Fairytales have long held a significant role in human culture, serving as a repository of rich symbolic meanings and profound moral lessons. Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea stands as a timeless fairytale that has captivated audiences across generations. The narrative revolves around a princess whose sensitivity allows her to feel the presence of a pea beneath twenty mattresses and twenty eiderdowns, thereby proving her royal identity.

In recent times, there has been a resurgence of interest in reimagining classic fairytales. Colleen Mills’ rendition of The Pea Princess stands as a notable example of this phenomenon. Mills takes the classic tale as a starting point and transforms it into a poetic form, breathing new life into this classic tale while simultaneously offering a fresh perspective on the original. This adaptation infuses the classic with contemporary sensibilities and delves deeper into its underlying themes and characters.

Notably, this adaptation deviates from the traditional plot structure, eschewing a conventional narrative. Instead, it relies on the reader’s familiarity with the original Andersen’s tale to establish a contextual framework. This reworking not only reflects the ongoing development and transformation of literary works in contemporary society but also showcases Mills’ creative prowess. Upon closer examination of the poem, it becomes evident that beneath its seemingly innocent surface, there may be a subtle sexual implication in certain lines. The purpose of the essay is to discuss the adaptation of The Pea Princess by Colleen Mills, examining its modifications in plot, characterisation, thematic exploration, and narrative style.

One of the most notable creative reimaginings of The Pea Princess is its plot, which significantly diverges it from H.C. Andersen’s original. While Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea follows a straightforward narrative involving: a prince’s search for a genuine princess, Mills’ The Pea Princess deviates from this linear structure. In the poem, Mills omits the prince, the castle, and the testing method. Instead, the poem focuses on the princess’s physical and psychological struggle with the pea. As noted in the poem, “she arches like a bowed branch of willow, quivering from stem to leaf. / with each flex of the wrists, roll of a shoulder, gentle realignment of the ribs, / the lump burrows deeper” (Mills 2003). This transformation shifts the plot from an external, societal test of royal authenticity to an internal, personal experience of the princess’s discomfort. This departure from Andersen’s original plot structure reflects Mills’ modernist approach, prioritising personal experience over the traditional focus of fairytales on court life and social status.

As outlined in the article “Reinventing Fantasy: The Reception of Fairy Tales,” the interpretation and reinterpretation of fairytales by active audiences based on their social and cultural contexts shape their meaning in modern adaptations (Chang and Luh 2022). This plot change infuses more modernism into the classic fairytale, offering a distinct perspective that would resonate with contemporary audiences. Furthermore, the plot development in Mills’s version unfolds at varying speeds and rates. Andersen’s original story maintains a fast pace, centred around the prince’s quest to find and test the princess, allowing readers to anticipate the story’s progression. In contrast, Mills’ version adopts a slower pace, focusing on the princess’s interaction with the pea, full of uncertainty. This deliberate change of pace engenders the intrigue in the reader, prompting contemplation on whether the princess will eventually find a comfortable position and how this variation enhances the story’s appeal.

In contrast, the characters in Mills’ adaptation are more vivid and more closely conform to contemporary societal perceptions. In Andersen’s tale, the characters are archetypal and in line with the public’s imagination. For instance, the prince is portrayed as kind and gentle, treating all the girls who visit the castle with politeness, even those who may not be genuine princesses. The queen is depicted as wise and discerning, employing ingenious methods to verify the princess’s identity and ensure her son’s marriage to a genuine princess, demonstrating her prudence as a member of the royal family. The princess is also depicted as delicate and pure, emerging from the stormy night soaked but maintaining her dignity and grace. This aligns with the traditional stereotypes of the classical fairytale characters. However, in Mills’ adaptation, the princess is more independent and self-de- fined. She is not solely defined by her relationship to a prince or a royal court, but by her own experience and feelings. Her personality is revealed through her reactions to the pea. As she struggles to find comfort, “each night the same rotation / as she arches, curves, twines her body about the bed posts” (Mills 2003). Compared to the princess in the original story, the princess in the adapted version is significantly more vivid and lively. She does not merely lie there passively, waiting for the dawn to break. Instead, she actively changes her postures, seeking a more comfortable position to fall asleep. This aligns with the concepts explored by Nurgali and Gilea in modern reimagined fairytales: the concepts of intertextuality and archetype transformation. In contemporary retellings, characters are more likely to reflect real human psychology rather than idealised or purely symbolic roles (Nurgali and Gilea 2023). The difference between the princess in Mills’ version who actively confronts and resolves challenges and the princess in Andersen’s version who passively accepts and complains about difficulties reflects the evolving expectations and perceptions of female roles throughout history.

