THE PARROT and THE CAT
by Aesop · from Aesop's Fables; a new translation
Adapted Version
A man lived in a house. He had a quiet Cat. One day, he brought home a new pet. It was a Parrot. The Master bought the Parrot. He brought it to his house. The Parrot was free. It could fly anywhere. It liked its new home.
The Parrot flew up high. It went to the mantelpiece. It sat there. It liked its new freedom. Then it screamed. It screamed very loud. It made much noise. The Parrot was happy. It liked its own loud voice. It screamed to its heart's content.
The Cat was asleep. She slept on the hearthrug. The hearthrug was warm and soft. She was very quiet. The loud noise woke her up. The Parrot's scream disturbed her. The Cat opened her eyes. She looked up at the noise.
The Cat looked up. She saw the new bird. The bird was on the mantelpiece. "Who are you?" she asked. "Where did you come from?" The Cat was annoyed. She did not like the loud noise. She wanted to sleep more. She was a quiet Cat. The Parrot looked down at her. The Cat frowned a little. "You are very loud," she thought.
The Parrot answered the Cat. "Your Master just bought me," it said. "He brought me home today. I am new here. I am his new pet." The Parrot was proud. It puffed its bright feathers. It was very happy. It felt important.
The Cat was angry. "You are a new bird!" she said. "How can you make such a loud noise? I was born here. I live here always. This is my home. If I meow, they scold me. They tell me to be quiet. They shoo me away. It is not fair!"
The Parrot looked at the Cat. "Listen, Cat," it said. "You must be quiet. My voice is good. The Master likes my voice very much. He loves my loud screams. Your voice is not good. Your meow is a nuisance. The Master does not like it at all. He wants you to be quiet. So, hold your tongue." The Parrot flapped.
The Master liked the Parrot's loud voice. He did not like the Cat's quiet meow. This shows that people in charge decide what is good and what is not.
Original Story
THE PARROT AND THE CAT
A Man once bought a Parrot and gave it the run of his house. It revelled in its liberty, and presently flew up on to the mantelpiece and screamed away to its heart's content. The noise disturbed the Cat, who was asleep on the hearthrug. Looking up at the intruder, she said, "Who may you be, and where have you come from?" The Parrot replied, "Your master has just bought me and brought me home with him." "You impudent bird," said the Cat, "how dare you, a newcomer, make a noise like that? Why, I was born here, and have lived here all my life, and yet, if I venture to mew, they throw things at me and chase me all over the place." "Look here, mistress," said the Parrot, "you just hold your tongue. My voice they delight in; but yours—yours is a perfect nuisance."
Story DNA
Moral
What is considered a virtue in one may be a vice in another, depending on how they are perceived by those in power.
Plot Summary
A man brings a new Parrot into his home, which immediately begins to make a loud noise. This disturbs the resident Cat, who questions the Parrot's audacity, comparing its accepted ruckus to her own punished meows despite her long tenure. The Parrot dismisses the Cat's complaints, asserting that its voice is delightful to their master, while the Cat's is merely a nuisance, highlighting the arbitrary nature of favor.
Themes
Emotional Arc
irritation to indignation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's Fables are ancient Greek stories often featuring anthropomorphic animals to convey moral lessons, reflecting societal norms and human behaviors of the time.
Plot Beats (7)
- A man purchases a Parrot and brings it home, giving it freedom to roam.
- The Parrot flies to the mantelpiece and begins to scream loudly.
- The noise wakes the Cat, who was sleeping peacefully on the hearthrug.
- The Cat confronts the Parrot, asking who it is and where it came from.
- The Parrot proudly states that it has just been bought by their master.
- The Cat expresses outrage, pointing out that she, a long-time resident, is punished for mewing, while the newcomer makes a racket.
- The Parrot retorts that its voice is cherished by the master, while the Cat's voice is considered a nuisance.
Characters
★
The Parrot
A medium-sized, vibrant parrot with bright green plumage covering most of its body, accented by patches of vivid red and blue feathers on its wings and tail. It has a strong, curved beak, and sharp talons for perching.
Attire: None, as it is a bird.
Wants: To enjoy its new liberty and express itself freely, believing its voice is appreciated.
Flaw: Overconfidence and a lack of empathy for others' comfort, leading it to be inconsiderate.
Does not change; it remains self-assured and dismissive of the Cat's perspective.
Boisterous, self-important, confident, and somewhat arrogant. It believes its presence is a delight to its owner.
⚔
The Cat
A sleek, domestic house cat of average size, with soft, short fur. Its build is lithe and agile, typical of a well-kept house pet.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To maintain its established peace and quiet within its home, and to assert its long-standing status.
Flaw: Resentment and a tendency to feel victimized, which makes it unable to effectively assert its needs.
Does not change; it remains resentful and is ultimately dismissed by the Parrot.
Territorial, easily disturbed, resentful, and feels unfairly treated. It values peace and quiet.
○
The Man
Not described, but implied to be a householder capable of purchasing pets. Given the Aesop's fable context, he would be a common man, perhaps of a Mediterranean or Middle Eastern background. Let's infer a sturdy build and average height.
Attire: Not described. Given the context of Aesop's fables, he would likely wear simple, functional clothing. Perhaps a tunic of natural linen or wool, belted at the waist, and simple sandals.
Wants: To have pets that bring him pleasure, and to maintain order in his household as he sees fit.
Flaw: His favoritism towards the Parrot and harshness towards the Cat, creating an imbalanced household dynamic.
Does not appear to change or have an arc within the short story.
Appears to be fond of pets, particularly the Parrot, whose voice he 'delights in'. He is also implied to be strict with the Cat, 'throwing things' at it when it mews.
Locations
The Man's House Interior
A comfortable, lived-in domestic space, likely a common room or parlor, featuring a mantelpiece above a hearth where a rug lies. The room is quiet enough for a cat to sleep undisturbed until the parrot's noise.
Mood: Initially peaceful and domestic, then disrupted and contentious
The Parrot's arrival and its first noisy outburst, leading to the confrontation with the Cat.