H.C. Andersen “Skyggen” (The Shadow)
It is about a man from Scandinavia who is called ‘den Lærde’ (sort of translates as ‘the educated one’). He travels to warmer countries to learn more about the world, but finds himself miserable as he cannot stand the sunlight or heat. One day he is watching the house across the street which is dark and mysterious and he discovers his own shadow which excites him. The next morning the shadow has left him and the man travels back to Scandinavia. A year later his shadow knocks on his door, and the shadow has taken human form. Then they travel together and he slowly, unwillingly becomes the shadow’s servant. Then his shadow falls in love with a princess, and the man tries to stop them from marrying by telling her that he is in fact the real person, and not the shadow. But by then its too late, and the man has instead become the shadow’s shadow. The princess marries the shadow and they have the man murdered.
This fairytale struck a chord with me for different reasons. From very early age, when I was about 3 years old, I disliked the sunlight, particularly in the evenings. In Denmark the summer nights are endless and it never gets very dark. There are different interpretations of Skyggen, one is that it deals with concept of Doppelgänger. To me it speaks quite simply of shadow sides of humans, particularly in those who are artistic. You can become enamored with your shadow and seek it out and feel safe in it. It can take over your mind and heart and outgrow your light. The shadow coming back in human form, dressed in black is quite dark and always made me think of death coming to knock at your door and make you his servant.
