In The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, he writes the main character as a young ambitious mermaid that has taken an interest in life on land. Anderson uses the little mermaids ambition to symbolize the desire for self-improvement regardless of the length and sacrifice one must go through by his demonstration of symbolism and character development.

Having only seen a glimpse of life on land from underwater, the little mermaid finds herself enamored by it and decides to replicate what she sees. “…she never claimed anything— with the exception of the red flowers that resembled the sun above—but a pretty stature, representing a handsome youth…”(109) Anderson uses symbolism in this recreation of life on land as a form of manifestation for the little mermaid. To visualize something that you desire everyday can create the reality that you wish for as if it were a vision board. Another point of view comes from her admiration for the flowers and statue can also serve as an altar—used for religious or ritual purposes while performing prayers or sacrifice. After every view in her garden, she romanticized life on land and her praises gave her hope that she would one day bring this to life. Plus  later on in the story we learn that she does end up making a sacrifice in order to be able to walk on land. 

What really picked the little mermaid’s interest came from the discussion with her grandmother. Her grandmother is a strong character in her life because she does not shield information from  the little mermaid and answers her questions, “She was always asking her grandmother to tell her all she knew about ships, towns, people and animals.”(109) This helps the development of the little mermaid’s character and confidence by the encouragement of new information instead of the fear of it. It is noticeable that the little mermaid has a good head on her shoulders and that is why she was able to deal with the disappointment of her outcome in the end of the story as gracefully as she did. 

Going back the the discussion with her grandmother in which she reveals that, “Human beings, on the contrary, have a soul that lives eternally—yea even after the body has been committed to the earth…”(118) The revelation draws the little mermaid in even more thus making her say  “I would willingly give all the hundreds of years I may have to live, to be a human being but for one day, and to have the hope of sharing in the joys of the heavenly world”(118) For her the removal of years of her life is worth bargaining for to have a soul. Anderson uses foreshadowing of the bargain to show the lengths that someone would go just to achieve the life that they desire, even if it means permanent alteration of your current life. 

The little mermaids decision serves a purpose to represent the strong aspiration to change your life into something that can  affect you tremendously. However, after much thought and consideration and through the support of your family you can achieve the goal you aspire to complete.