A
NEW LOOK AT AESOP’S FABLES
The Greek
story teller Aesop is known for his all-time interesting stories of animal and
birds. The literary name for such stories
is fables. Aesop was born at Delphi in Greece in 564 B.C. So great is the charm
of his fables that even today they are read and narrated by millions of
children and adults all over the world.
As a literary piece ,a fable is a short
fictional tale in prose or verse in which birds and animals are humanized when their
stories are narrated with some eternal moral.
According to John
S. Morgan, the author of Aesop’s Fables in the Executive Suite (1974)
these fables involve animals, although some deal with humans and gods. By
clothing men in the guise of animals, it was safe for Aesop to lampoon them.
Centuries
before Morgan, Socrates, the Greek philosopher (c. 470-399 BC)
also put some of Aesop’s fables into verse.
American
Polish writer Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902-1991) rightly observes that Aesop’s fables teach lessons both in life
and literature that are valid today and will remain so forever. Thousands of
years ago he (Aesop) pointed out that no change in system can do away with the
aggressor, the liar, the flatterer, the intriguer the exploiter, the parasite,
etc.
John S.
Morgan has presented more than forty fables in the form of limerick. Here is
one specimen:
Four
mice told the fifth of their peers:
“Bell the
cat and help stop our fear.”
The
fifth said, “That is nice.
I sure
like your advice.
But not
for me --- get volunteers.
Aesop’s moral
of this story is “It’s easier to give advice than to take it.” Morgan changes
it into a modern precept for promotion for people engaged in business, industry,
government or education, and puts it as:
“Judge advice from associates for its practicality , impact and soundness.”
For each
fable, Morgan gives his own precept for promotion. Here are three more
specimens: Fable: The Blind Men and the Elephant: Aesop’s moral: Don’t guess at
the whole from the part. Morgan’s precept: Know and appraise as many of the
facts and circumstances as possible about the better job you seek. Fable: The
Crow and the Pitcher: Aesop’s moral: Use your wits. Morgan’s precept: Innovation
spurs advancement.
Morgan first gives a very short versified
gist of a fable and then gives in detail what
he calls “The Contemporary Illustration.”
According
to available information Morgan’s book is still on sale , and as such it is
worthwhile to read it both for pleasure and profit.
*********
11th February 2021 G.R.Kanwal
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