MANY of us are familiar with the Disney classic, The Little Mermaid, the 1989 version was a huge hit and fans anxiously await the release of the 2023 live adaptation.
But the original story behind the beloved fairy tale is far darker than many people realise as it features suicide and murder.
The original story, published in 1837 follows a 14-year-old mythical creature on her quest to find true love.
The mermaid shuns her life in the sea in search of a Prince – a plot-line that we know well from the original movie.
But the torture she goes through to achieve this is something you would never see in a Disney film.
The little mermaid visits the Sea Witch, who we know as Ursula, where she strikes a deal.
The creature of the sea swaps her beautiful voice and tongue for some human legs.
Although she is able to walk on land, every step she takes resembles being pricked by sharp knives.
As Hans Christian Andersen's main character doesn't have a SOUL, perhaps inspiration for Ursula's song 'Poor Unfortunate Souls'.
She will only survive by winning the Prince's affections.
However, unlike Walt's Disney's adaptation, the Little Mermaid fails on this mission.
In Hans' version, instead of falling for the mermaid, the Prince actually marries another woman.
So the Sea Witch cuts the heartbroken girl another ultimatum, ensuring her survival if she agrees to murder her lover. Yes, The Little Mermaid agrees to murder the prince.
But, as she approaches the new bride and groom lying in their marital bed, she can't bring herself to kill him and instead chooses to die herself.
The little mermaid then dissolves entirely into foam – before being offered one small reprieve.
As her spirit floats in the sky, she eventually earns a soul by carrying out good deeds for 300 years before ascending into heaven.
After looking into the original tale, it's no surprise that Disney decided to make some adjustments to the film intended for children.
But the Little Mermaid's fate wasn't the only dark plotline that featured in the Danish author's tale.
In the novel, the sea creatures are anything but innocent.
The main character's sisters boast about luring sailors into the water to their deaths.
The Prince is also a character who isn't very family friendly.
Not only does the book describe him being entertained by female slaves at his palace, his affections for the Little Mermaid are rather creepy.
At one point, he even admits he loves her "as he would love a little child."
Recently, we revealed the true meaning behind these popular kids' nursery rhymes… and they're bound to freak you out.
And these disturbing theories about kids' TV shows and films are likely to ruin your fond childhood memories of them.
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