What can we learn from Fables about Life? By Mrs. Dorothy Barron
The question was once asked, can we learn from Fables and should we read such things as Fairy Tales and Fables to or allow our children to read such? On today, I will share a Fable, titled, The Traveler, which I read as a child, share an analysis of the fable and let you decide whether one can learn about life from fables and whether our children should have access to them. The Traveler was written by Aesop, who was the Master of Fables. The story apparently has another title, which I have listed below, but personally, I think the story should have been titled, A Contest between the Sun and Wind.
Fables fall within the fiction genre; they are untrue stories, short in length and teach and/or end with a moral.
The Traveler was a man who walked along a road on a journey wearing a cloak. The sun and wind decided to see which was the strongest and each exercised its power on the traveler. The winner (strongest) would be the one who could get the man to remove his cloak. The wind blew and increased in strength, but was not successful; the man instead gripped the cloak more tightly. The sun gently shone and increased its strength until the man stopped briefly, removed the cloak, hung it over his arm and continued the journey. The sun of course declared itself the winner and stronger of the two. If memory serves me correctly, I believe the story’s moral was gentleness succeeds in getting cooperation as opposed to abrasive force. What I learned from the story:
- The traveler was walking along minding his own business – there are circumstances that occur of which we have no control; are not of our own making or a result of any action of our own.
- The traveler did not commit any unlawful act or action to bring about the havoc created by the wind and sun. If havoc besieges those who do not commit unlawful actions, what can one expect when one does? It is best to live lawfully; a good conscience can help to avoid worrying that all havoc in one’s life is due to some form of repercussion or retribution for a negative action(s) committed or a guilty conscience.
- Unseen, unexpected and adverse Powers at work- the Traveler was not aware that a contest between the wind and sun occurred at his expense. Adversities will occur; instead of breaking or giving up, one should grasp more tightly (as the traveler did with his cloak when the wind blew) to one’s beliefs, goals and dreams; hanging on and even bending from the force and persevering until the unseen, unexpected adverse or negative powers or forces desist or pass. Be assured, they will and do!
- Affects/Effects due to the wind and sun’s ego or power trip- the most, if anything lost by the Powers was a dent in the wind’s pride. The traveler however suffered when the “powers “flexed their powers to determine which was more powerful.
- The Wind and Sun did not need to test their powers; both were great powers and powerful; simply in different ways.
- The Sun and Wind would have been more effective working together- the traveler who was on foot more than likely could have benefitted from both – sunshine to brighten or continue to brighten the day and a gentle breeze to avoid getting too hot.
What could one learn about life from the story of the Traveler? Perhaps, one could learn and note the adverse effects and impact on others when arrogance, ego and power struggles occur between great powers; Gentleness v. Force or the effect of Powers when they work together. What did you learn about life from the above fable, the Traveler?
Note: Even though the author has recounted the story from memory; a link has been provided to Wikipedia’s Wikisource http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_North_Wind_and_the_Sun . The story appears to have had at least two different titles - The Traveler & The North Wind and the Sun. The Author of the original Fable is Aesop.
From me, to you
Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Author
“Slinging Stones… Blog” by Mrs. Dorothy Barron:
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