Fairy-Tale Ending

[rowyn]

Do you suppose that the ugly duckling was self-confident once he grew up and joined the other swans? Did he understand that he was a beautiful and graceful swan, and that the other swans liked him and thought well of him?

Or did he always find himself thinking, for the rest of his life, I'm still the same person I always was, and I was an ugly child so I must still be ugly now? Maybe he could tell that the other swans were beautiful, but could never think that he was. Or maybe he thought They look like me; they must be ugly, too. Maybe he thought that they were only being nice to him; they didn't really think he was beautiful. They just felt sorry for him.

Maybe he wanted to believe that things were different. That the ducklings had all been wrong about him. That he was beautiful and he belonged and his own kind loved him. But there was always that nagging doubt, lingering from those formative years of constant rejection, that memory that wouldn't let go --

I'll always be an ugly duckling.

Comments

[kelloggs2066.livejournal.com]

It's been a long time, and I may not be recalling the details of the story too well.

But, I do recall that the Swans accepted the 'ugly duckling' as one of their own, didn't they?

Surely, if she ever felt ugly as an adult, her loyal swan friends would reassure her that that was far from the case?

I would certainly hope so.

(Besides, the one part of the story I can quote from memory is "Happily Ever After". And that's the one part of any story that I always insist is True!)

Re:

[rowyn]

Actually, the end of the Andersen story is "Then he rustled his feathers, curved his slender neck, and cried joyfully, from the depths of his heart, 'I never dreamed of such happiness as this, while I was an ugly duckling.'"

(And he's a male swan, not female.)

I think the other swans would support him. But I'm not sure he'd ever quite believe it. "Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud." Maybe he gets over that eventually. :)

[rowyn]

Surely, if she ever felt ugly as an adult, her loyal swan friends would reassure her that that was far from the case?

I was just looking over this post (it's from way back in February). And I got some very kind and thoughtful responses to it. But the two comments that you made were definitely the best.

Thank you, Scott. *hug*

[kelloggs2066.livejournal.com]

I think you'll find that comes under the job description for "Loyal Swan Friend".

Now, would the lady prefer a hug, or some swan treats? :)