relationship with the prince shifts from distant admiration to close companionship, yet remains unreciprocated romantically. Her interactions with the sea witch introduce a transactional dynamic, while her family's concern contrasts with her solitary journey.
Which parts of 'The Little Mermaid' remain ambiguous or open-ended?
The fate of the mermaid's soul after her sacrifice is left ambiguous—she becomes a 'daughter of the air' with a chance to earn immortality, but it's unclear if she achieves it. The prince's lasting feelings or awareness of her sacrifice are also not fully resolved.
What are controversial scenes or decisions in 'The Little Mermaid'?
The mermaid's choice to undergo a painful transformation and give up her voice is often debated for its portrayal of female sacrifice. The tragic ending, where she dies without the prince's love, contrasts sharply with happier adaptations and sparks discussion on themes of suffering and redemption.
'The Little Mermaid' ending explained: how it ends & what it means
The mermaid chooses to throw herself into the sea and dissolve into foam rather than kill the prince to save herself. She is then transformed into a 'daughter of the air,' offered a chance to earn an immortal soul through good deeds. This ending emphasizes self-sacrifice, spiritual redemption, and the cost of unrequited love.
About the author
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author known for his fairy tales and stories. His notable works include "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," which explore themes of transformation and identity. Andersen's contributions to literature have made him a significant figure in children's literature.
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