The Ugly Duckling and the Art of Self-Transformation

Hans Christian Andersen:

The Ugly Duckling is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen (1805 – 1875), a Danish author, who is best known for his fairy tales for children. His fairy tales were so popular that it was translated into more than 100+ languages around the world. He has 168 fairy tales to his credit and some of his popular works include, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, “The Little Mermaid”, “The Princess and the Pea”, “Thumbelina”, “Tinder Box” etc. His work, the ugly duckling is a classic and has captivated the imagination of millions of children and adults across the world, ever since it was published. I was one such kid who was captivated by this book when I received it as a prize for some oratorical competition, the details of which I no longer remember.

The odd looking ugly duckling

The theme:

                The whole book is not more than 10 pages, but it is the theme which resonates in the lives of millions and millions of people, the theme of self- transformation. This book is more about the real identity of a man. The book is about spiritual growth. The book is about life. The book is about meditation. The book is about life's miseries, joy, and final redemption. Thus, there are innumerable themes which can be interpreted out of it and all can be put together under self-transformation.

The story in five lines:

                This book is best read in the form of a pictorial story. Most of the publishers have a pictorial story of this book. But there is always a small variation between the original story and the pictorial version adopted by the publisher, without compromising the theme. Here is the story published in a pictorial.

1. An ugly duckling of an abnormal shape, size and look is born, among the other fine looking ducklings.
2. The ugly duckling, because of its odd looks, is often abused, neglected, disregarded and scorned by the society.
3. The ugly duckling, hurled by the salvo of abuses, decides to leave the society, to live in the forest.
4. In the forest, the duckling leads a lonely, meditative and beautiful life, without abuse or scorn or fear from the society.
5. After some years, the ugly duckling grows into a beautiful swan, much admired by its new companions.

   

   The Transformation

                The story ends with the transformation of the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. The original story has many human elements which are trimmed by some of the publishers.

Spiritual context:

                  The ugly duckling paints a beautiful part of our nature which is contrary to the conventional identity that we have assumed ourselves or what the society has given us. Often that which is ugly turns out to be beautiful. This story shatters all conventions of the society. The story is one of human growth and maturity.

                Men are often engrossed by their identities, in the form of looks, social strata etc., which the society labels on them. They are piled by the miseries and the sufferings, which the society puts on them. Men are akin to this ugly duckling, often cited for their ugliness and miserable looks. 

                Men often think that the social life is the only life that exists. But there is another side of the life, where the goals and ideals are contrary to the social conventions. As men enter the other side of this life, a great peace dawns on them, far removed from the chaos of the society. This is the life similar to that of the ugly duckling, a lonely, meditative and beautiful life, far removed from the abuses of the society.

                Men, after a prolonged series of meditative life, transform themselves into something larger than life, just as the ugly duckling transforms itself into a beautiful swan. This is the transformation, which nothing can alter, which nothing can disturb, and which is permanent. Men then become majestic like the beautiful swan in the ugly duckling. Men experience great joy and peace-infinite with this transformation. 

                Men in their lives carry the so-called tag of social identity, which is far removed from the real identity. A man has to pause for a while to find out his real identity, to seek redemption, peace and joy.

The self-transformation

Thank You.

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