Hans Christian Andersen
(Photo Source Wikipedia)
Today, Hans Christian Andersen would be given drugs and
therapy, and then more drugs. He would be put into a study about repressed
homosexuals and boys with a mamma fixation. All this because of his stories.
Andersen’s stories are also not very happy when you truly think about them. For
every happy story, like “The Ugly Duckling”, there are at least two sad
stories.
Yet Andersen, at least in American circles, is considered a children’s author.
Whether this is due to those editions or retellings of Andersen’s stories that
make the ending happy, I don’t know. I do know that I have read Andersen more
times than I have read the Brothers Grimm and that Andersen speaks to more
people than the Grimm brothers ever will.
The Grimms were interested in collecting folktales and folklore. Andersen is
interested in telling stories. Outside of Demark and other northern countries,
he is known for his stories, in particular for his fairy stories. This is
misleading for Andersen also wrote plays and poems as well as travelogues and
autobiographies. His first success wasn’t with his fairy stories. His poem
about a mother mourning her dead children is touching (and a theme that enters
into one of his tales). Even just considering his stories, people are misled.
Everyone thinks they know “The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling”, or “The
Little Match Girl”, fewer people know the stories how they actually are and
even fewer know more of Andersen’s work, such as “The Shadow” or ‘”The Storks”.
This does Andersen a huge injustice.
Andersen was heavily influenced by several things in his writing. It is common knowledge that he was influenced by folklore and the stories told to him by his grandmother, but he was also influenced by the German writers that predated him or who were his contemporaries. While it is not apparent in his better known tales, he had a strong love of country (even though he always seemed to be traveling away from it) as well as a good dose of patriotism. He was also religious, though this seems to come though in his tale more than anything else.
Several critics have pointed out that Andersen has a cult of suffering. His leads his heroes and heroines always suffer. The Ugly Duckling gets frozen in water, the Little Mermaid feels as if she is walking on knives (or broken glass); the Marsh King’s Daughter is transformed into a frog, the little Match Girl freezes to death, the money pig breaks, the storks deliver dead babies. Andersen’s characters seem to suffer far more than those people in the Grimm’s tales (though that isn’t a cake walk either). Andersen, however, is still a considered a children’s author because of the tone, his use of sound (read his tales aloud if you don’t believe me), of putting himself in a child’s shoes (who doesn’t imagine the flowers coming to life).
Too often people look at Andersen in the simplest terms. Take “The Little
Mermaid” for example. Many today know the story not as Andersen’s but as
Disney’s. They think that the mermaid marries her prince and everyone lives
happily ever after. While the cursory reader of Andersen knows that this is not
the ending, a deeper reading reveals, if not a happy ending, perhaps a slightly
hopeful one as well as a few details about the prince. In the mermaid’s story,
Andersen presents a people where the women seem to help each (the witch, the
mermaid’s sisters, the mermaid herself) and where the only male who does
anything is the prince himself. The mermaid and her sisters are desexualized
(she loses her voice, they their hair). The prince treats the mermaid like his
pet dog. The mermaid, however, wants a soul more than a prince. She acts more
as if she has a soul more than prince. By taking “The Little Mermaid” and
reducing the plot to a love story, the adaptor or reader does Andersen a
disservice and dismisses the larger issue. In the story, it is the non-humans,
the merfolk, who appear to have those virtues that humanity claims –
compassion. The mermaid might eventually get her soul though she doesn’t get
her prince. Today, there is a movement to de-religion stores (look at Narnia in
both the movies and the exhibit), but to do so to Andersen guts this story.
Or take “The Marsh King’s Daughter”, one of Andersen’s lesser known popular
tales. Fairy Tales always treat rape as a non issue or blame the victim. Sleeping
Beauty, for example, in some versions is woken by the birth of twins, yet never
seems to feel any emotional upheaval. Andersen is one of the few fairy tale
writers to deal with the issue of rape and not fully gloss over it. Like the
Grimms, who buried the incest theme of some tales, Andersen glosses over the
attack that starts “The Marsh King’s Daughter”. The daughter of the title is
the offspring of the Marsh King and the Egyptian princess who he attacks. This
daughter is full of rage and pain except at night when she becomes a frog. Part
of the story is about the daughter coming to terms with this rage. Where else
would the rage come off except for the attack on the mother?
