Reading Notes: Brer Rabbit, Part B

This week, I am continuing to read from the Myth and Folklore unit on Africa, and have chosen to explore Joel Chandler Harris's Brer Rabbit.  In these stories, Brer Rabbit and other creatures like Brer Fox and Brer Bear cause mischief in the American South.

Brer Rabbit

In today's readings, two stories stuck out to me for their humor. The first, Brer Rabbit: Old Mr. Rabbit, He's a Good Fisherman, is an ironic account of how Brer Rabbit found himself at the bottom of a well. In the second, Brer Rabbit: Mr. Rabbit Meets His Match Again, Brer Rabbit's schemes result in no good crops, and a laughable fear of heights.

Brer Rabbit: Old Mr. Rabbit, He's a Good Fisherman
In this tale, Brer Rabbit is trying to avoid working a field when he decides to take a nap in a well bucket. Of course, when Mr. Rabbit jumps into the bucket, his weight carries him to the bottom of a well. Alone, cold, and terrified of falling into the water, Brer Rabbit has a stroke of good fortune. Mr. Fox had followed him to the well, and was convinced that Brer Rabbit went into the well to hide his riches. Brer Rabbit tricks the fox into jumping into the other well bucket, at which point Mr. Rabbit is lifted to the top, and freed. He then leaves Brer Fox alone at the bottom, after telling him that the angry owners of the well are on their way.

Like I said above, I love this story for its irony and humor. I think the dialogue between Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit could become even funnier if given a modern update, especially if Brer Rabbit further tricked Brer Fox into believing that there were, in fact, treasures at the bottom of the well.

Brer Rabbit: Mr. Rabbit Meets His Match Again
Brer Rabbit and Brer Buzzard decide to work a crop together, and divide everything they grow. It turns out, however, that they grow nothing. Thus, they devise a plan to cross the river and find a gold mine. Brer Rabbit is concerned with how he will cross the river, when Mr. Buzzard assures him that he may ride across on the Buzzard's wings. Halfway across the river, the alight on a high tree branch, and Brer Rabbit begins to panic. He assures Brer Buzzard that he knows of a gold mine on their side of the river, and relieved, they return home.

Once again, I would love to build on this story via updated dialogue. I would also enjoy exploring what could happen if Brer Rabbit slipped from the Buzzard's back, and found himself in the river. Perhaps he would not go seeking gold again...