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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

The Ugly Duckling

Hans Christian Anderson commences this legendary tale:

'The country was lovely just then: it was summer. The heat was golden and the oats still green: the hay was stacked in the rich low-lying meadows, where the stork was marching about on his long red legs, chattering Egyptian, the language his mother had taught him. Round about field and meadow lay great woods, in the midst of which were deep lakes. Yes the country certainly was delicious . . .'

He continues his story by describing an old mansion house and its moat with large dock leaves which would hide a small child. Here a duck was sitting on her eggs, which were about to hatch. Crack, crack, cheep, cheep, the little chicks had come to life . . . How big the world is . . . However, one large egg remained, and the duck resumed her patient vigil. At last the larger egg cracked, and cheep, cheep; out sprang a monstrous chick!

There was much discussion among the ducks: was he a turkey? But he could swim! They all went round to the duck-yard; mind the cat! The matron duck made some unkind comments about the largest duckling, but the mother duck defended him. Eventually lots of hurtful remarks about him from all the ducks (including his own 'family') made the large duckling feel very sad and lonely. Two visiting geese said he was so ugly, and invited him to join them on their travels. A shooting party killed many of the wild geese and their dogs gathered them, ignoring the large duckling. I am so ugly he thought, even the dogs ignore me! He escaped by running away.

His adventures took him through farmyards and countryside. All the animals he encountered shunned him, and he despaired about his identity. One evening some large white birds appeared and he looked longingly at their deportment and flight as they left for warmer climes. He nearly died with the cold in a frozen pool, but a kind peasant took him home and cared for him.

In the spring he flexed his wings, and three beautiful swans came towards him. He was very much afraid they would attack him being so ugly, and in his panic he ran towards the water. In its depths he saw his own refection and recognised himself as one of them. The swans welcomed him into their family, and after all his previous anguish he was so, so happy . . .

Note: A very famous French composer, Camille Saint-saëns wrote a piece about The Swan, click here to hear it.

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