THE GOODS and THE ILLS
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
Long ago, the world was special. Happy Things and Sad Things lived there. They lived as one. They were equal. No one was bigger. No one was smaller. The world felt good. It felt right for all.
But people started making bad choices. They did not think well. They did not think of others. Sad Things grew bigger. They grew and grew. Sad Things pushed Happy Things away. They took up much space. Sad Things became very strong.
The Happy Things felt too small. They felt very scared. They had no place to be. So they flew up to the sky. They flew very high. They found a safe place there. It was a good place to hide.
Happy Things talked to Sky King. They told him their worries. They asked him for help. "We need help," they said. "The Sad Things are too big. What should we do about people? How can we be safe?"
The Great Sky King listened. He heard their sad words. He said yes. He would keep the Happy Things safe. He would protect them always.
The Great Sky King made a new rule. It was a very strict rule. Happy Things cannot come down together. They must not come in groups. They must come one by one. They must come softly. They do not come often. They come from far away in the sky. They travel a long way.
Now, the world has many Sad Things. They are all around. They are in every place. They come and go fast. They are always near. They make the world feel heavy.
But Happy Things are few. They are not many. They come one by one from the sky. People do not see them often. Happy Things are very hard to find. You must look very close.
Bad choices bring sad things. Then, happy things are hard to see. They hide away. So, we must make good choices. We must think well. We must make the world better.
Original Story
THE GOODS AND THE ILLS
There was a time in the youth of the world when Goods and Ills entered equally into the concerns of men, so that the Goods did not prevail to make them altogether blessed, nor the Ills to make them wholly miserable. But owing to the foolishness of mankind the Ills multiplied greatly in number and increased in strength, until it seemed as though they would deprive the Goods of all share in human affairs, and banish them from the earth. The latter, therefore, betook themselves to heaven and complained to Jupiter of the treatment they had received, at the same time praying him to grant them protection from the Ills, and to advise them concerning the manner of their intercourse with men. Jupiter granted their request for protection, and decreed that for the future they should not go among men openly in a body, and so be liable to attack from the hostile Ills, but singly and unobserved, and at infrequent and unexpected intervals. Hence it is that the earth is full of Ills, for they come and go as they please and are never far away; while Goods, alas! come one by one only, and have to travel all the way from heaven, so that they are very seldom seen.
Story DNA
Moral
Human foolishness can upset the natural balance, leading to an abundance of suffering and a scarcity of blessings.
Plot Summary
In the world's youth, Goods and Ills were equally balanced among humans. However, human foolishness caused the Ills to multiply and overpower the Goods, forcing the Goods to flee to heaven. They appealed to Jupiter, who decreed that Goods must now visit humanity singly and infrequently from heaven. Consequently, Ills are abundant and ever-present on Earth, while Goods are rare and seldom seen, a direct result of humanity's past actions.
Themes
Emotional Arc
balance to imbalance
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. They often feature anthropomorphic animals or abstract concepts to convey moral lessons.
Plot Beats (8)
- Initially, Goods and Ills exist in equal measure among humans, creating a balanced world.
- Due to human foolishness, the Ills begin to multiply and grow stronger, threatening to overwhelm the Goods.
- The Goods, unable to contend with the multiplying Ills, flee to heaven.
- In heaven, the Goods appeal to Jupiter for protection and guidance on how to interact with humanity.
- Jupiter grants their request for protection.
- Jupiter decrees that Goods must no longer appear openly or in groups among men, but only singly, unobserved, and at rare, unexpected times, traveling from heaven.
- Consequently, the Earth is now full of Ills, which come and go freely and are always near.
- Conversely, Goods are scarce, arriving one by one from heaven, making them seldom seen by humanity.
Characters
★
The Goods
A collective entity, appearing as a group of ethereal, radiant beings. Each individual 'Good' is slender and graceful, with a luminous, almost translucent quality to their form. They move with a light, airy presence, suggesting purity and benevolence. Their forms are not solid but shimmer with an inner light.
Attire: They wear flowing, seamless garments that appear woven from pure light and mist, in shades of soft gold, silver, and pearlescent white. The fabric seems to shimmer and undulate with their movements, without any discernible seams or fastenings, reflecting their ethereal nature.
Wants: To bring happiness and positive influence to mankind, to be protected from the overwhelming presence of the Ills.
Flaw: Vulnerable to being outnumbered and overwhelmed by the Ills, easily banished by human foolishness.
From being openly present and equally influential, they become vulnerable and banished, then seek and receive divine protection, leading to their infrequent and singular appearances among men.
Benevolent, patient, hopeful, enduring, vulnerable (to the Ills), seeking protection.
⚔
The Ills
A collective entity, appearing as a multitude of shadowy, restless figures. Each individual 'Ill' is gaunt and angular, with a dark, oppressive quality to their form. They move with a chaotic, swarming presence, suggesting negativity and pervasive influence. Their forms are not solid but seem to coalesce from smoke and shadow.
Attire: They wear tattered, dark garments that appear to be woven from shadow and despair, in shades of deep grey, black, and murky purple. The fabric seems to cling and ripple with their restless movements, without any discernible form, reflecting their chaotic nature.
Wants: To dominate human affairs, to banish the Goods, to spread their influence freely.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, but their power is tied to human foolishness.
From being equal in number and strength, they multiply and increase their dominance, becoming the pervasive force on Earth, freely coming and going.
Pervasive, multiplying, aggressive, overwhelming, relentless, opportunistic.
◆
Jupiter
A powerful, imposing male figure of immense stature and presence, radiating authority and wisdom. His build is robust and muscular, indicative of divine strength. His skin is a warm, bronze tone, suggesting a celestial origin.
Attire: He wears a magnificent, flowing toga of deep imperial purple, edged with intricate gold embroidery depicting celestial motifs. A broad, golden sash cinches his waist, and a heavy, ornate gold laurel wreath rests upon his head. His sandals are made of polished bronze with leather straps.
Wants: To maintain order and balance, to respond to the pleas of the Goods, to establish a new decree for their interaction with men.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, as he is a supreme deity.
Acts as the arbiter and protector, establishing a new order for the Goods.
Authoritative, wise, just, responsive to pleas, decisive, protective.
Locations
The Earth (Early World)
The world in its youth, where Goods and Ills coexisted in balance, before human foolishness disrupted it. It is implied to be a place where both positive and negative forces were visibly present.
Mood: Initially balanced and neutral, later becoming overwhelmed and troubled by the proliferation of Ills.
The initial state of the world where Goods and Ills were equally distributed among men, and where the Ills began to multiply and overpower the Goods.
Mount Olympus / The Heavens
The celestial dwelling place of Jupiter and other gods, a realm of divine power and judgment, where the Goods sought refuge and counsel.
Mood: Sacred, powerful, just, a place of ultimate authority and refuge.
The Goods flee to Jupiter to complain about the Ills and seek protection and advice, leading to Jupiter's decree about their future interaction with mankind.
The Earth (Present Day)
The world after Jupiter's decree, characterized by the constant, pervasive presence of Ills and the rare, singular arrival of Goods.
Mood: Burdened, struggling, occasionally hopeful but predominantly challenging due to the constant presence of Ills.
The current state of the world, where Ills are abundant and easily accessible, while Goods are scarce, arrive individually, and are hard-won.