Tag Archives: Emmanuel

Week 12: The Water Will Carry Us

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For this week blog, I found it really interesting to the idea that through mermaids cultures are able to tell stories and as well how different cultures have different perceptions of mermaids. The stop motion film, “The Water Will Carry Us Home,” unveils the ocean’s diverse cultural perceptions and uncovers the idea of the legacy of black mermaids in contemporary society. The narrative is rooted in the harrowing tale of Africans abducted and cast overboard during the Middle Passage during a period of slavery, only to be rescued by the aquatic deities of Yoruba mythology, suggesting the sea’s duality as both a menacing unknown and a source of salvation across different cultures. This depiction challenges the idea of fear associated with the ocean, instead presenting it as a realm of protection and reverence, particularly for those cultures directly touched by its saving grace. As we have often seen that many different cultures have different meanings and ideas towards the ocean and mermaids. This representation invites viewers to contemplate the personal bonds each individual can forge with the sea, this film can aid in changing the ideals of individuals and seeing the ocean as not something to be scared of but something we should be curious about; and as a source of healing that has recently been seen in society as the ocean being a place that can provide peace and tranquillity. So in the sense of the class, this film aids in having a different point of view in the face of the ongoing environmental crisis, the film provides a new idea, suggesting that a personal and communal appreciation for the ocean could bridge the gap we’ve placed between ourselves and the aquatic world, encouraging a more harmonious interaction with water and all it has to offer, and how it can be used to better our everyday life and our planet.

Week 11: Sirenomelia

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The short film assigned for this week’s blog and in class discussion was honestly quite confusing at first but the word I would use to describe the film is eerie and/or haunting. I think that this film shines light on the idea that the human population truly does not know what lies in the depths of the ocean. The idea that there could be something possibly there in the water with you and you not knowing is something that frightens many individuals, I included at times, and I think that the film only displaying murky unclear water emphasizes this fear. As well, aids in enhancing the fear that many individuals can have about the ocean because our senses are being stripped away when being under the water, when out in the open ocean an individual can neither touch, smell, taste, anything and the only sense available is sight but even then it is affected by the salt water. So the only sense present under the water is hearing, which honestly is the worst of all because the idea of being in the middle of the ocean and randomly hearing sounds like in the video would send chills down anyone’s spine. I think this aids in answering the idea and question as to which scientists are not exploring the deep ocean and why we do not know as much about the ocean compared to everything else we know about this planet and even space. It’s the idea and fear of the unknown, the idea that you are going into “new territory” and not knowing what is there. I think this video displays that humans will truly never understand the complexity that is of the ocean whether that is because they choose not to because they physically cannot or whether fear is hindering them, but I find it amusing because humans are so “territorial” and want to claim everything so that makes me wonder why they choose not to explore the ocean. Or even question if maybe there is something in the water that they do not want to discover out of fear because after all NASA’s original purpose was to discover the ocean, so it make me wonder if maybe there is something hiding in the deep murky water. 

Week 10: Introduction to Oceanic Thinking

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For this week’s reading I found it quite satisfying because we were finally able to understand and recognize the importance and history of the ocean, and how it is as important as what’s happening on land. Similar to what a classmate said during lecture last week, political individuals do not see the importance of the ocean because you cannot claim it or “stick a flag in it” and since; “The ocean can’t be plowed, paved, or shaped in ways the eye is able to discern … it is thus difficult for humans to think of the Ocean as a place” compared to land (Roorda, page 1). But individuals are starting to see the issue in this and have come to the enlightenment that history can be seen in the ocean and now Ocean is spelt with a capital O (as seen throughout this article) to recognize that the Ocean is a place and should be treated as such like anything on land. The article looks to change individuals’ ideals of terracentrism, where it “Refers to people’s tendency to consider the world and human activity mainly in the context of the land and events that take place on land” (Roorda, page 1). With trying to change these ideals the goal is for hopefully a “growing consensus that we need to take concerted action to avoid the devastating consequences of having ignored the Ocean for too long;” because we are able to see the oceans history for example by climate change and its effects of it on the coral reef and the longevity of it all (Roorda, page 1). As well I really liked the articles clarification on the Ocean and the term “The Seven Seas” and how that term is a mutable concept and “In reality, there is only on interconnected global Ocean, with currents that exchange water widely among its different regions, with the same molecules of H2O moving from one todays seven Oceans to another, and then another, over the course of ageless and endless cycles of circulation” (Roorda, page 1). Also, with having so little knowledge on the Ocean compared to what we have going on on land and space, the shift of mindset to realizing that the Ocean holds history and carries the same importance if not more from that of on land may be what we as a society need for understanding our earth even more and possibly with the issue of climate change. 

