Ariel Thomas
Mrs. Mitchell
English IV-4
7 May 2012
The Ugly Duckling Analysis
As the ugly duckling in the fairytale finds himself transformed into a beautiful swan surrounded by all of the other swans and creatures who once rejected him, he hears a young child exclaim that He is the most beautiful. Throughout the story, the ugly duckling calls the swans he sees “royal birds.” At the end he becomes one of these birds and exclaims “such happiness I did not dream of when I was the ugly duckling.”
In society, many people are constantly comparing themselves to others every chance they get. There are only few to accept who they are and then work each and every day to their fullest potential to become the best they can be; to challenge themselves, question everything they do, and then reflect upon each experience in the end. Society is full of ugly ducklings that cross paths with cats and hens; however few have the attitude that the ugly duckling has. Most people dream of looking like someone else, wishing they would be treated as the others they see are, and find themselves trying to live up to others standards, rather than their own.
The ugly duckling gave all he can to life and fought for himself rather than listening to the other animals. The duckling tried not to bother others and just exist as he was, never even wishing to be someone else, no matter how happy others seemed or how easy their lives appeared. He used all of his inner strength to be himself, something many people cannot do. He survived a long and cold winter on his own and in the end, after doing what he thought was right, despite what others said, he came out with an attitude that would astonish many; “he was too happy, but not proud, for a kind heart can never be proud. He thought of the time when he had been mocked and persecuted. And now everyone said that he was the most beautiful of the most beautiful birds.”