Sexuality In Hans Christian Andersen's Work Life

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Hans Christian Andersen, born in Odense, Denmark in the year 1805, is known for writing many ingenious fairy tales. His stories, some of which include “The Little Mermaid”, “The Red Shoes” and “The Ice Queen”, are still classics in the genre. While Andersen’s work life came to fruition, his romantic endeavors failed to provide him with a significant other. Andersen’s troubles- stemming from the fact that he never married, with sexuality, especially female sexuality, influenced the morals and themes in many of the stories he wrote. By suppressing his female characters’ sexuality, Andersen not only tries to regulate a primal instinct, but proves to be an anti-feminist. Hans Christian Andersen’s life can definitely be considered a “rags-to-riches” …show more content…

Women were still dependent on men and were encouraged to be demure and submissive. The Industrial Revolution promoted the rise of cities, and with it, a rise in material culture (bl.uk). According to The British Library Board at bl.uk, “Many shops catered specifically to refined tastes, and shopping in them came to define one’s social status”; this materialism was something that Andersen did not appreciate, which was clearly highlighted in his story The Red Shoes. Andersen’s dislike towards woman was probably fueled when he realized how frivolous women were being all around …show more content…

In other words, only virgin can submissive and kind, while older women are seen as unappealing because they are usually no longer “pure”. Furthermore, the little mermaid then allows the witch to cut her tongue, which Casper describes as “the relinquishment of her right to be heard”- Andersen literally took away her voice because of her sexual awakening. Andersen then kept on punishing the little mermaid when he made her every step feel “as if she were treading on sharp knives and spikes”. The only time Andersen rewarded the little mermaid was when he granted her death and an eventual ticket to heaven. Jack Zipes, author of Critical Reflections about Hans Christian Andersen, the Failed Revolutionary, asserts that “[this] tale is sexist and promotes a notion of the eternal soul and compliance with spiritual laws that Andersen invents for

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