I’ve never liked Disney’s remake of The Little Mermaid simply because they took the grief out of it. By changing the ending, the whole meaning of the story was lost. Together with its beauty. I’m not a sadist or some emo person but I do believe, there is beauty in tragedy and The Little Mermaid was way more beautiful when she died.

‘And the little mermaid kissed his hand, while all the time she felt that her heart would break.’

“You have striven poor little mermaid, with all you heart for the same as we have striven for; you have suffered and borne, and have raised yourself up into the world of the aerial spirits.”

And did I mention another tragedy; The Steadfast Tin Soldier also by Hans Christian Andersen?

‘The splendid castle with the pretty little dancer still standing on one leg with the other high up in the air – she too had been steadfast. The tin soldier was so touched that he could have wept tin tears, only that wouldn’t have done at all. He looked at her and she looked at him, but neither said a word.’

‘And then the tine soldier melted away to a lump; and when the amid cleared out the ashes the next day she found him in the shape of a little tin heart. But all that was left of the dancer was the spangle, and that was as black as cinder.’

How does Mr. Andersen make tragedy so beautiful, I do not know but it enthrals me so.