The Fisherman and His SoulAbout the BookThe Fisherman and His Soul is a short storyfrom Oscar Wilde's collection The HappyPrince and Other Tales. Wilde writes thesestories for his children in 1888.The Fisherman and His Soul is the storyof a young fisherman. One day he catches amermaid in his fishing net and he falls in lovewith her. The fisherman learns he cannot be with themermaid because he has a human soul. The fisherman then triesto send away his human soul. The fisherman learns from a witchhow to send his soul away. He is then free to be with his mermaid.His soul is alone in the world. He travels the world. Each yearhe es back to the fisherman and tells him about his travels.One of the themes of the story is temptation. In the story themermaid tempts the fisherman with stories of the sea. The fishermantempts the witch to help him send awayhis soul. And his soultries to tempt the fisherman to leave the mermaid.But the main theme of the story is love. Love is more important than anything. The soul cannot tempt the fisherman because the fisherman’s love is too strong. And in the end, we discover that you cannot live without love.The Fisherman and His Soul is an exotic story with Oriental and Eastern influences. There are also mermaids, witches and devils. The language is poetic and is full of allegory.1 THEMERMAIDEvery evening the young Fisherman goes out on the sea. He throws his nets into the water. When the wind blows from the land, he doesn't catch many fish. But when the wind blows from the sea, he catches lots of fish and he can sell them at the market.One evening the Fisherman's net is very heavy. He thinks, 'Are all the fish in the sea in my net? Or is there amonster in mynet?' He pulls and he pulls his net.There are no fish or monsters in his net. But there isa littleMermaid and she is sleeping.The Mermaid's hair is golden. Her body is white. Her tail issilver and pearl. Her ears are like sea-shells and her lips arelike sea-coral.Her beauty makes the Fisherman very happy. He leans outofthe boat. He takes the Mermaid in his arms. She wakes up whenhe touches her. She cries like a seagull and she wantstoescape. But the Fisherman holds the Mermaid in his arms.‘Please free me,' the Mermaid cries. "I am the only daughter of the King. My fatheris old and alo please e when I call you. You can sing to me and to the fish. Then my nets can always be full of fish."‘I promise,' cries the Mermaid.The fisherman opens his arms and fees the frightened Mermaid.She swims down under the water.What is not a promise?口Astatement in which you say that something will definitely happen.口You will definitely do something.口You will definitely not do something.口You guess something will happen.Every evening the Fisherman goes out on the sea. He callsthe Mermaid. She es out of the water and sings to him. Thedolphins swim round and round the Mermaid. The seagulls flyround and round the Mermaid.The Mermaid sings a beautiful song. She sings of the Sea-folkand of the palace of the King. She sings of the gardens of thesea full of coral and fish. She sings of whales, sea lions andseahorses. She sings of sunken ships and of Mermaids holdingout their arms to the sailors, calling them into the sea.The Mermaid sings and sings. All the fish e from thebottom of the sea to listen to her. The Fisherman throws his netsinto the sea. His nets and boat are full of fish. Then the Mermaidstops singing.She smiles at the Fisherman and she swims backunder the sea.Every evening the Fisherman ca every evening she singsfor him. But she does not e near him. TheFisherman tries to touch her. But she swims back under the Sea.Every eveningthe Fisherman listens to the Mermaid. HerSongand her voice are sweet to his ears. And the Fishermanforgetshis nets and the fish. His eyes are full of love.One eveningthe Fisherman calls to the Mermaid.'Little Mermaid, little Mermaid, | love you. Can I be yourhusband?' he says.But the Mermaid shakesher head.'No,' she says. 'You have a human soul. I cannot love you withyour human soul. Send away your human soul and I can love you.'The Fisherman thinks, 'I have a soul. But I cannot see it. Icannot touch it. I do not need it. I can send it away. Then I can be happy with my little Mermaid.'The Fisherman is full of joy. He stands in his boat. He openshis arms to the Mermaid.‘I can send my soul away,' he cries. "You can be my wife' and I can be your husband. We can live together at the bottom of thesea. You can show me your kingdom. We can be together."The little Mermaid is very happy. She laughs and hides her face in her hands.‘How can I send my soul away?' cries the Fisherman.'I do not know,'says the little Mermaid sadly. ‘The Sea-folk have no souls.’Then she swims back down under the sea. She is sad now.2 THEPRIESTEarly the nextmorningthe Fisherman goesto the Priest's house.He knocks threetimes on the door.The fisherman entersthe hou。