Week 9: Environmental Humanities

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For this week’s reading I found it to be quite interesting and thought provoking to be able to have perspectives on environmental humanities. I have often heard this term of environmental humanities but I have not known much of what it is about and throughout the reading I was able to get the general idea of their purpose. They “Show how humanists are improving our understanding of the problems and contributing to their solution … humanists must offer constructive knowledge as well as criticism” (Emmet & Nye page 2). It is more about just giving the public data and numbers to display the negative effects humans have caused to the Earth and about global warming. We all know that the Earth is damaged but they focus more on deepening the public’s understanding of the issue of the negative impacts humans have on the environment. I noticed as well the influence of gender in the reading and the idea that nature, similar to women, have suffered in the hands of men’s desire to control others and everything; “They pointed out that the very idea of humans standing outside of and controlling nature was based on a conception of the natural world that was passive and feminized … Apparently neutral terms such as “man and nature,” though they still appear in policy discussions of climate change, often have masked unequal social relations and exploitation of resources” (Emmet & Nye page 4). Also I noticed that the main theme of the reading and thus connects to the purpose of the class is the idea that man and nature need to live in harmony with one another, cause in the end we are sharing this land with “non-humans” as well, and maybe shifting our ideas and tactics to a more “feminine” and nurturing nature; “Such a new ethic requires a new narrative. This new story, “would not accept the idea of subduing the earth, or even dressing and keeping the garden, since both entail total domestication and control by human beings. Instead, each earthly place would be a home, or community, to be shared with other living and no-living things” (Emmet & Nye page 6). 

My question is, how do we incorporate these new ideologies into the school curriculum, and change years of past ideologies from others?

Close Reading Assignment

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Emmanuel Alvarez

Jessica Pressman

ECL 305:Literature in the Environment

3 March 2024

The Little Mermaid

The tale, “The Little Mermaid,” by Hans Christian Andersen delves deeply into topics that are fundamental to the human experience, going beyond the simple fiction of its setting. In contrast to conventional mythological representations, Hans Christian Andersen’s portrayal of the Little Mermaid presents a figure whose connections, experiences, and feelings provide important insights into the nature of mankind itself. This essay will argue that Hans Christian Andersen’s depiction of mermaids offers a new perspective on the notion that they resemble humans more than we previously thought. Through an examination of the Little Mermaid’s curiosity, psychological depth, and familial connections, it is clear that Hans Christian Andersen has not only written a tale about a mermaid but has also considered what it means to be human, thus bridging the gap between entities from two seemingly separate worlds.

Curiosity is one of the most remarkable human qualities that Hans Christian Andersen gives the Little Mermaid. The Little Mermaid is shown as being enthralled with the land above the water from the very beginning of the story. She is not just interested in learning about the realm of people; she truly wants to know and comprehend things, and it is conveyed in the word choice used to display her curiosity, “What struck her as most beautiful was that the flowers of the earth should shed perfumes, which they do not below the sea; that the forests were green, and that the fishes amongst the trees should sing so loud and so exquisitely that it must be a treat to hear them” (Anderson, page 109). The need to explore, comprehend the unknown, and look for answers to the mysteries that surround us is a quality that is essential to the human spirit. Humans frequently pursue knowledge and make sacrifices in its name, and Hans Christian Andersen’s portrayal of the Little Mermaid’s desire to explore the human world and her readiness to pay for this knowledge is a reflection of this. Not yet being able to go above the water till she is fifteen, the Little Mermaid throughout the whole story, “Longed after all these things, just because she could not approach them” (Anderson, page 111). But, the Little Mermaid’s curiosity is not a passive trait, rather it is what pushes The Little Mermaid to venture into the dangerous unknown and leave the comforts of the known. This fascination reveals a basic quality of the human spirit: the will to discover new things, develop personally, and fully understand our role in the universe. For the Little Mermaid, whose interest with the human world is entwined with a deeper desire for an immortal soul and the eternal love she believes it would bring her, Hans Christian Andersen raises this curiosity to a matter of existential consequence. This examination of curiosity as a blessing and a curse strikes a deep connection with the human condition, bringing to light our own battles with the drive that lead to both success and failure in humans’ everyday lives. This new interpretation from Hans Christian Anderson casts mermaids with traits of one of the deepest human desires, the need for knowledge, challenging the idea that they are otherworldly beings separated from human experience.

