Picture courtesy of Wikipedia
On April 2nd, Hans Christian Andersen celebrated his birthday (from beyond the grave). This famous children's author from Denmark presented the world with stories such as "The Ugly Duckling," "The Little Mermaid," "The Red Shoes," and "The Little Match Girl." His stories were translated into many languages and delighted children across the globe.
However, after reading many of Andersen's stories, I found myself wondering whether these stories were truly written for children. Maybe the standards were different in Andersen's time, but as someone who grew up in recent times, I found these stories depressing and scary.
Some examples:
- The little match girl died of hunger and cold in the snow.
- The mermaid princess did not get to be with her prince. She turned into foam and disappeared (essentially, she died too).
- The little girl in "The Red Shoes" had her feet chopped off because the red shoes she was wearing would not stop dancing. The shoes, along with her feet, kept dancing into the woods.
- The fir tree that strived to become a Christmas tree eventually become a pile of waste and was burned to ashes.
In conclusion, these tales were sad and some were creepy (I don't think I ever want to wear red shoes). One bright side to Andersen's stories was that even though the poor characters die, they get to go to Heaven. Personally, I rather live. Well, where ever you are at now Mr. Andersen, have a fantastical birthday!
No comments:
Post a Comment