The Ocean and Enchantment

The Enchanted Sea

            The clouds were thick this morning, there was not much to see, I but could hear the power of the ocean. Wave after wave crashing, and pounding the sound was powerful. The smell of the salty air made me feel alive. I soon realized that there is so much more to the ocean that some do not know, yes it is beautiful but there is mystery and enchantment under the surface.  There is a past in mythology and legend that gives the ocean a sense of fantasy.

            The ocean has been a staple in many cultures through myth and legend.  Knowing that the ocean spreads over 71% of the Earth’s surface (The Ocean) makes the ocean cover over half of Earth. To discover land many would have to sail across the ocean blue, many of times it would take months to see land, and during those times sailors would get delirious or drunk and imagine or actually see sea monsters, and mermaids. The stories would spread and be told by usually the fishermen of the sea. For example in the Japanese culture there is a Ningyo, which is “a fish with only a human head that cries pearls instead of tears. A woman who can catch and eat a Ningyo gains eternal youth and beauty.”(The Ocean) Imagine being at sea feeling as if death was upon you and catching this fish and ingesting its fortune. Men and women on these boats would come across many of these “sea monsters” and would come home to share their stories with their culture and these stories would carry on over years and centuries.

            Through story telling it builds culture and unity especially if certain sea monters were very dangerous, another common tale is of the beautiful mermaid. She is said to have the upper half of her body human and the lower half of a fish. She holds a mirror in one hand and in the other a brush. She is enchanting and sings the most beautiful song (The Ocean), but with beauty there can come strife to the sailor that treats her with disrespect. The ocean is much more than just a huge body of water; it is alive, and massive with endless possibilities. The Ocean: Past, Present, and Future website really covered many aspects of the ocean the information that was given was insightful and interesting. Bring the ocean to life through legend and myths brought many cultures together. So next time you may look out and see the water moving know that there is mystery that waits. 

                                                                    Works Cited

The Ocean: Past, Present, and Future. Lake Brantley High School (thinkquest.org), (1998).              http://library.thinkquest.org/21035/. 25 January 2012.