Reading Notes: Aesop's Fables (Jacobs), Part A

Reading Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs (which can be accessed online, here) was a bit different than most readings I have done but it was also pretty fun. I really enjoy the almost humanistic characteristics shown in some of these stories. Many are told in such a way that animals aren't portrayed as mere beasts but instead as rational beings that are driven by reason and careful thought at times (although they sometimes can be fooled by their own lack of knowledge or perhaps ignorance) rather than by pure instinct. Androcles and the Lion (third story, here), for instance, I think does a good job of portraying the lion as a creature that has the power of thought and a deep appreciation for good deeds done unto him. This particular one also does a good job of showing that sometimes when we push past our fears as human beings, we can find something of worth when we persevere on the other side. I also think the The Lion in Love (second story, here) does a good job of portraying an animal that is typically viewed as being very instinct driven in a different light. Over come with love, the lion removes all that makes him "what" he is to show the one he loves "who" he is. Although it doesn't end well for the lion in this story, I still like the light the lion is pictured in.

Two stories in particular in this set really inspired me to write.

First, The Dog and the Wolf (sixth story, here) mostly because I really like the message about reaping what you sow. I think I could write a pretty fun story along these lines with a very powerful message. Maybe with animals, just for fun, or maybe with humans (I haven't quite figured out who my characters might be yet). I think my story will be less about physical gain and more about emotional gain; a desire for romance with no will to earn the rewards sought, perhaps.

Next, I really liked The Horse, the Hunter, and the Stag (first story, here) and I think I could tie some inspiration from this story into my idea listed above. I'm thinking that maybe the love interest in the story initially allows her suitor (or suitress [I mean, we women can be ignorant too, just as men can sometimes blindly follow love with no regard for self worth. So why not have a man in search of love taken advantage of by a woman looking out for her own interests?]) to take advantage of her kindness and treat her poorly for her own personal gain (the notion of having love) but eventually she realizes that by allowing the disrespect from her "lover" for her own gain, she opened the door for continued disrespect from him as a means to his own gain (IDK... her doing his laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc.? I'll have to think up some more details obviously, especially if my characters are animals and not humans).

So overall I'm thinking of writing a story with kind of a double moral message involved. "You reap what you sow" and along the same lines, "you receive from others, the same respect you give yourself"... Well, its a work in progress, for sure but I think it will be kind of a fun tale!

(Zig Ziglar quote; internet source, anonymousartofrevolution)

*If you're as moved by this quote as I am, you can learn more about Zig Ziglar, here!!