In the eyes of the little mermaid we are amazing species that can “…fly across the sea upon ships, and scale mountains that towered above the clouds; and the lands they possessed— their fields and their forests— stream held away far beyond the reach of her sight.”(118) hold a much higher value in comparison to her own life. As she is saying this while herself being apart of a specie that can live up to 300 years underwater and become one with the sea. Anderson uses this part of the story to reflect on moments where one might show appreciation for the capabilities of different creatures(or people) while simultaneously downplaying our own. What we feel we are lacking in can turn into an obsessive desire that we must obtain, for only then will we be content with who we are.

The little mermaid continues this idea when discussing with her grandmother the afterlife for humans sorrowfully comparing her end of life “I would willingly give all the hundreds of years I may have to live, to be a human being but for one say, and to have the hope of sharing int he joys of the heavenly world.”(118) The yearn to have a soul—to live beyond the enclosure of the water, is strong enough to direct the little mermaid into wanting to give up the life she would have.

Comparing this to the human relationship to other creatures on the planet who live in the air, live in the water, etc., I think Anderson in this part of they story at least— shows gratitude and appreciation towards other creatures. Showing sensibility to the others that we share the land with, even if we might wish we could fly or live in the water, helps with our understanding of the environment.