Traveling back to a time where the only form of communication was through word of mouth and written forms/letters, it seems almost impossible not to have any historical accounts of mythological creatures such as dragons, unicorns, and cyclopes. However, one mythical creature that catches most peoples attention and continues to trend in various forms of media and art itself is none other than the mermaid.
There are many reasons as to why this specific creature (mermaid) is arguably the most popular one out of all of the other ones and after reading Merpeople: A Human History by Vaughn Scribner, one of the many reasons that stood out to me which I never really took into consideration was the fact that the mermaid/man is a combination of an animal and a human. This hybrid characteristic something that although may seem tame in the world of myths due to the fact that there are many other creatures that are more otherworldly and supernatural (e.g. Phoenix, Wyvern, Cerberus, etc.) while simultaneously having features from actual animals, it still goes back to the hybrid characteristic of merpeople that makes that specific creature so interesting and compelling.
Further understanding of merpeople makes one truly appreciate the complexity of their origin and initial perception which is symbolic in religion, “..these half-women, half-fish served as ideal symbols of wonder and danger for Church leaders” (Scribner). With more information being showcased in this section of the reading, one begins to realize just how different the media has portrayed merpeople – more specifically mermaids – in a wondrous light with an actual functioning society and hierarchy when in reality, the early depictions of mermaids were shown to, in a way, criticize lust and sexuality in a manner that would leave the viewer shocked and repulsed due to the lack of clothing and complete fish form below the waist. While the theological portrayal of the mermaid is associated with lust and the danger of said feeling, one would have to also take into account the historical background of the mermaid through the lenses of sailors, and as the rise of explorers became a huge contribution to the reports of these mythological creatures, it also makes one wonder whether the “sightings” were either just completely fabricated or a misinterpretation of an actual marine organism for a mermaid.
As one continues to research the subject of mermaids and just how common it was to encounter one throughout the Nineteenth Century, it almost makes one ponder about the legitimacy of these accounts, and when one begins to question said accounts, one piece of information that is important to mention is that the ocean is so vast and so diverse. Although this fact is obvious, it does beg the question, why is the concept of merpeople included in the “fantasy” category? This is not to say that such a creature exists, but after completing the reading, the concept of the mermaid does not seem completely absurd especially after viewing various different marine organisms that do seem fictional like the colossal squid.
With the many different interpretations of merpeople existing throughout the years, there really is no true answer to whether they are a sign of good luck or meant to serve as a cautionary tale. However, I view the mermaid as a misunderstood being; a creature that is not accepted on land nor in the sea which is entirely relatable if one is in a transitional phase in their lives. Although this is just the introduction to merpeople, I am already intrigued and hoping to expand my knowledge on the correlation between merpeople and the environment.