The curiosity that defines Andersen’s Little Mermaid is not the only aspect of her personality. Rather, she is a complex individual with a rich psychological interior that is characterized by a variety of experiences and feelings. Her journey is one of love, sacrifice, pain, and ultimately, transcendence; and the Little Mermaid’s struggle is foreshadowed in the begging when Anderson conveys “When the sisters rose up arm-in-arm through the water, the youngest would stand alone, looking after them, and felt ready to cry; only mermaids have no tears, and therefore suffer all the more” (Anderson, page 113). Readers can relate to and feel the desire, misery, and unselfish love of the Little Mermaid because of the psychological depth with which Hans Christian Andersen imbues the character. The exploration of her unfulfilled romantic feelings for the prince and her choice to give up her voice in order to stay in his company highlights the complexity of human emotions and relationships, thus further blurring the line between mermaids and humans. Perhaps the most moving aspect of Hans Christian Andersen’s examination of the Little Mermaid’s innermost thoughts is her ability to love and sacrifice, her love for the prince is a complicated, all-consuming passion that drives her to make unfathomable sacrifices rather than a straightforward, fantasy like infatuation. She lost her voice, a symbol of identity and power, but she gained a human body instead, demonstrating the depth of her emotions and the extent of her willingness to sacrifice for love. This story thread examines the transformational power of love and how it can both inspire enormous sacrifice and cause immense misery. Andersen does not shy away from the darker aspects of the Little Mermaid’s journey, presenting her love and sacrifice as a path to understanding and growth, even in the face of unreciprocated feelings and ultimate loss. After all in order for her to become human and be able to present herself to the prince she had to understand all the suffering she would have to endure in exchange for human legs, “I will prepare you a potion; and you must swim ashore with it to-morrow before sunrise, and then sit down and drink it. Your tail will then disappear, and shrivel up into what human beings call neat legs. But mind, it will hurt you as much as if a sharp sword were thrust through you … You will never be able to dive down into the water to your sisters or return to your father’s palace” (Anderson, page 121-122). The Little Mermaid is displayed as an individual with the ability to feel deeply felt emotions, which is in line with human nature, and less of a menacing and non-human creature like a siren by diving into her personal life and sharing the hardships she faces. 

The Little Mermaid’s bond with her family is another aspect of Hans Christian Andersen’s story that demonstrates the humanity of the Little Mermaid. The Little Mermaid’s decisions are greatly impacted by her love and concern for her family throughout the entire story. Her interactions with her grandma, father, and sisters show a network of relationships based on understanding, compassion, and caring for one another. Her relationship with her family is just like humans have as well and we can as well relate to some of these interactions, “There was nothing she delighted in so much as to hear about the upper world. She was always asking her grandmother to tell her all she knew about ships, towns, people, and animals … At length she could resist no longer, and opened her heart to one of her sisters, from whom all the others immediately learned her secret” (Anderson, page 109 and 116). With something so simple as sharing that connection with her grandmother, similar to our grandparents telling us stories as kids, or sharing secrets with her sisters like little girls often do; Anderson further emphasizes the similarities between the Little Mermaid and humans. The Little Mermaid’s plot revolves around her familial ties, which impact her decisions and determine her fate. Because familial affection and obligation are universal and profoundly rooted in human communities, Andersen’s emphasis on family highlights this fact. Through depicting the Little Mermaid’s family’s significance, Hans Christian Andersen implies that humankind’s potential for love, devotion, and sacrifice within the framework of a family is not exclusive to humans, but rather is a universal quality that can bridge the gap between the idea of mermaids and humans being of completely different worlds. 

In “The Little Mermaid,” Hans Christian Andersen creates a story that breaks down barriers between the supernatural and the natural, the human and the non-human. Andersen sheds additional light on the idea that mermaids and all other beings are more like humans than we may have previously thought by depicting the Little Mermaid’s curiosity, psychological depth, and familial ties. Despite taking place in a magical underwater kingdom, this story explores the core themes of human nature, reflecting our desires, our struggles, and our capacity for love.  Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid is not just a creature of the sea; she is a mirror reflecting the complexities, the beauty, and the pain of being human. 

Works Cited

Anderson, Hans Christian. “The Little Mermaid.” The Penguin Book of Mermaids, edited by 

Christina Bacchilega and Marie Alohalani Brown, Penguin Books, 2019, pp 109-122.

