"They may be viewed as symbols both of men's idealization of the feminine & as of men's fear of women."

"a mermaid mean lush sexuality and confidence to seduce the men she choose. the mermaid might be unattainable and she might play with men but she never become serious involved with men... the mermaid, however, is a seductress. to seduce she must become attainable. to become attainable physically is also to become attainable emotionally, and so she risks rejection. when she find a man she know that she can depend on and when her happiness depends on a man, the mermaid would remain aspire to enchant men just because of her ability of that she can do it and to continue being inspired to seduce her man."