Andersen is often concerned with class in his tales. The upper classes tend to be dismissive of the lower classes, though it is the lower classes that exhibit more of those human virtues. Sometimes, like in “The Tinderbox”, Andersen even seems to attack the royalty, seemingly suggesting that the old order must give to the new. Even in his class stories, Andersen also shows a great love and knowledge of his country. Some of his stories are about the humble beginnings of Great Danes (no, not the dogs) like Thorvaldsen, whose work Andersen seemed to love if Andersen’s stories are anything to go by. It should also be noted that in some of stories, especially in stories where different classes of children met, Andersen suggests more of equality than out and out class warfare.
Andersen’s stories aren’t all for children; in fact, as he wrote more stories,
Andersen saw himself as writing more for adults and this would example the
class conscious stories, but also the longer stories like “The Ice Maiden” or
“Ib and Little Christine”. It is in the longer stories that one can see the
German romantic influence on Andersen. While the tales are more adult, they
also consider several of the same themes that inhabit his more child friendly
stories. While “Ib and Little Christine” can be rather annoying if you are
female reader, it is impossible to describe the creeping feeling of unease that
stories such as “The Ice Maiden” and “The Shadow” inspire.
Andersen borrowed from more than his grandmother and the Germans. His “The Rose
Elf” presents a revenge minded “Pot of Basil”, a twist on a familiar tale
presented by Boccaccio but also used by Keats among others. Andersen’s
variation of the “Seven Swans” makes far more sense than other versions, even
if it is chaster than those other versions.
Andersen’s most famous story might be “The Ugly Duckling”, a story that many critics, rightly it seems, consider to be Andersen’s most autobiographical work. This isn’t to say that the similar theme of belonging, of fitting in, doesn’t appear in other works. There are shades of “Duckling” in “Thumbelina” as well as some of the class conscious Andersen short stories. “The Ugly Duckling” is more memorable because the plot of the story could happen. The plot of “Thumbelina”, not so much. We believe in the duckling becoming the swan because of the way Andersen sets up the story – a mistake could happen. Today, even with all our supposed advancements, you still have hospital mix ups.
In most of Andersen’s stories, the reader can meet actual places and people
that Andersen knew or admired. Edvard Collin, Andersen’s man crush, appears, as
does Jenny Lind. Even smaller characters in Andersen’s history, less well known
to the average reader, seem to appear. Andersen’s teachers, the women Andersen
felt rejected him (or whom Andersen allowed himself to be rejected by); all
seem to appear. Copenhagen is a time honored companion in the stories, but so
is Andersen’s love of Italy. This sense of place gives another level of reality
to the tales, a level that seems to be missing from the works of the Grimms or
Perrault.
While many of Andersen’s tales have “morals” or lessons, they are not spelled out as in the work of Aesop or Fontatine. Andersen respects his reader, be that reader a child or an adult, and knows that his reader can follow his lesson without the moral being directly spelled out. Perhaps it is this reason that examines Andersen’s staying power even among, or especially among, female readers.
The statue of the Little Mermaid in many ways, is a fitting and unfitting memorial to Andersen. Like Andersen himself, the statue has survived various attempts to deface it. Andersen faults against those who mocked him, who tried to educate the imagination out of him, or who ignored him because of his class. He survived the fact that he would not be able to fulfill his first dream, to be a dancer. The statue of the mermaid has overcome beheadings, defacing, and veils to still exist as a tourist attraction. But like the works of Andersen’s own works, few people who see the statue know true story of the character the statue is based on, few know the story of the statue itself or of the Kasslett located nearby. Fewer know that it is not the only statue in Copenhagen depicting a merperson that has connection to Andersen (he wrote a story based on the Forsake Merman). Perhaps it is this sense of mystery that keeps Andersen’s popularity. We are introduced to him at two points in our lives. The first time when we are children. The second time when we are older, perhaps after seeing the statue or reading a story to a child. We can have two different readings of Andersen, the man and his work.
"Ugly Duckling"illustration by Theo van Hoyetma
(Source Pinterst)
Princess and the Pea by Carter Goodrich
(Source Pintesret)
Little Match Girl Stamp
(Source Pinterst)
Andersen was heavily influenced by several things in his writing. It is common knowledge that he was influenced by folklore and the stories told to him by his grandmother, but he was also influenced by the German writers that predated him or who were his contemporaries. While it is not apparent in his better known tales, he had a strong love of country (even though he always seemed to be traveling away from it) as well as a good dose of patriotism. He was also religious, though this seems to come though in his tale more than anything else.
Danish Coins featuring Andersen
(Source Pinterest)
Several critics have pointed out that Andersen has a cult of suffering. His leads his heroes and heroines always suffer. The Ugly Duckling gets frozen in water, the Little Mermaid feels as if she is walking on knives (or broken glass); the Marsh King’s Daughter is transformed into a frog, the little Match Girl freezes to death, the money pig breaks, the storks deliver dead babies. Andersen’s characters seem to suffer far more than those people in the Grimm’s tales (though that isn’t a cake walk either). Andersen, however, is still a considered a children’s author because of the tone, his use of sound (read his tales aloud if you don’t believe me), of putting himself in a child’s shoes (who doesn’t imagine the flowers coming to life).
