Hans Christian Andersen (often referred to in Scandinavia as H.C. Andersen) was a Danish author and poet. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. Andersen’s popularity is not limited to children; his stories — called eventyr, or “fairy-tales” — express themes that transcend age and nationality.

Andersen’s fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West’s collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include “The Little Mermaid”, “The Ugly Duckling”, “The Nightingale”, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films. 

Review

Reading short stories, especially for free, of a bygone era, is strangely pleasant feeling. The Shadow was exactly that. It made me pause, ponder over it for several hours, and then resume reading. For such a short story, it took me more than a week. That’s how much time I needed to enjoy it.

And then there were times I was doing research. For example, when I reached this passage:

“And what didst thou see?” asked the learned man.

“I saw everything, as you shall hear. But… it really is not pride on my part, as a free man and possessing the knowledge that I do, besides my position, not to speak of my wealth… I wish you would say you to me, instead of thou.”

I have not read any classic English books and did not understand why the shadow was upset with the learned man. So, I asked my trusted friend ChatGPT and it explained, very detailed explanation it was, but I’ll include only the important bits.

Thou vs You

The Shadow has become an independent, wealthy gentleman. The learned man still addresses him as “thou.” To a modern English reader, that seems backwards because we think thou sounds more formal, even biblical.

In reality, historically:

• Thou = singular, intimate, familiar, or used to someone of lower status.

• You = respectful, polite, socially superior, or formal.

So why is the shadow offended?

He’s essentially saying:

“I’m a respectable gentleman now. Stop talking to me like I’m your servant or your equal from the old days. Address me properly.”

Notice his justification:

“…as a free man… possessing knowledge… my position… my wealth…”

He’s listing all the things that, in society’s eyes, entitle him to formal respect.

In modern English he’d be saying something like:

“Please call me ‘sir’ instead of talking to me so casually.”

Or:

“Address me with proper respect.”

Why does he say “free man”?

That phrase isn’t about slavery here.

He’s emphasizing independence.

Earlier in the story, he was literally the learned man’s shadow, an extension of another person.

Now he insists:

“I am my own man.”

It’s almost comically pompous.

And this is where I realized the satire. The Shadow was once nothing at all, a part of learned man once. Now he’s obsessed with rank, etiquette, wealth, titles, how people address him. 

The learned man, who possesses genuine learning and humility, doesn’t care about status.

The Shadow, who has acquired only appearances and social polish, cares about nothing else.

So this tiny complaint about “you” instead of “thou” isn’t really about grammar. This incident is the first clear sign that the Shadow has become intoxicated by status, and it foreshadows the power reversal that drives the rest of the story.

What Becomes of the Shadow and the Learned Man

Won’t spoil the story but I feel that this story is a beautiful demonstration of how things can go out of control if we let our inner demons overpower us. The Shadow seemed like everything the learned man ignores or suppresses: ambition, vanity, desire for recognition, manipulation, hunger for power. So, the learned man, intentionally or unintentionally, literally lets these parts detach from him. Instead of integrating them, he loses control over them. By the end, they control him. 

Whatta story!

Lines I Loved

I loved many a lines but this passage was so evocative.

He slept with the door open which led to the balcony; the wind had raised the curtain before it, and there appeared a wonderful brightness over all in the balcony of the opposite house. The flowers seemed like flames of the most gorgeous colours, and among the flowers stood a beautiful slender maiden. It was to him as if light streamed from her, and dazzled his eyes; but then he had only just opened them, as he awoke from his sleep. With one spring he was out of bed, and crept softly behind the curtain. But she was gone—the brightness had disappeared; the flowers no longer appeared like flames, although still as beautiful as ever. The door stood ajar, and from an inner room sounded music so sweet and so lovely, that it produced the most enchanting thoughts, and acted on the senses with magic power. Who could live there? Where was the real entrance? for, both in the street and in the lane at the side, the whole ground floor was a continuation of shops; and people could not always be passing through them.