Fairy Tale: The Little Mermaid
Major Characters:
- Ariel – The Little Mermaid
- Ursula – The Sea Witch
- Prince Eric – Human Prince
- King Triton – Ariel's father and ruler of the underwater kingdom
- Sebastian – Ariel's loyal crab friend
- Flounder – Ariel's fish friend
Incident Going to Trial: Ariel, the Little Mermaid, is being charged with "Violation of Magical Contracts" and "Impulsively Endangering a Human Life.”
Overview of the Incident: Ariel, fascinated by the human world, makes a deal with Ursula, the Sea Witch, to trade her voice for legs so she can live on land and pursue Prince Eric. However, Ariel does not fully understand the implications of the contract and the dangers it poses.
During the trial, testimonies reveal that:
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Violation of Magical Contracts: Ariel did not understand the terms of the deal she made with Ursula, which included a time limit. Ariel's inability to properly comprehend her actions puts her at risk of losing her soul to Ursula if she fails to marry Prince Eric.
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Impulsively Endangering a Human Life: Ariel's actions inadvertently endanger Prince Eric when Ursula, disguised as Vanessa, uses Ariel's voice to charm him. The true danger is that Prince Eric is nearly tricked into marrying a sea witch rather than the real Ariel, putting him and the entire kingdom at risk.
Court Proceedings:
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Prosecution Arguments: The prosecution will argue that Ariel acted irresponsibly by entering into a contract without fully understanding the consequences, thereby jeopardizing both her life and that of Prince Eric. They will present evidence of Ariel’s reckless behavior and her disregard for her father's warnings.
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Defense Arguments: The defense will argue that Ariel was influenced by her longing for freedom and love and was manipulated by Ursula's cunning nature. They will present testimonies from Sebastian and Flounder, highlighting how Ursula played a significant role in Ariel’s predicament.
Verdict: After hearing all perspectives, the court must determine whether Ariel's naivety should be punished or if she was a victim of Ursula's manipulation, leading to an exploration of themes like the importance of understanding the consequences of one’s choices, the yearning for identity, and the dangers of making deals with sinister figures.