THE GOATHERD and THE WILD GOATS
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
Once, there was a goatherd. He had many goats. The Goatherd took his goats to the field. They ate green grass. The sun was warm. The Goatherd watched his flock.
Then, new goats came. They were Wild Goats. They had big horns and shaggy coats. The Wild Goats walked near. They joined the Domestic Goats. The Goatherd saw them. He was very happy.
Day turned to night. The Goatherd took all goats home. He put them in his warm pen. The Wild Goats went inside too. He wanted them to stay. He wanted more goats for his flock.
The next day was cold. Rain fell from the sky. The wind blew hard. The Goatherd could not go out. The goats stayed in the pen. They could not eat fresh grass outside.
The Goatherd gave food. He gave little food to his Domestic Goats. They were his old friends. He gave much food to the Wild Goats. He gave them a lot to eat. He hoped they would like him. He wanted them to stay with him always.
The rain stopped. The sun came out again. The Goatherd opened the pen. He took all the goats outside. They went to the green hills.
They walked to the hills. The Wild Goats looked around. They ran very fast. They broke away from the flock. They left the Goatherd. They left the Domestic Goats. They ran to their wild home.
The Goatherd was very angry. He shouted at the Wild Goats. "You are bad goats!" he cried. "I gave you much good food! Why did you run away like that?"
One Wild Goat stopped. It turned its head. It spoke to the Goatherd. "You were not fair," it said. "You gave us much food. Your old goats got little food. This was not right. If new goats came, you would forget us. You would give them all the food. Do not forget old friends for new. The Goatherd learned new friends might leave.
Original Story
THE GOATHERD AND THE WILD GOATS
A Goatherd was tending his goats out at pasture when he saw a number of Wild Goats approach and mingle with his flock. At the end of the day he drove them home and put them all into the pen together. Next day the weather was so bad that he could not take them out as usual: so he kept them at home in the pen, and fed them there. He only gave his own goats enough food to keep them from starving, but he gave the Wild Goats as much as they could eat and more; for he was very anxious for them to stay, and he thought that if he fed them well they wouldn't want to leave him. When the weather improved, he took them all out to pasture again; but no sooner had they got near the hills than the Wild Goats broke away from the flock and scampered off. The Goatherd was very much disgusted at this, and roundly abused them for their ingratitude. "Rascals!" he cried, "to run away like that after the way I've treated you!" Hearing this, one of them turned round and said, "Oh, yes, you treated us all right—too well, in fact; it was just that that put us on our guard. If you treat newcomers like ourselves so much better than your own flock, it's more than likely that, if another lot of strange goats joined yours, _we_ should then be neglected in favour of the last comers."
Story DNA
Moral
Do not expect loyalty from those who are swayed by self-interest, and be wary of those who show excessive favor to newcomers over their established companions.
Plot Summary
A goatherd allows wild goats to join his flock and, hoping to keep them, feeds them lavishly while neglecting his own goats during a storm. When the weather clears, the wild goats immediately abandon him. The goatherd scolds them for their ingratitude, but one wild goat explains that his favoritism towards newcomers made them realize he would treat them the same way if even newer goats arrived, thus revealing his flawed and self-serving strategy.
Themes
Emotional Arc
hope to disappointment to realization
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are ancient Greek stories, often featuring anthropomorphic animals, designed to convey moral lessons. They reflect common human behaviors and societal observations of the time.
Plot Beats (9)
- A goatherd is pasturing his domestic goats.
- Wild goats approach and mingle with the goatherd's flock.
- The goatherd drives all the goats, wild and domestic, into his pen for the night.
- The next day, bad weather prevents the goatherd from taking the goats to pasture.
- The goatherd feeds his own goats sparingly but gives the wild goats an abundance of food, hoping to make them stay.
- When the weather improves, the goatherd takes all the goats back to pasture.
- Upon reaching the hills, the wild goats immediately break away and run off.
- The goatherd, disgusted, curses the wild goats for their ingratitude.
- One of the wild goats turns back and explains that the goatherd's excessive favoritism towards newcomers made them realize he would treat them the same way if new goats arrived.
Characters
★
The Goatherd
A man of average height and sturdy build, accustomed to outdoor life. His skin is tanned and weathered from sun exposure, with calloused hands from handling his flock.
Attire: Wears practical, durable clothing suitable for ancient Greek pastoral life: a simple, knee-length chiton made of coarse undyed wool or linen, cinched at the waist with a leather belt. He wears sturdy leather sandals on his feet.
Wants: To expand his flock and increase his wealth by acquiring the wild goats.
Flaw: Greed and a lack of understanding of loyalty; he believes material incentives can buy allegiance.
He learns a harsh lesson about the nature of loyalty and the futility of trying to buy it, realizing his manipulative generosity backfired.
Calculating, somewhat naive, easily disgusted, short-sighted, and initially generous (with ulterior motives).
◆
The Wild Goat Leader
A robust and agile wild goat, larger and more muscular than the domestic goats, with a shaggy coat. Its movements are quick and decisive.
Attire: None, as it is a wild animal.
Wants: To ensure the safety and well-being of its own wild flock, and to avoid being exploited or neglected.
Flaw: Its inherent distrust of humans, which ultimately prevents it from integrating.
Serves as the voice of reason and the instrument of the story's moral, demonstrating the wild goats' inherent independence and wisdom.
Perceptive, cautious, independent, and intelligent. It values self-preservation and loyalty within its own kind.
○
The Domestic Goats
Smaller and less robust than the wild goats, with a variety of coat colors typical of domesticated breeds. They appear somewhat subdued and accustomed to routine.
Attire: None, as they are animals.
Wants: To survive and follow their goatherd, as is their nature.
Flaw: Their dependence on the goatherd makes them vulnerable to his whims.
They remain largely unchanged, serving as a contrast to the independent wild goats and highlighting the goatherd's misplaced priorities.
Submissive, accustomed to their routine, and somewhat passive. They endure their master's neglect without complaint.
Locations
Mountain Pasture
A rugged, open area on the side of hills or mountains, likely with sparse vegetation suitable for grazing.
Mood: Open, natural, initially peaceful, later tense with the wild goats' escape.
The Goatherd's flock mingles with wild goats, and later, the wild goats escape back to the hills.
Goat Pen
A simple, rustic enclosure, likely made of wood or rough stone, designed to house goats, providing shelter from bad weather.
Mood: Confined, utilitarian, initially secure, later revealing the Goatherd's biased feeding.
The Goatherd houses both his flock and the wild goats, feeding the wild goats excessively during bad weather.