Love's Teeny Lure Teapot, inspired by "Little Mermaid"
(Source Pinterest)
"Marsh King's Daughter" Illustration by Artus Scheiner
(Source Pinterst)
Illustration for Thumblina by Dani Soon
(Source Pinterest)
Many of Andersen’s tales are concerned with relationships, in particular those
of mothers and children. Many critics have discovered or argued for the
presence of Andersen’s own relationship with his mother in these tales.
Andersen’s mother, who gave birth to a bastard daughter before marrying
Andersen’s father, comes off looking less like a saint and more like a drunk if
this is true. But then, there is a tale like “She Was a Good for Nothing” where
the mother is a drunk who dearly loves and cares for her son. In this story,
Andersen contrasts public view versus private life, of how the upper class
views the lower class.
Illustration from "The Tinderbox"
Andersen is often concerned with class in his tales. The upper classes tend to be dismissive of the lower classes, though it is the lower classes that exhibit more of those human virtues. Sometimes, like in “The Tinderbox”, Andersen even seems to attack the royalty, seemingly suggesting that the old order must give to the new. Even in his class stories, Andersen also shows a great love and knowledge of his country. Some of his stories are about the humble beginnings of Great Danes (no, not the dogs) like Thorvaldsen, whose work Andersen seemed to love if Andersen’s stories are anything to go by. It should also be noted that in some of stories, especially in stories where different classes of children met, Andersen suggests more of equality than out and out class warfare.
Hans Christian Andersen Hus, Odenese
(Source Pinterst)
Illustration for "The Snow Queen" by Angela Barrett
(Source: Pinterest)
Andersen’s most famous story might be “The Ugly Duckling”, a story that many critics, rightly it seems, consider to be Andersen’s most autobiographical work. This isn’t to say that the similar theme of belonging, of fitting in, doesn’t appear in other works. There are shades of “Duckling” in “Thumbelina” as well as some of the class conscious Andersen short stories. “The Ugly Duckling” is more memorable because the plot of the story could happen. The plot of “Thumbelina”, not so much. We believe in the duckling becoming the swan because of the way Andersen sets up the story – a mistake could happen. Today, even with all our supposed advancements, you still have hospital mix ups.
Ice Maiden Cover
(Source Pinterst)
While many of Andersen’s tales have “morals” or lessons, they are not spelled out as in the work of Aesop or Fontatine. Andersen respects his reader, be that reader a child or an adult, and knows that his reader can follow his lesson without the moral being directly spelled out. Perhaps it is this reason that examines Andersen’s staying power even among, or especially among, female readers.
Moira Shearer by Sir William Russel Flint
(Source Pinterst)
Andersen’s female characters do seem to get punished at far steeper rate than
his male characters. While it is true that the Ugly Duckling freezes, his end
is far different than those ends of the girls in “The Little Match Girl”, “The
Red Shoes” or “The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf”. To say that Andersen was sexist
would be a mistake. Even in stories where the girl is horribly punished there
are good women – the grandmother, the girl who prays for Karen. More
importantly, one of Andersen’s most famous stories, “The Snow Queen” presents
two strong willed girls, one of whom keeps her independence; another of women
is helped by more women than man when she quests to save her childhood fan who
also is perhaps her adult love or husband.The statue of the Little Mermaid in many ways, is a fitting and unfitting memorial to Andersen. Like Andersen himself, the statue has survived various attempts to deface it. Andersen faults against those who mocked him, who tried to educate the imagination out of him, or who ignored him because of his class. He survived the fact that he would not be able to fulfill his first dream, to be a dancer. The statue of the mermaid has overcome beheadings, defacing, and veils to still exist as a tourist attraction. But like the works of Andersen’s own works, few people who see the statue know true story of the character the statue is based on, few know the story of the statue itself or of the Kasslett located nearby. Fewer know that it is not the only statue in Copenhagen depicting a merperson that has connection to Andersen (he wrote a story based on the Forsake Merman). Perhaps it is this sense of mystery that keeps Andersen’s popularity. We are introduced to him at two points in our lives. The first time when we are children. The second time when we are older, perhaps after seeing the statue or reading a story to a child. We can have two different readings of Andersen, the man and his work.
Little Mermaid Statue, Copenhagen
(Photo Source: Love Collage)
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