Have you heard the tale of the Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen?
This video is inspired by the release of my single, Tin Soldier: • Andy Mort | Tin Soldie...
Original Post: www.andymort.c...
I love this story. It has so much depth and ambiguity. I’m not interested in a definitive interpretation, but I think it opens space for some helpful reflection.
Among many things, I think this story is about belonging and fitting in. It questions the internal messages about who we are, how we should and shouldn’t be, and what we should and shouldn’t do. And it speaks about desire, action, and drift.
The steadfast tin soldier has “the courage to stand alone” and face what he’s facing. But is he brave? What if he chose to subvert those deeply ingrained scripts? What if he called for help, stood up to the jack-in-the-box, or spoke to the dancer? How would that story have gone?
Was his courage anything but an ability to tolerate pain and passively accept whatever came as he drifted through the world? Even as he burns in the fire, he remains unmoved. He wonders if this is what love feels like. Maybe he has a point.
Misfortune and Belief
The ambiguous role of the jack-in-the-box is also fun. Was the series of unfortunate events his magical doing? Or is it too easy to fall into conspiracy theorising, using a belief in active malevolence for our misfortune? Maybe the steadfast tin soldier saw this punishment as no less than he deserved for his improper thoughts. Perhaps the jack-in-the-box doesn’t need magical powers when he can plant the idea in the tin soldier’s mind and invoke the voice of his superego to do the rest. Ultimately, he is consumed by the flames of his prohibited desire.
What is the jack-in-the-box for us? The voice of prohibition, shame, and control. What impact does this have on our beliefs about what we should and shouldn’t be, do, or desire?
There is also something interesting about what is left unsaid: everything. We don’t hear the soldier’s genuine desire; we know that he is enamoured with what he sees as the dancer’s beauty. He can’t take his eyes off this object of desire. Is this because he sees himself in her (she has one leg just like him)?
How do you interpret this tale?