Another significant aspect of Mills’ reworking is the transformation of themes. Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea has a simple and clear theme; the entire fairytale revolves around the concept of royalty and the notion of “true nobility.” The pea testing method serves as a means to ascertain the validity of the princess’s identity. Consequently, the pea also symbolises class division, as only a true princess would possess such delicacy as to perceive the pea through numerous mattresses. In contrast, Mills’ adaptation subverted the traditional theme, which primarily focused on self-awareness, physical and emotional discomfort, and the quest for a sense of self. The pea is not employed as a testing method but rather as a metaphor. As exemplified in the line “Like the smoothed sand in the mouth of an oyster / The tenderest of peas seeks shelter / In only the softest concaves of flesh / Where the pea / like the pearl / Proves perfection / By defining the flaw”(Mills 2003), we can find the pea was not utilised as a tool to ascertain the authenticity of the royal identity. Instead, it becomes a symbol of the human pursuit of perfection. Mills redirected the theme from the external evaluation of royal authenticity to internal exploration of perfection and imperfection. The theme is more about the individual’s relationship with their body and self. In Mills’ poem, the pea, as a metaphor and key to unlocking the poem’s underlying theme, conveys the message that acceptance of flaws is the prerequisite for achieving a sense of inner perfection. This theme holds greater relevance in contemporary society and aligns with contemporary values. Mills uses the pea metaphor to imply that acceptance of flaws is the path to inner perfection. Although it may appear to circumvent explicit sexual interpretations, the placement of the pea in the collarbone and the consistently intimate, erotic, and suggestive language cannot be disregarded. For instance, the simile at the end, “like the smooth sand in the mouth of an oyster,” further reinforces these erotic connotations and invites readers to delve deeper into the underlying theme of this poem.

In contrast, the narrative style employed by Mills differs significantly from H.C. Andersen. In The Princess and the Pea, Andersen’s narrative style is characterised by conciseness, simplicity and clarity. Utilising a third-person narrator, he presents the story with gentle irony and a touch of humor, making it accessible to a broad audience, particularly children. Additionally, the story is structured in a linear description style, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. In stark contrast, Mill’s descriptive and metaphorical narrative style is rich and infectious. Lines such as “clicking between the knobs of the spinal column / where the vertebrae, like the panels of a washboard, find the lump” (Mills 2003) exemplify this style. Notably, the poem does not use a traditional narrative sequence, commencing with a series of images depicting the princess’s struggle with the pea. This approach enhances the flexibility and enjoyment of the poem. Furthermore Althobaiti argues that Andersen’s fairytales, including The Princess and the Pea, tend to emphasise character traits and symbolic elements. For instance, the pea concealed beneath the mattresses serves as a symbolic representation of deeper truths about identity and social status (Althobaiti 2023). The moral value inherent in these tales are often subtly hinted at the end of the story, prompting the reader to contemplate its implications. In contrast, Mills’ poem directly engages the reader’s thought. Lines such as “Where the pea / like the pearl, / Proves perfection / By defining the flaw” serves as direct triggers for reflection and introspection.

In conclusion, Colleen Mills’ The Pea Princess is a notable adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea. Through a meticulous process of plot, character development, theme exploration, and narrative style, Mills has breathed new life into classic fairytale. By centring the narrative around the princess’s personal emotions and struggles, Mills has infused the work with contemporary vitality. This approach involves humanising the characters, addressing contemporary issues by juxtaposing themes that resonate with modern audiences, and using her unique narrative style. As we further explore this poem, subtle sexual undertones may be discernible within the lines. Beyond its artistic merit, The Pea Princess serves as a reflection of the evolving literary landscape and societal values of the modern era. It demonstrates the adaptability and relevance of Andersen’s fairytales in contemporary contexts. Classic fairytales continue to hold immense value as a source of inspiration for modern writers. Through creative reimagining, these timeless tales can be transformed into works that resonate with contemporary audiences, ensuring their enduring relevance.