Silence and voice in literary representations of the mermaid in world literature
(2012)
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- Authors
- Supervisors
- Latré, Guido
- Abstract
- (en) The thesis studies voice and silence in literary representations of the mermaid in world literature, including Homer’s Odyssey, a group of tales found mainly in the Brothers Grimm’s collection, Hans Christian Andersen's “The Little Mermaid,” Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon and Yan Lianke’s Shouhuo. The sirens in the Greek epic are not related to carnal gratification. The siren song represents an intellectual and artistic challenge that requires great self-restraint and the ability to implement plans. The sirens experience, although fatal to many, is in fact part of the rite of passage undertaken by the hero to fulfill his destiny. In contrast, the sweet singing voice of mermaids in folklore is a metonymy of feminine physical charm. Andersen’s mute and mutilated mermaid is related to the development of the concept of female voice manifested in a group of nineteenth century fairy tales which represent silence either as an alternative means of communication to be learned in an early phase of life, or as a sign of abnegation related to madness and death. The enticing mermaid becomes mortal and is silenced. The leading female characters of Toni Morrison and Yan Lianke are song-bearers and keepers of traditional values. Like the original siren experience, The African-American and Chinese mermaid songs nourish and empower the contemporary heroes, who are then able to rise above the pursuit of pleasure principles or personal power to embrace a higher goal in life which involves the values, wellbeing and future of the community.
- Affiliations
Citations
Tam, P. P. C. (2012). Silence and voice in literary representations of the mermaid in world literature. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/158530