Hello lovelies!
This time, I chose a creature, which, on the surface seems fairly straightforward. Animals transforming into humans, or vice versa, is nothing new. Just look at our fascination with werewolves.
Yet, I wanted to put a bit of a spotlight on this one in particular, because of the consistent theme swan maidens seem to have in the stories they feature, and how they can be used as warnings about who we meet in life, especially as we mature.
If you want your worldbuilding to include folklore, this creature is both useful as a tool to rely on, should your story have a similar theme, but can also form a solid base for where to take the narrative of the creature, if you want to use it.
So, let's begin!
General Description:
Much like their name suggests, swan maidens are swan creatures able to shed their feathery skin, and reveal their maiden self underneath. They then become swans once again if they put the skin back on.
Their maiden self is said to be extremely beautiful, with fair skin and hair, and without any other garments to cover herself.
This both shows her disconnect from the human world, but can also suggest an extremely innocent and pure nature, since any shame of herself she could have that could lead her to covering herself is omitted.
The only time they seem to take off their skin is to bath, which is also why they are often found near lakes or ponds, much like a swan would be. This is where most of their stories start, with a young man finding the swan maidens bathing, and becoming enamoured with them. Once he realizes what they are, he steals their skin. This is because swan maidens can't go back to their animal selves without their skin, and are forced to follow whoever has their skin.
Although, this last part is debateable. Sometimes whoever holds the skin holds power over the maiden as well, but sometimes the young man merely pretends to not know who or what the maiden is and acts the part of the 'helpful man' to lure her to his house.
The story, however, almost always concludes with the maiden finding the skin and getting back to her original home either only after a couple of days, or years after being married and having children.
Usage:
As you may have gleamed from the description, swan maidens follow the motif of a free spirit being trapped, often under the pretense of a lie, but eventually breaking free.
The concept of a young man spying on a bathing maiden is also nothing new to folklore, with negative consequences for the young man as a result.
So, this creature lends itself well to both cautionary tales, and lessons about what can be possessed and what can't, particularily when it comes to lust.
If you want to use the swan maiden as a cautionary tale, there are a number of persepctives you could take. First of all, you can use the swan maiden character as a warning to be careful of your surroundings and the people you interact with.
She can serve as an example of what vulnerability can do to someone, and how latching onto the first sign of help can be dangerous, since that help can be insincere, and you could be led into a worse situation than before. At the same time, the swan maiden can be used to show how being sheltered can have the same effect. These creatures, in their stories, don't seem to have a lot of contact with humans, which is partially what makes it easier for the young man to lead her away from her home.
Her innocent nature, due to not being part of human society and knwoing their norms, can be played into this, and used as a device as to why she would follow the first human man she meets.
Secondly, the young man can be used as an example of how an abuser, or someone who feels entitled to someone because of their own attraction to them, can initiate their contact with their victim, only to be revealed as a toxic person. In the stories, the young man often dies of a broken heart or becomes bitter and violent after the swan maiden escapes, with his own children taking their mother's side. You can use these fates as the consequences of what the abuser has done to themselves. The fantasy of owning something or someone who knows less than you is on full display with this narrative, meaning you will be able to use its desctructive nature to both parties, in different ways.
However, if you want a genuine love story between a swan maiden and a human, I suggest that you omit her feather coat being stolen, and instead replace it with her willingly giving it instead. There is nothing romantic about lying, emiting information, and worst of all, possession.
I hope this has helped in some way, and that you've found a new creature to use in your writing, especially if you want to write a story about toxic relationships. If there is a creature you would like me to cover in the future, leave a comment!
Goodbye, lovelies.
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