From an early age we are bombarded with fairy tales known distinctly for their fantasy imagery and “happily ever after” in an attempt to shape our perception of the world and our behaviors. We are taught to distinguish between right and wrong and through these fairy tales, with their usual plots in which good triumphs over evil, a sense of hope and innocence remains imprinted in our psyche. Perhaps one of the best known and most loved fairy tales of all, The Little Mermaid, has not only captivated the imaginations of young and old alike, but has been somewhat misunderstood and recreated from its original version by Hans Christian Andersen to become more appropriate and favored by society. Although the Disney recreation is much more “kid friendly” and whimsical, it has still lost its essence and part of its morals; replacing them with different ideas and themes. Hans Christian Andersen, the original author of The Little Mermaid or Den lille Havfrue, wrote the fairy tale in Denmark in 1837. Andersen's tale portrays a more serious plot, very different from Disney's adorable adaptation. The story begins by describing how there once existed a widowed sea king who lived with his mother and six daughters. The grandmother of the sea watched over her daughters, and when each of them turned fifteen (they were all a year apart) they were given permission to go above the water and explore. The story then unfolds through each sister's experiences in order from eldest to youngest and describes how eager the youngest was to explore the world above. Andersen also mentioned that once they were old enough they could go wherever they wanted and that occasionally the five sisters (excluding the youngest) would go... middle of paper... are better than softer baby ones, but both also agree on the idea that they help children understand more realistic concepts through imagination and help them deal with certain problems. Andersen's The Little Mermaid was an undeniable masterpiece and contained many valuable morals and lessons for children to follow. From the concept of maturation to loyalty and turning away from temptation, the mermaid has been depicted as kind and pure of heart throughout the fairy tale. The Disney version, however, ruined most of the mature and deep meanings of the story, but added some valid concepts; like introducing a stronger, more opinionated mermaid and a less ignorant prince with more motivation. Overall, the original had a deeper purpose and perhaps even benefited children more than Disney's softer version, but both are still great pieces..