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The Evolution of Mermaids: From Monstrous Beings to Enchanting Beauties

This paper delves deep into the changes that transformed monstrous sirens into beautiful and enchanting beings. Today, where monstrous creatures are often portrayed as romanticized, this essay explores the physical and mental changes that transformed the sirens into attractive and adored characters. Also, we discuss the issue of women being overly sexualized over time. The sirens, although fictional characters, face similar hardships as most women globally today. The transformation of these creatures from bird-like beings in the beginning of Greek mythologies to the appealing and phantasmal beings today signifies that beauty no longer associates with evil. Mermaids nowadays need not be fairytale-like, as seen in The Little Mermaid. They can still be admired even as monstrous beings like Ryn in Siren. Mermaids and sirens play an essential role in popular culture, and this essay explores how their portrayal has evolved in contemporary media, causing sexualization and a new perspective on monsters, along with the potential impact of such changes on society.

The mermaid is an emblem of men’s idealization and fear of women. Sexualizing mermaids leads to the sexualization of all women globally. Mermaids, a mythical creature, are often depicted as half-human and half-fish beings that have fascinated people throughout history and have been a significant subject in art, literature, and popular culture. This essay examines the argument that mermaids are monsters, despite their captivating and charming features. It is an exploration of their transition from being seen as monsters to becoming beautiful and captivating creatures.

Although mermaids may look appealing and alluring, they possess several characteristics that define them as monsters. Among these traits, predatory behavior is one of the most prominent features of mermaids. They are seen as evil monsters that prey on innocent humans and are often connected to drowning and death, making them horrific beings. The hybrid nature of mermaids is another feature making them terrifying creatures. Being neither fully human nor fully fish, the ambiguity makes them unsettling, and it's harder to categorize them. They are not precisely animals, but neither are they entirely human, making them strange and weird. The sexualization of mermaids for commercial purposes has changed the way they are portrayed today, raising concerns about how this viewpoint on these creatures would affect our understanding of monsters, particularly in terms of sexualization. Mermaids have transformed over time through various aspects of dissection, as analyzed by Cohen in his research. He looks at the evolution of these mythical creatures in terms of their physical appearance, symbolic and cultural value. According to Cohen, monsters are continually remade and rebuilt concerning the dynamic societal ideologies and are not unchanging beings. He examines different aspects of the transformation of monsters, including their physical features. Monsters previously portrayed as only cruel and terrible have now acquired more nuanced and complicated traits, reflecting a growing cultural practice of empathy and a deeper appreciation of the intricate and complex human character (Cohen, 1996). Attractiveness may make others overlook and forget the true monster that lies beneath the veil of beauty.

Artists such as Botticelli, who famously painted the Birth of Venus, depicting a mermaid-like figure emerging from the water, demonstrate the transition of mermaids in art. The romanticized perception of mermaids has evolved over time, with mermaids now featuring prominently in fairytales and children's literature. In art, they are often described as beautiful women with bird wings, still embodying a deadly character but with a more seductive energy. John William Waterhouse's painting, The Siren, illustrates this transition perfectly. The change in how sirens are portrayed can be traced to shifting cultural perceptions of female sexuality and femininity's mystery. Historically, sirens were represented as monsters, challenging the patriarchy's idea of strong, alluring women. The sympathetic and less scary portrayal of sirens reflects societies' increased acceptance of female sexuality and women's agency. In contemporary depictions, sirens use their tempting songs as communication tools rather than just for destruction, making them even more human-like and empathetic. In Gregg Bishop's television series, Siren, sirens are portrayed as a misunderstood human-fish civilization with a language and culture of their own.

