What Is The Role Of Mermaids In Today's Entertainment

Mermaids, Fairies, and Witches are some of the most prominent mythical characters in today’s entertainment. Folklore from other countries and cultures affects how we portray these creatures in our movies, books, and TV shows. One such country is Scotland that is filled with tons of different folklore. Scottish Folklore has many stories about these three well known creatures. The most commonly known folklore from Scotland has had a huge impact on some of the most well known entertainment in the United States today.
One of these creatures, the mermaid, is the mostly widely known creature from Scottish folklore (Harris 10). People all over the U.S. enjoy different forms of entertainment that depict varying versions of mermaids. Scottish folklore tells of violent creatures of the

sea that are incredibly dangerous (Harris para 13).

These dark underwater creatures are said to have many different magics as well (Harris para 12). These powers vary from the ability to predict the future, curse human beings, or even granting wishes (Harris para 10-11). The mermaids are also said to be beautiful of face and voice, shown by the way human men often tried to capture the mermaids and bind them to the land (Harris para 13). The effect of these folk tales on today’s entertainment can be found in some of our most popular and well known movies and plays.
Today, we have changed the way we look at mermaids, but if you look at some of the popular movies you can find the influences of Scottish Folklore. In Peter Pan, when Peter takes Wendy to see the mermaids, he tells her that they are very cruel and like to drown people (Barrie scene 3). The mermaids in this story are shown to be very dark and even murderous. Even with this acknowledgement that the mermaids are not nice creatures, they are still shown as beautiful with long, flowing hair (Barrie, scene 3). The movies don’t even have to show the mermaids as evil creatures

to incorporate Scottish Folklore, as shown by the famous Disney movie, the Little Mermaid. In this tale, Ariel has an amazing voice that she is loved for and is a major part of the plot (Johanningmeier scene 2). Ariels voice is a major part of her character as a mermaid. When she becomes human she loses her voice entirely, associating the amazing voice with being a mermaid. This emphasizes the trait from Scottish Folklore of mermaids having unnaturally beautiful voices. King Triton is originally talked about because of his powers over the sea (Johanningmeier scene 1). The fishermen claim that as a merperson he has the ability to control the ocean and its waves. It’s no wonder, with many of Scotland’s folk tales describing mermaids with magical powers. Even with the all of the movie being about the goodness of mermaids, they still manage to sneak in a reference to a darker side of the sea dwelling creatures. When the fishermen sing about mermaids they include the lyrics “...Look out, lad, a mermaid be waitin' for you, In mysterious fathoms below.” (Johanningmeier scene 1). This paints mermaids as creatures that are waiting to enchant and drown the men on board. Even in a children’s movie with nice mermaids Scotland’s influence of what they believed was a mermaid’s most common trait, the dark malevolence they were said to posses, was shown.
Another popular Scottish folktale star, the witch, is a common character in our entertainment today. Witches were said to be evil women with dark powers in these tales. They were often called hags and described as ugly and withered. In the tales, witches’ powers were used for malevolent deeds, such as killing or harming someone greatly. These cruel old women held grudges and acted on their want for revenge often (Douglas pgs 218-269). It was very obvious from these folktales that witches were not the heros of their tales.
It is this portrayal of the witch that is shown in the better known movies and books of today. In the popular movie and play The Wizard of OZ, the introduction to the strange new land is the citizens celebrating and congratulating Dorothy, the main character, for her killing of the oppressive Wicked Witch of the East (Rudoff scene 3). There is even a comment from Dorothy that, “...I'm not a witch at all -- witches are old and ugly.” showing the influence from Scottish folklore as soon as witches are introduced into the plot (Rudoff scene 3). Then, the Wicked Witch of the West, the main witch in the play, vows to kill Dorothy for taking the shoes that she believes are hers and killing the witch’s sister accidentally (Rudoff scene 3). Once again letting the ideas from Scottish tales show in the witch’s ability to hold a grudge. Not just that, but throughout the play the wicked witch is depicted as an ugly green old hag, like in the folklore from Scotland. There is also evidence of Scottish influence in the well know movie and book Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe shown by the White Witch, Jadis. She is depicted as remorseless in the way that she carelessly turns those that annoy her into stone (Shmoop para 1). Finally, The Little Mermaid once again shows the influence of Scottish folklore by depicting Ursula the Sea Witch as evil and murderous (Johanningmeier scene 8-end). The Scottish depiction of witches as malevolent and hideous has greatly impacted today’s popular entertainment.
Lastly is a small, winged creature called a fairy that is popular in Scottish folklore and well known to the rest of the world as well. These small beings are known to be trouble makers and quite mean or aggressive if they feel like it (Harris para 43). Fairies are also depicted as possessive over what they see as theirs (Harris para 43). The other prominent trait of the fairies is their tendency to covet the children of mortal women, and even steal those children from time to time (Harris para 64). Fairies, even though they were said to be small, were described as jealous, angry, and vicious.
The well known play Peter Pan is full of Scottish folklore influences on the way fairies are seen. Tinkerbell, the play’s fairy, is introduced with her yanking on Wendy’s hair because Wendy tried to kiss Peter, and Tinkerbell saw Peter as hers (Barrie act 1). Tinkerbell’s possessive behavior shows the characteristics that fairies are said to have in Scottish folklore. Then, Tinkerbell tries to have Wendy killed by telling the lost boys that this is what Peter wishes (Barrie act 2). The small fairy does this to keep Peter as hers in a very violent manner. It shows two of the prominent traits of fairies from Scottish tales. Later, we learn that Tinkerbell took Peter to Neverland herself after he had crawled from his crib . Tinkerbell exhibits another trait shown by the fairies from folklore in Scotland when she takes the human child from his mortal mother. Peter Pan, the familiar play about a boy who doesn’t grow up and his fairy, is wrought with influence from Scottish folklore.
Scottish folk tales have had a large impact on the United States’ entertainment of today. From children’s movies to famous plays, it is evident in our most well known leisure activities. Some of our favored creatures such as mermaids, witches, and fairies come from Scottish folklore, and the way these creatures are depicted influences the way our better known books, movies, and plays show the creatures. These tales, while old, have had a major influence on what we see, watch, and read today in America.