When reading Chris Hans Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, many things came to mind, including the barriers of humans and nature, and things like sacrifice and selflessness. The little mermaid sisters and family were the one thing I could not stop thinking about when and even after finishing. It is clear that the little mermaid upon leaving was in distress and knew she would miss her sisters, her grandmother, and her family in general,”, now that she was dumb and was about to leave them forever. Her heart seemed ready to burst with anguish.” (pg123, Bacchilega). One of the many glimpses of sacrifice in our story is that she continues to leave her family and home behind, hoping to find love with our human prince.

After reading, I asked myself why I could not stop thinking of the sisters she left behind and how now being a daughter of the air, could not return to see her family. It reminded me of a story all too familiar. Growing up as a first-generation Mexican-American, it was exactly the story of my parents and their siblings. Leaving a country, in this case, the sea, for better opportunities, for the mermaid the chance of “true love,” and never being able to return. The Little Mermaid experience parallels the dreams and aspirations of many immigrants looking to leave their homes. A few other parallels I noticed were the struggle with identity, cultural assimilation, and sacrifice. The main one I would like to expand on is the yearning for belonging. Like the little mermaid, immigrants, and the children go through life feeling the same longing, being caught between two cultures and not feeling fit for either of them. In one sense there is a desire to return home, like the little mermaid longing for her sisters or family, but on the other hand, there is a stronger desire to pursue your opportunities and assimilate to a new culture.

The Little Mermaid to me, served as an allegory for the complexities of the immigrant experience. Which I greatly appreciated, and was definitely caught by surprise.