Popular culture often depicts mermaids and sirens as seductive beings, as in Homer's The Odyssey, where the sailors who succumb to their songs are depicted as ignorant and weak in front of women, reinforcing the stereotype that women's sexuality is their primary source of power. Mermaid myths have influenced various cultures worldwide, revered as helpful beings in some and feared and despised in others. In European tradition, mermaids were frequently associated with the risks and unpredictability of the water, blamed for shipwrecks and drownings. Laurent and Cohen talk about the mermaids' associations with desire, temptation, and the allure of the unknown, portrayed in various cultures as stunning creatures that seduce men into killing them. The sexualization of mermaids emphasizes their horror, implying that they prey on people using their beauty and appeal, thus reinforcing negative gender stereotypes.

The popular culture's sexualization and objectification of mermaids have been a common theme, as seen in the 1989 Disney movie The Little Mermaid, where Ariel, the lead character, must use her sexuality to win the prince's affection for her to change from a mermaid to a human. The differences between Andersen's original story and the Disney retelling affect our perception of the mermaid as a monster. In the Disney version, the focus is on romance and the sexualization of Ariel's character, portrayed through her beauty and the famous seashell bra scene. The impact of this sexualization on how we view and experience gender and sexuality is crucial. Similarly, the TV show Siren portrays mermaids as ferocious and seductive creatures that use their sensuality to seduce and kill men, reinforcing harmful gender stereotypes. The show's depiction of mermaids as sexualized objects promotes the notion that women are primarily valued for their physical beauty, emphasizing the siren's representation of a woman's dominance over a man.

Over time, mermaids have evolved from terrifying and frightening creatures to kinder beings in contemporary portrayals. In Disney's The Little Mermaid, Ariel is depicted as a good-hearted and curious creature who is willing to sacrifice everything for love. Despite going against her father's wishes and making a pact with a sea witch to become human, she is courageous and determined to achieve her desired outcome. Today, mermaids are often portrayed as brave and compassionate. However, the sexist language used in The Little Mermaid reinforces negative gender stereotypes and supports patriarchal power systems, as found by Begum in Stereotypes, Body Esteem, and Prosocial Behavior in Children. Similarly, Laurent examines the role of gender and sexuality in Victorian perceptions of mermaids and how they challenged notions of femininity and propriety.

The mermaid's role as an inquisitive and daring character is reflective of her contemporary portrayal in TV shows such as Siren, where Ryn is presented as intelligent and interested in human behavior. However, unlike in The Little Mermaid, the mermaids in this show are unpredictable and dangerous. Mermaids are increasingly depicted as ferocious warriors, challenging established perceptions of their beauty and traditionally feminine characteristics. While such portrayals may reflect changes in societal views of gender and femininity, sexualization can perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes, impacting self-esteem and reinforcing undesirable gender roles.

Despite mermaids' portrayal as charming and lovely, they are ultimately characterized by their predatory, hybrid nature and associations with drowning and death, reflecting the cultural and historical background of mermaid mythology. Interestingly, societal shifts can offer insights into changing attitudes to women and reveal societal fears or desires. While contemporary depictions have changed over time, it is important to recognize the potential harm of sexualizing and romanticizing monstrous creatures, as a monster will always be a monster, regardless of its allure.

In 1993, Bendix conducted an analysis titled "Seashell-bra and Happy-end, Disneys Transformation of The 'Little Mermaid'," which centered around Disney's adaptation of the classic fairy tale. The article was published in the Fabula journal and covered the transformation of the character Ariel from the original story to the Disney movie version.

On a similar note, in 2022, Begum published a research paper titled "He Said, She Said: A Critical Content Analysis of Sexist Language Used in Disney's The Little Mermaid" in the Journal of International Women's Studies. The study aimed to dissect and examine the portrayal of gender roles and language used in the movie, with a focus on identifying and analyzing instances of sexist language.

Both Bendix and Begum's studies present important insights into the cultural impact and representation of femininity in media. While Bendix looks at the transformation of a character, Begum takes a closer look at how language shapes our perceptions and attitudes towards gender. Together, their contributions aid in the ongoing conversation around gender representation in popular culture.