Here is a piece that I wrote for an assignment for university last semester, it earned me a distinction. I'm really proud of it and myself, and just in case you don't realise, it's a speech.
The Little Mermaid, a popular fairytale told by Hans Christian Andersen has been retold for decades and has charmed audiences with his sweet young mermaid who dreams of a prince on the land. Disney made a popular film, giving the story songs and naming the fire haired princess Ariel, bringing the story to life for a new generation. But ladies and gentleman, I ask you, is this a good thing? Do we want our children, in particular our daughters, exposed to such a sexist tale? Do we want them prioritising men over themselves and being willing to risk it all in a pitiful attempt at a relationship?
The Little Mermaid is a sad tale that shows a young mermaid who dreams of a better life for herself. This in itself is not necessarily a negative wish, except that there is nothing negative about her current situations. She simply wants what she is denied, to live on the land instead of in the sea and to marry a Prince who lives on the land. The mermaid then goes to phenomenal extremes so that she is able to be with this Prince (who she has never met but only admires from afar). She visits the sea witch who has the power to turn her tail into legs, but they come at a dangerous price. The mermaid must lose her tongue (and her enchanting voice) by drinking a potion that will feel as if a sword has passed through her. The pair of legs she receives will also make her able to dance like none other, except every step she takes will feel as if she is constantly walking on sharp swords and her feet will bleed terribly. And lastly, the mermaid will only be given a soul if she marries the prince, but if the prince marries someone else, then the mermaid will die.
Ladies and gentleman, is this the kind of role model that you want your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, cousins following? Is this a fair and legitimate price to pay for a chance at “true love”? As if this horrid tale isn’t enough for the mermaid to willingly suffer, she then has to come to terms with the fact that her prince is not in love with her. Though she lives with him and they seem to be friendly, the reality of the situation is that she is not able to converse with him! How far can a relationship go if the conversations are all one sided? But apparently the mermaid overlooked this critical detail. As the story reaches its climax, the mermaid is faced with a dilemma. If the prince marries this other woman, the mermaid will die. In the final moments, the sisters of the mermaid bring her a knife that the sea witch has given them in exchange for their hair. If she kills the prince and lets his blood drip on her feet, she will become mermaid once more. But of course the mermaid is unable to kill the prince and she sacrifices herself instead. This mermaid princess throws away her life in exchange for a male who does not care for her.
What sort of society are we living in when young girls are encouraged to admire these characters as strong and courageous women who did whatever it took for love? This mermaid was not courageous or sacrificial, she was immature and idiotic. Was it necessary for her to throw away her life and family to live with a man she barely knew? How can young girls be encouraged to think that it is ok to turn their backs on everything they previously knew just for an attractive male? Is any relationship worth losing a life over? The Little Mermaid is a cruel tale that depicts the all too true reality that many women simply live only for their better half. Let me ask you this ladies and gentlemen; is this the ideology that you want your daughters to grow up believing?
Until next time fellow humans....
