The Original Little Mermaid Story - Shades of Romeo and Juliet

"The Little Mermaid" story was published quite some years before Disney made the popular animated film that has led to so many Ariel Halloween costumes, Little Mermaid DVD's, party favors, and toys. Since the original differs somewhat from the Disney movie, we need to hit some highlights to reveal the lessons buried within the entertainment of a mythological story.

In the original story, the Little Mermaid had no name, such as Ariel. She had just turned sixteen, similar to Juliet's "coming of age" in the Shakespeare classic. This story's theme of star-crossed love involving the offspring of warring families -- here, mermen and humans -- has inescapable nuances of Romeo and Juliet.

It all begins with Mermaid's sixteenth birthday present from her father -- the ability to go to the top of the sea! There she saw was a handsome Prince on a ship. When he fell off the ship that night, she rescued him by carrying him to shore. Delirious from swallowing so much water, the Prince never really saw her.

Mermaid fell in love immediately. She did not say anything to her father. Instead, she asked her eldest sister, who had been to the top many times, if she knew where the Prince lived. The sister, not thinking to ask why Mermaid wanted to know this, simply took her to the palace.

Mermaid watched the Prince day and night. Then she went to the Sea Witch for help to go to "her Prince." The evil witch demanded her tongue in exchange for the magic to make her human. Mermaid then beached herself in front of the palace before drinking the potion.