Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid (Theme/Moral)?

Question

What is the theme/lesson/moral of this story? I can think of what it is, but for some reason I can't put it to words.

Answer 1

I would think that it's somewhere along the lines of: If you sacrifice, you will be rewarded.  Even though she did not get everything she wanted, the mermaid still would eventually obtain a soul, because she refused to kill the prince for her own gain.  She could have gone back to the sea with her sisters and avenged herself on the man she saved, but due to her compassion, she would not harm the prince to save herself.