Od baśniowej księżniczki do młodej kobiety, czyli nie taka mała syrenka w Świecie obok świata Liz Braswell
From a Fairy-Tale Princess to a Young Woman, or Not-So-Little Mermaid in Part of Your World by Liz Braswell

Summary/Abstract: Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen (1837) belongs to the fairy-tale canon, eagerly used by contemporary authors (including writers and filmmakers) who create new versions of well-known stories. The Disney adaptation by John Musker and Ron Clements (1989) introduced numerous changes into the plot and the creation of the characters. The fate of the film’s protagonist, Ariel, is continued in Part of Your World by Liz Braswell (2018), discussed in the paper. It is a fantasy novel for young adults in which the writer retells the plot of the film, challenging the myth of romantic love and a happy ending guaranteed by marrying a prince. The article’s author indicates that the main character of Braswell’s work is different from the film prototype: less impulsive, more responsible, driven by duty and common sense. Therefore, Ariel is no longer a stereotypical princess but a strong heroine. The changes in the image and fate of the mermaid, discussed in the paper, prove that the issues of the body and voice of the protagonist are perceived differently from the earlier versions of the fairy tale, which were addressed primarily to children, including the film, the message of which is undermined in the novel. In addition, Braswell’s book is discussed herein not only as a literary sequel to the film but also as a postmodern fairy tale, feminist fiction, and a text with an environmental message as well as references to current social issues.

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