SOURCE: Dahlerup, Pil. “‘Little Mermaid’ Deconstructed.” Scandinavian Studies 62, no. 4 (autumn 1990): 418-28.

In the following essay, Dahlerup deconstructs“The Little Mermaid.”

A text, just like a person, may be very well structured—and at the same time completely deconstructed. A structuralist reading finds (or constructs) the implicit significance of the relations of the formal elements. A deconstructive reading finds (or constructs) “the warring forces of signification” (Johnson) within these same elements. The advantage of deconstruction is the opening of the text to more complex levels of signification. The disadvantage is the professional reader, who will always be able to “construct deconstructions.” The only protection from the sophistication of the deconstructive reader is the validity of his or her argumentation.

“the Little Mermaid”

“The Little Mermaid” is known to children and to grown-ups worldwide, to normal and to professional readers. Children and normal readers are usually fascinated by the sad...