The Sea Witch from Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid is nasty, isn't she? I enjoy all the dreadful depictions of her out there.
(Queen Latifah as Ursula by Annie Leibovitz)
One thing I like about her as a villainess is this: the little mermaid seeks out her services, the Sea Witch doesn't hunt her down and impose evilness upon her. The mermaid asks for help, and though what the Sea Witch has to offer is wretched, she doesn't force it on anyone. Perhaps she gets a bad rap?
(by Nadezhda Illarion)
In the middle of the open space stood a house built of the white bones of the people who had been wrecked. There the sea witch was sitting, while a toad was eating out of her mouth, just as a human being lets a little canary bird eat sugar from his mouth. The ugly, fat water snakes she called her little chickens, and allowed them to crawl all over her bosom.
"I know what you want," said the witch; "it is very stupid of you."
(by Bendetta Bonichi)
Here's an interesting spin on the role. We have a male playing the part of the sea witch, danced by Davit Karapetyan of the San Francisco Ballet. See a clip of Karapetyan and dance sequences here.
And who could forget Disney's Ursula? I often take issue with Disney and all its...well, Disneyness, but this villainess is delightful.
Poor unfortunate souls, indeed!
Who knew? Too bad he wasn't around to watch it.
Here was an alternate idea Disney had for the Sea Witch. That's fabulous too, yes? A little too much like Maleficent under the water, though.
(by Charles Santore)
(On the Way to the Sea Witch's Castle by Edmund Dulac)
(by Harry Clarke)
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