The image of a mermaid in the "Mermaid Tales" by A. N. Tolstoy
A. N. Tolstoy devotes the article to the analysis of the image of a mermaid from the «Mermaid tales». The purpose of the work is to determine its originality in comparison with folk mythological representations. The mermaid belongs to the other world and is a harmful and dangerous creature for humans. The writer not only shows the meeting of a man and a mermaid as a representative of the lower demonology and its consequences («Rusalka», «Ivan da Marya»), but also invites the reader to the world of mermaids, offers to dive to the bottom of the river («After all-Mak») or join in the General jubilation («Ivan Tsarevich and Alaya-Alitsa»). In fairy tales, there is a psychological motivation for the behavior of the folklore image. In the cycle, you can see the evolution of the author's representation of the image of the mermaid: from a dangerous, capable of lime man, to a carefree playful creature, rejoicing with everyone.