Published: 2021-12-31

From a Fairy-Tale Princess to a Young Woman, or Not-So-Little Mermaid in Part of Your World by Liz Braswell

Joanna Wawryk
Dzieciństwo. Literatura i Kultura
Section: Studies
DOI https://doi.org/10.32798/dlk.841

Abstract

The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen (1837) belongs to the fairy-tale canon, eagerly used by contemporary authors (including writers and filmmakers) who create new versions of well-known stories. The Disney adaptation by John Musker and Ron Clements (1989) introduced numerous changes into the plot and the creation of the characters. The fate of the film’s protagonist, Ariel, is continued in Part of Your World by Liz Braswell (2018), discussed in the paper. It is a fantasy novel for young adults in which the writer retells the plot of the film, challenging the myth of romantic love and a happy ending guaranteed by marrying a prince. The article’s author indicates that the main character of Braswell’s work is different from the film prototype: less impulsive, more responsible, driven by duty and common sense. Therefore, Ariel is no longer a stereotypical princess but a strong heroine. The changes in the image and fate of the mermaid, discussed in the paper, prove that the issues of the body and voice of the protagonist are perceived differently from the earlier versions of the fairy tale, which were addressed primarily to children, including the film, the message of which is undermined in the novel. In addition, Braswell’s book is discussed herein not only as a literary sequel to the film but also as a postmodern fairy tale, feminist fiction, and a text with an environmental message as well as references to current social issues.

Keywords:

film fairy tale, iterary fairy tale, Hans Christian Andersen, young adult fiction, Liz Braswell, The Little Mermaid, retelling, Part of Your World, Walt Disney

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Download files

Citation rules

Wawryk, J. (2021). From a Fairy-Tale Princess to a Young Woman, or Not-So-Little Mermaid in Part of Your World by Liz Braswell. Dzieciństwo. Literatura I Kultura, 3(2), 35–59. https://doi.org/10.32798/dlk.841

Cited by / Share


This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.