Week 7: The Victorian Standard – The Little Mermaid

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For this week’s reading, I really enjoyed learning the story of the “The Little Mermaid.” Being such a big fan of the original 1989 movie, I found it quite interesting reading the story for the first time and seeing the continuous theme from both the movie and the original story about the fascination of the unknown from both the merpeople and humans. Being such a big theme in a lot of the past readings we have done, the fascination of the unknown was definitely prevalent in the reading, “What struck her as the most beautiful was that the flowers of the earth should shed perfumes, which they do not below the sea; that the forests were green, and that the fishes amongst the trees should sing so loud and so exquisitely that it must be a treat to hear them” (Penguin, page 110). Not yet being able to go above the water till she is fifteen the little mermaid throughout the whole story, “Longed after all these things, just because she could not approach them,” I am very fascinated by this idea because humans as well do this in attempts to understand certain things (Penguin, page 111). As well, their fascination is conveyed the constant use of similes and metaphors when describing the land above which furthers the idea of the fascination of the unknown. Humans and Mermaids, since they are half human, share this quality of curiosity which can thus continue the argument that mermaids ( and thus the environment) should be treated equally as they are part human as well. But a quote that stood out to me, that can argue as much as mermaids are half human, they yet are still not seen or treated as equal because “Mermaids have no tears, and therefore suffer all the more,” and this emphasis that though the upper half of their bodies are of human description, they do not carry the emotion or “soul” that humans contain since they are not able to display their emotions fully because they cannot abide on land (Penguin, page 113). 

The Modern Era: 19th C Industrialism & Capitalism

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For this week’s reading I found it to be a fairly easy to understand and straightforward reading. I really enjoyed reading the story of Undine, and its parallels to the story of The Little Mermaid. Being such a big fan of the film and the story of The Little Mermaid it was interesting to see kind of similarities and origins of that story in the reading this week about Undine. “In both stories, a beautiful mermaid is loyal to her human love object and inspired by the prospect of acquiring a soul,” although in Hans Christian Anderson’s version we don’t see that side of acquiring a soul and more of giving her voice to be able to be with her love (Penguin, page 101). As well we saw a parallel with Undine and how she portrays her true form to Huldbrand and how although she is not human he still loves her, similarly to Hans Christian Anderson’s version. But the part of her story that stuck out to me is when she says to Hulbrand, “Our condition would be far superior to that of other human beings, – for human beings we call ourselves, being similar to them in form and in culture, – but there is on evil peculiar to us. We and our like in the other elements, vanish unit dust, and pass away, body and spirit” (Penguin, page 105). I thought this quote stuck out to me because it reminded me a lot of what the Bible says about humans, “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). I think this is important and connects to point of the class because as much as people want to separate humans from mermaids and other beings and argue that they are different, they are still half human and because of that they as well like us return back to dust; and thus we have to be able to respect them and treat the idea of mermaids (and to an extent the environment) with equality as we do with people. 

Week 5: Medieval Melusine

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For this week’s reading I found it fairly interesting in regards to” mermaids” finally being incorporated into the lives of individuals. As well as finally having that sense of a fairytale story and falling in love. In past week’s readings it has been more based on individual stories about mermaids and their own individual stories but not really intertwined with the lives of regular people and their connection. I particularly liked the sense of romance in this week’s reading with the legend of Melusina. I think this will now open the door for how we see, “Mermaid stories that focus on a water being’s life in the human social world” (Bacchilega, page 85). Although the story of Melusina and Raymond was not lengthy, their interaction can still be discussed, I particularly thought that their love for one another was almost superficial. For one, Raymond didn’t even know Melusina’s name after their interaction; as well during their interaction Raymond was paying fairly close attention, “From her beautiful breasts his gaze descended” (Knight, page 26) conveying him focusing more on her exterior and not paying attention to her and what she’s saying. Their love and eventually their marriage seemed very transactional, since Raymond was going to be able to hide his crime of murdering his uncle and Melusina would be able to get married, so their whole interaction seemed very fictitious and occurred very quickly. But I am excited to finally get into reading with individuals’ direct interactions with mermaids. Also, I did not see the deeper understanding or themes in this story so I hope to come more enlightened and be able to see the deeper meaning.  

