Everyday we, as humans, are judged by the way we look and by what we can do. The world has become very superficial just as the hen and cat were. If we are not the most beautiful and talented people out there, then we are deemed worthless by the vast majority. This is why plastic surgery has become so popular lately. Everybody wants to be perfect in the hope of being accepted. This is the main focus of the ugly duckling: to be accepted. Since he is not accepted by anyone, he feels like his whole life is pointless and not worth living. The only thing that keeps him going is the hope that maybe somewhere, someday he will find a plan where he fits in. That is the only thing he wants out of the world, somewhere to fit in. This desire to fit in is a prime example of natural hope. The ugly duckling is in no means participating with the supernatural, but only hopes for somewhere to be accepted. This is not necessarily pointing towards good though because fitting in and being accepted isn't always a good thing. It is only good if you find the right people and right place to fit in. Then, when there seems to be now more hope in his life he sees a flock of swans fly over his head. For some reason he feels extreme excitement when he sees them and he "felt towards them as he had never felt for any other bird in the world." He sees how beautiful they are and he longs to be just like them. He is not envious of them though, he just has a strong magnanimous desire to be just like them. He feels a sort of connection to these birds but he doesn't know where it is coming from. For the first time in his life he feels like he has a purpose, he doesn't know what it is at that moment, but he develops a sense of hope and destiny. He becomes excited for his future existence and finds a new source of hope to keep him going through out the winter. .
This event does not immediately change the duckling and all of a sudden make things all better though.
