It quickly becomes evident that the Soul has not been entirely truthful with the Fisherman. As such, Wilde implies that if the Fisherman does manage to send away his soul, there will be drastic consequences. Interestingly, despite the Witch’s seeming plan to trick the Fisherman, she is still hesitant to tell him how to send away his soul, implying that doing so would be unwise. The effect this has on both the man and the witches underscores their evil nature. Even though the Fisherman has previously disavowed the value of the soul, he nonetheless displays an instinctive connection to Christianity and uses it to protect himself. When the Fisherman is lead towards this man, his instinct is to make the sign of the cross and to call upon God. It seems possible, given the nature of the ritual and the fact that the male figure is “weary,” that the Fisherman is being tricked into partaking in a ritual which will rejuvenate the devil. This passage strongly hints that the man in the suit is the devil-not only does he appear on the Sabbath to be worshipped by witches, he arrives on a horse and is dressed in black. Wilde’s decision to place obstacles in the way of their love is a typical trope of fairytales, but the Mermaid’s seeming indifference introduces an interesting degree of ambivalence around romantic love and the sacrifices people might feel compelled to make in its name. While the Fisherman previously held the Mermaid captive in a physical way, the Mermaid now holds the power because the Fisherman will do anything to be with her. Importantly, the Mermaid does not return the Fisherman’s love at first rather, she immediately makes it clear that they can only be together if the Fisherman makes this grand sacrifice. The Fisherman handles so lightly his decision to give up is soul that is seems he has not fully considered the consequences. Once the Fisherman has fallen in love with the Mermaid, he abandons his livelihood, which was previously the most important thing to him and the basis of his identity. This inclusive way of looking at the world will prove in stark contrast to the harsh, exclusivist beliefs of the Priest. The Mermaid’s song embraces all manner of creatures.
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