In my favorite portion of today's reading assignment, we were presented with four of Aesop's Fables featuring lines, all of which were adapted by Joseph Jacobs. Before reading my notes, I recommend previewing the stories here.
The Lion's Share
After spending all day hunting in a group with three other animals, the lion and his peers finally slay a stag. Despite their teamwork, the lion claims the whole for himself, proving self-righteous and inconsiderate.
Androcles and the Lion
Androcles, an escaped slave, pulls a thorn from the lions paw and they become fast friends. Their happiness is short lived, however, when they are captured, and the lion is starved, only o have Androcles thrown to him - to be eaten. Much to the surprise of their captors, the lion is gentle, and pleased to be reunited.
The Lion and the Statue
While arguing to determine who is strongest and smartest, the man claims victory when he points out a statue of a lion being slain by Hercules. The living lion replies "Nothing is proven, for a man made the statue."
The Lion in Love
The lion approaches a mother and father, requesting their daughter's hand in marriage. The couple, afraid of allowing their daughter to marry a dangerous beast, suggests that he have his claws and teeth removed. When the lion did so without hesitation, the parents simply laughed and mocked him.
The aspect of these stories that I found most fascinating was the lion's versatility. In one, he is presented as selfish and prideful. Yet, in another, he is compassionate and playful. When writing my own stories, I hope to be able to be present such conflicts as existing in one lion. Those imperfections, the ongoing struggle between competing character traits, are what ultimately humanizes the lion, making for a great story.
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