Little Match Girl

A detailed Summary of Little Match Girl

In the snowy streets of the city, a pitiable young girl is selling matches on New Years Eve in a desperate attempt to appease her father's violent anger. Alone with her matches and their accompanying visions, the girl passes on and is found later the next day with a smile playing across her face. The plot of The Little Match Girl, by Hans Christian Anderson, is meant to inspire a charity of tears for this young girl and her untimely death. However, not in all instances should such a death be so unfortunate. In the little match girl's case, " [...] death would not be the worst of all evils [...] [but] an alleviation to mortals who are worn out with sufferings" ( Metastasio). Thus, death can come as a relief to those whose toils and cares overcome the will to live, and when a better life can only be satisfied by fate.

Firstly, for some, peace and comfort can only be obtained in death. The little match girl seeks such comfort in the streets, but obviously finds none in the bitter, bleak night. Once she is, "quite numb with cold" (1) she thinks: "Ah but a little match - that would be a comfort" (1). So, light here represents the comfort of heat. For example, when she does light the match, it blazes into a, "clear warm flame"

[...] The table was laid...and there, steaming deliciously, was the roast goose

Right up to the poor little girl it came... (1).

Finally, love shall be found in death that could not be satisfied in life. Our young girl, who has known no love from her father, now finds the love of her Grandmother which is represented through light. For example, when she strikes another match, "it [gives] a glow all around and there [...] stood her old Grandmother, looking so very bright and gentle and loving" (1). The glow which surrounds both the little girl and her Grannie represents the bond of love which has been rekindled in death. The little girl loves her Grannie so much that she sacrifices her remaining matches in order to keep her near. This display of love is so strong that the, "matches [flare] up [...] gloriously" (1) and it becomes "brighter than broad daylight" (1). So, the little girl has found the love she has been longing for, not in life, but death. Therefore, death has released her from a cold world into the warmth of eternal love. Thus, death can serve as alleviation to those who are tortured in this realm.

dish and waddled along the floor with carving knife and fork still in its back.

Furthermore, heaven shall watch over the unfortunate. Since her Grannie's death, our little girl has known no love or compassion. But as the little girl dies she receives care from heaven. For example, when she lights another match she sees a Christmas tree with "hundreds of candles burning [that] [look] down at her" (1). These candles are meant to represent a vigil, where

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1073
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English