Week 4: Ancient Origin Myths

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For this week’s reading I found it fairly interesting and quite fascinating because I really like the specific reading of “Sedna.” When starting the reading it already caught my attention because of the fact that the story was talking about a woman / mermaid having power and control over something, whereas in past readings mermaids were not given this much power and was seen as less than; “A young woman becomes the mother of all sea creatures. As the sea goddess, Sedna has dominion over her creatures and controls the availability of seal, walrus, fish, whale, and other sea animals to Inuit hunters” (Lenore Lindeman). This story particularly got my attention because it was talking about a woman being more self assured and strong as opposed to oppressing women / mermaids in previous readings. As well, in the reading I found some correlations between this story and some Disney princesses, and loving Disney so much I found it quite amusing seeing parallels in the story. For example Sedna reminds me of Pocahontas when the story says, “Many Inuit men desired Sedna for a wife and asked her parents for permission to marry her. But Sedna refused them all. Even when her parents insisted it was time for her to marry she refused to follow tradition and obey them” (Lenore Lindeman). Similar to Pocahontas, Sedna refused the hand of men and was not afraid to refuse tradition, which I thought was exciting to see women / mermaids having power over something and not needing to conform to others. Also when I continued to read, I saw a similar correlation to another Disney movie, specifically Moana and the Goddess Te Fiti because it says, “Sedna now controls all of the animals of the sea. The Inuit who rely on these animals want to maintain a good relationship with Sedna, so that she will continue to allow her animals to make themselves available to the hunters” (Lenore Lindeman). I particularly saw this connection because in the movie the island people are always talking about how they need to have a good relationship with Te Fiti so that their island can prosper, and seeing the parallel in this story about needing to have a good connection with Sedna to be able to have food reminded me of the movie Moana. My favorite part of the story is when it talks about men needing to do tasks to be able to please Sedna, “He or she will swim down to the bottom of the ocean to appease Sedna the Sea Goddess. The Shaman will comb the tangles out of Sedna’s hair and put it into braids. This makes her happy and soothes her anger” (Lenore Lindeman). I thought this part quite intriguing because it displays man praising Sedna, a women and mermaid, which we have not seen in past readings where all they talk about is warning others about mermaids and displaying such a negative connotation and trying to control them; where here in this story it conveys the opposite and talks about man trying to appease a mermaid and praising her, which I particularly liked because I’m always happy to see women thriving and in control.

Week 3: : Mermaid as Metaphor and Paradigm for Understanding Culture, History, and the Environment

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For this week’s reading I found it fairly interesting in regards to the idea that through the different stories of mermaids and how humans have always had a fascination towards them, we are able to understand the history at the time and the beliefs at the time. The fascination of mermaids and the stories being told were not of fairy tales or fiction, “But as myths and legends,” with that being said individuals, “believed or believe in the material and/or symbolic truth of the tale” of mermaids (Cristina, page 16). Along with this idea of our constant fascination with mermaids throughout the years, it brings up the question of “What does our fascination with this dangerous yet desirable other suggest about us” (Cristina, page 14)? To answer this question one can look back to past stories where it is said that, “Beauty can be a powerful weapon – a lure that draws us nearer, a temptation that we are unable to resist … They (as in mermaids) reflect our fascination with and fear of female bodies” (Cristina, page 14). These misogynistic views of mermaids have been used in the past during times when women were associated with such a negative connotation, and it aids in conveying the history of how women and mermaids were thought of and treated, “The appellation of prostitutes as “mermaids” in early modern British culture likewise attests to how a woman who oversteps the boundaries of gender propriety has, over centuries risked being defined as monstrous” (Cristina, page 13). But as time goes by and looking at a different location, individuals are able to see the growth of what mermaids are representing and viewed in a more positive light, for example in hawaiian stories, “There are no tales of men who try to tame their mo’o (mermaid) partners because the mo’o like the features of water they embody; cannot be contained or domesticated. Thus, the confluence of anthropocentrism and misogyny often found in European tales is absent” (Cristina, page 20). The idea of mermaids thus is seen as more an embodiment of nature and beauty and not in a negative sense as seen in early British culture. The hawaiian stories of mermaids in a sense uplift mermaids, and in a way women, and in the stories turn the tables to the men to control their desires because these beings are beautiful, “Rather than cautionshing men against the dangerous power of powerful female beings in the European tales, these tales enjoin respect for nonhuman life and divine power” (Cristina, page 20). So as the years go by the idea of mermaids has grown to be more of an uplifting idea and a way to express oneself and the reimagined figure allows for, “ Fluid feminine self-possession or playful queerness. If the mermaids overstepping the boundaries of gender or sexual propriety is transgressive, it is embraced as such, and not punished” (Cristina, page 22). Thus again, through the foretelling of stories throughout the years and in different cultures about mermaids, individuals are able to see the timeline and progress of society that was occurring.