Under the Sea
Shamir Malik, 2T4 PB
Artist statement:
Under the Sea aims to explore the impact of climate change and pollution on aquatic ecosystems and the failure of human beings to respond to these concerns. In this short satirical story, I aim to exemplify this theme through a parody of The Little Mermaid. The juxtaposition between the light, fun-natured Disney movie and the warfare and authoritarian regime in Under the Sea shows that today, life would be very different in the fantasy city of Atlantica.
Ariel, the twenty-year-old mermaid princess of the kingdom of Atlantica, reminisced about the past. She reflected on her old fascination with the human world. Ariel had always been amazed at the stark difference between life over and under the water. Life in the Atlantic was complicated. Fish, crustaceans, and all manners of mythical beings dwelled under its surface and existed in perfect harmony. As the oldest princess of Atlantica, Ariel knew it would soon be her responsibility to maintain that harmony. In contrast, the world above seemed so sparse; vast sections of desert made the climate uninhabitable and the few animals that existed seemed to actively avoid each other.
Ariel once relished a life above land. She recalled her time with Senator Eric, a representative from the human world she had fallen in love with when she was only sixteen. Ariel scoffed to herself as she remembered bartering her voice away with the ancient sea witch Ursula just for the opportunity to transform into a human. Now, the idea of becoming a human nauseated her. Where there was once fondness, Ariel found only hate. Humanity was a pestilence – and she would eradicate them.
Ariel slammed her scarred hands against the table of her war room. She had sent out a unit of warrior seals to infiltrate the coastal city of Portland and was growing inpatient for their return. Once she had enough knowledge of the city’s defenses, she would destroy the humans’ boats with the intention of crippling the fishing industry. How many more of her people must she sacrifice? How many more days of this war must Atlantica endure?
Senator Lute was running for re-election in the State of Maine. For four years now, the senator had championed the climate change denial movement in Maine, removing regulations on non-renewable energy sources and proper waste management. For four years, Ariel and her people had suffered the consequences of these decisions. Marine wildlife was deeply sensitive to changes in the environment and Maine was dumping several tons of waste into the ocean daily. Portland, the state’s capital, was the biggest source of pollution – and Ariel’s biggest target.
Sebastian, her father Triton’s court composer and now chief general, barged through the war room’s doors.
“Princess, we have heard back from Sergeant Club. Seal Team One is in position and has begun reconnaissance of the human armada,” he spoke in his deep baritone voice.
“Excellent. Human beings are a unique beast. They cloud our waters with poison, farm our people for food, and kill us for sport and yet, they seem completely oblivious to our eventual attack,” Ariel replied quickly.
Ariel noticed that Sebastian’s hard shell had sustained additional injury. She considered him a close friend – someone who had warned her against getting involved with the human world all her life. She wished she had taken his advice earlier.
“Yes Princess, they won’t know what hit them,” Sebastian replied with murderous intent.
“We’ve tried our best Princess. Your father would be proud,” Sebastian said as he left the war room, closing the door behind him.
Ariel froze. Her thoughts drifted to her father.
King Triton had fought for his people admirably over the past three years, attempting to avoid all out warfare. The benevolent king had attempted to reason with humanity repeatedly, but to no avail. At first, he believed that mankind might see the error of their ways without intervention. Then, he decided to send a couple of his most accomplished dolphin diplomats to negotiate with the state. Much to Triton’s dismay, they were very quickly imprisoned in what the humans called a zoo.
Triton was heartbroken by his failed efforts. It was almost as if humanity did not understand that their actions had consequences or that the Atlantic was dying. Deeply saddened, Triton became less involved with Atlantican affairs. As pollution and sea levels continued to rise, so too did Triton’s depression.
Watching her father’s decline made Ariel grow cold. She began to understand that the human threat could only be resolved through bloodshed. Perhaps it was time to finally remind humanity of their place on the food chain.
Over the past year, Ariel had worked tirelessly to unite the fragmented kingdom of Atlantica. Her father’s weakness had given the mermaid aristocracy an opportunity to seize power – Ariel dealt with the usurpers decisively. She also brokered an uneasy alliance with the Pacific Empire, a massive underwater kingdom in the warm waters of the Pacific, to assist her military efforts. Now, Ariel finally held the authority and resources necessary to mount a full scale attack on Maine.
Exhausted, Ariel poured herself a pint of fermented seaweed brine. She had developed a taste for the liquor over the years. It was the only drink strong enough to take her mind off the endless conflict. Ariel’s mind became duller with each cup. She had almost finished the bottle. Lost in thought, she swam over to a skull hidden at the corner of the war room. It belonged to Senator Eric – or at least, it did.
“Oh Eric, how I wish things ended differently,” she said softly, breaking down into tears.
“I wish we lived in a world where we got the happily ever after we deserved. Not this hellish nightmare. Atlantica was a kingdom of wonder and magic. We had our fair share of issues, but surely no one deserves this,” Ariel pressed on, as if she expected the skull to respond. It did not.
Ariel’s rage soon subsided. She turned away from the skull and towards the canopy overlooking the whole of Atlantica. The garbage laden walkways and polluted water currents filled her with determination. It was a reminder of the type of ruler she had to be – fierce, strong, and uncompromising. Ariel realized that she did not mind if her people grew to fear her. In fact, she was sure they already did.
“There can be no happy endings in this world,” Ariel whispered.
