Snippet from a forum I frequent ....

[d_aulnoy]

"traditionally, a lot of fairy wives become humans and gain souls" 

This isn't quite my default - I tend more towards the Swan Maiden tales than the Undine stories - but it's accurate enough, and tonight, it's tickling my fancy.

I mean, it basically implies that the Little Mermaid can be read as a metaphor for the perils of illegal immigration ....