Hans Christian Andersen was a master magician of the
fairy tale, a weaver of wonderful tales that have enchanted generations of children the world over.
A humble, self-effacing man, Andersen had no idea that his unusual fairy tales, told with more than a
touch of pathos, would see his name written into the literary classics for eternity. His stories touch people’s lives with their soulful themes and crystallize wisdom and truths into clear, easy to understand imagery that make visible man’s weaknesses and vulnerability in the most loving way.
Perhaps his most famous tale and his most beloved is the
story of The Ugly Duckling. It tells of a young bird who grows up among a group of ducks who ridicule and reject him for his differences. Persecuted for his ‘ugliness’, he is cast out of the group and undergoes much suffering and rejection as he tries to find where he belongs in the world. He faces many ordeals at the hands of animals and people and he has lucky escapes with his life several times. Throughout it all, he is sad and lonely, wanting only to be loved and belong.
One day, he sees a
flock of wild swans and his heart is filled with a strange yearning. When summer comes and he can at last fly and look after himself, he spies the flock of
beautiful white birds again and is drawn close to them by an irresistible urge to be near their
beauty. Fully expecting them to turn on him as all others have done before, the duckling catches sight of his reflection in the water and sees that he has himself grown into a magnificent swan. Furthermore, the flock he approaches rush towards him to greet him as one of their own. At last, after all his desolation and suffering, the swan knows how beautiful he is and has found his place in the world.
This magical tale is told with such pathos and beauty so as to touch the reader at every hearing. Its depth ensures that it is ever fresh, as though being read for the first time though it may be the tenth. It is a classic
Fairy tale that will never lose its appeal or its relevance.
It is the story of a soul who finds he does not belong due to qualities that set him apart from others. He does not know of his beauty as no one has ever loved or appreciated him before but eventually, he blossoms and realizes his worth. Many have said that it is the story of Andersen himself, a man who suffered immensely for his exquisitely sensitive and poetic nature.
It is a story that can give deep solace to any who have ever felt this way and is a perfection of story-telling. The wisdom and love of Hans Christian Andersen has been enshrined in this beautiful and timeless tale that will be beloved for many generations to come.
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