A passage that caught my eye in the introduction of The Penguin Book of Mermaids was “These [mermaid] tales speak to the discrepancy between men’s longing for a woman unfettered by social mores and their attempt to control her by domesticating her” (xvii). This sentence is an illumination on how in folklore, mermaids stories often reflect the patriarchal desire to fold unruly femininity back in the bounds of the control of men.
I find Bacchilega’s word choice rather intriguing as “domesticating” suggests the taming of a wild creature, stripping it away from what makes it free in favor for instilling more desirable traits. Even the attraction to a “woman unfettered” is more about the alluring fantasy that ultimately ends in the mermaids containment. It goes to show the discrepancy that the very freedom that men desire is not one they would allow to persist.
Later in the introduction, the author then goes on to state how “when the wife is instead an ‘animal bride’…the marriage fails because her domestication as a human wife and mother does not succeed in eradicating…her desire to be in her own skin and element” (xix). This passage exemplifies the limits of patriarchal control and how suppression cannot erase identity.
With these two passages, it shows how mermaid tales are a reflection of men’s fear and fascination of women’s autonomy. This reading makes clear that these tales are a mirror of the patriarchal urge to domesticate these “free women”, however yet, they also portray the enduring spirit of these women in not fully erasing their identity
Really wonderful blog post, Adrian, both for the smart ideas but also for the astute analytical use of the text. You are developing your interpretations (thesis statements, even!) in the text, and that is exactly what we are going to be doing this semester. You write, “With these two passages, it shows how mermaid tales are a reflection of men’s fear and fascination of women’s autonomy. This reading makes clear that these tales are a mirror of the patriarchal urge to domesticate these “free women”, however yet, they also portray the enduring spirit of these women in not fully erasing their identity.” Good argument!
Hi Adrian,
I really liked your blog post. I liked the way you focused on the word “domesticating” and connected it to the idea of taming a wild creature. This stood out to me because I feel like most mermaids stories often show or reflect the fears of controlling women’s freedom. I agree with you that these stories mirror the attempt to contain women but I also find it interesting that the mermaids often resist or can’t be fully domesticated.
Hello, Adrian, your post is thought provoking as it does a great job of digging deep in why mermaids were not regelated to being only liked or interested by those predominately female/feminine. With the provided quotes it serves as excellent evidence how a mermaid represents the paradoxical nature of men, what attracts them is the free spirit but at the same time they want it locked down, perhaps reserved solely to them. Showing a possible possessiveness and fear of their object of desire not only doing something undesirable, but also attracting someone undesirable. So jealousy could be at play.
Hi, I really enjoyed your post and how you spotlight the intrigue and fear men have over women’s bodies and choices. The constant reminder that men provide readers with how they see women as things rather than equals. It seems like they want to keep these mermaids on a short leash, by appreciating what they are but maintaining the standards that are imposed on human women.
Omg okay you’re excavating this really important paradox. “the very freedom that men desire is not one they would allow to persist.”
It’s something that’s showing up in Melusine now. To love something is to desire to change it. Is that a patriarchal trait? Or a human trait? The way we see a beautiful gem and want to cut and polish it. We see a delicious plant and want to cultivate it. We see a wild animal, compelling because of its very freedom, and want to contain it.
You propose that “the attraction to a “woman unfettered” is more about the alluring fantasy that ultimately ends in the mermaids containment”. You may be right, in the patriarchal context of mermaid brides. But there might be something more universally human in there. When we see a cool shell on the beach and feel an overwhelming need to pick it up, do we imagine it dusty in a box of trinkets years later? I think our desire to possess often has very little foresight, and the men in these stories marrying mermaids show equally little foresight for the consequences of domestication.