The Fisherman and his Soul

Oscar Wilde

A young fisherman catches a beautiful little mermaid. The mermaid says him to leave with crying and promises that she comes and sing for him whenever he calls her. He calls her every evening and he's in love with her. One evening, he calls her and asks her to marry him. But the mermaid says him 'I can't marry you because you have a human soul. Send away your soul, and then I can love you.' He wants to marry her so decides to send away his soul. Early the next morning, the fisherman went to the priest's house and ask him how he can send his soul away. But priest gets angry and says 'You shouldn't do that. The soul is as precious as all the gold in the world.' Then, he goes to meet the witch and ask the same question. She gives him some conditions. After that, the witch gives him a knife and says him cut his shadow with it. He does as she says. Then his soul says to him 'Don't send me out.' but the fisherman's mind aren't changed. His soul says 'Don't send me away without a heart. Please give your hart.' but he doesn't give it to his soul. His soul says him ' Once every year I will come to this place and call you' and goes to journey. After a year, the soul comes to the sea and calls the fisherman. The soul talks about his journey to East for wisdom and says 'Let's go there together', but the fisherman says 'Love is better than wisdom' and goes back to the sea. After the second year, the soul comes to the sea and calls the fisherman. The soul talks about his journey to South for precious and says 'Let's go there together' but fisherman says 'Love is better than riches.' and goes back to the sea. After the third year, the soul comes to the sea and calls the fisherman. The soul talks about his journey. 'I saw the girl dancing. It was really marvellous.' Then the fisherman remembers the mermaid has no feet and can't dance. He decides to go with his soul. They begins their journey together, but his soul always tell him to do bad things. The fisherman asks his soul 'Why you tell me to do bad things?' Then his soul says 'That's because you didn't give me a heart.' He tries to send his soul away but he can't do that two times. The soul tell him to do bad things again and again, but he doesn't listen. He just wait for the mermaid. But when he sees the mermaid, she already died. His soul tells him to run away from sea, but he doesn't move. He is dead in the water and the body of the little mermaid was in his arm.

I borrowed this book from stage1 corner but it is thick and I couldn't understand some words. However, I could understand the main story and the pictures are good! I especially like those two pictures.