A Transposition
by Ambrose Bierce · from Fantastic Fables
Adapted Version
A Donkey walked in a big field. A little Rabbit hopped nearby. The field was very big. The sun was warm. The Donkey walked and walked. The Rabbit hopped and hopped.
The Rabbit saw the big Donkey. "Oh!" said the Rabbit. "You are very big!" The Rabbit looked. "Are you a rabbit?" asked the Rabbit. "You are the biggest rabbit I ever saw. You are so very big! How did you get so big?"
The Donkey said, "No. I am not a rabbit." I am a big Donkey. He looked at Rabbit. "You are not a rabbit," he said. "You are a small donkey. Yes, a very small donkey. This is true."
Rabbit said, "I am rabbit!" Donkey said, "No!" They talked and talked. They did not agree. "I am a rabbit!" said the Rabbit. "You are a donkey!" said the Donkey.
A smart Coyote walked by. The Donkey saw the Coyote. The Rabbit saw the Coyote. "Please help us!" they said to the Coyote. "Tell us who is right. Tell us who we are."
The Coyote smiled. He wanted them both to be happy. He thought for a moment. "You are both right!" said the Coyote. "Yes, both of you are right. This is my decision."
The Coyote looked at the Donkey. "You are a big rabbit," he said. "Yes, a very big rabbit." He looked at the Rabbit. "You are a small donkey," he said. "A very small donkey." "People made a mistake. They mixed up your names. Yes, people changed your names. It was a big mistake."
The Donkey was happy. "Oh, yes!" he said. The Rabbit was happy too. "He is right!" said the Rabbit. They both liked the Coyote's words.
"Coyote is smart!" said the Donkey. "He is very smart!" said the Rabbit. "He can be our leader!" they said. So, the Donkey and the Rabbit were happy. But was it really true? Sometimes, it is good to think for yourself!
Original Story
A Transposition
Travelling through the sage-brush country a Jackass met a rabbit, who exclaimed in great astonishment:
“Good heavens! how did you grow so big? You are doubtless the largest rabbit living.”
“No,” said the Jackass, “you are the smallest donkey.”
After a good deal of fruitless argument the question was referred for decision to a passing Coyote, who was a bit of a demagogue and desirous to stand well with both.
“Gentlemen,” said he, “you are both right, as was to have been expected by persons so gifted with appliances for receiving instruction from the wise. You, sir,”—turning to the superior animal—“are, as he has accurately observed, a rabbit. And you”—to the other—“are correctly described as a jackass. In transposing your names man has acted with incredible folly.”
They were so pleased with the decision that they declared the Coyote their candidate for the Grizzly Bearship; but whether he ever obtained the office history does not relate.
Story DNA
Moral
Perception can be subjective, and those who seek to please everyone may offer ambiguous truths.
Plot Summary
A Jackass and a Rabbit meet, and the Rabbit mistakes the Jackass for a giant rabbit, while the Jackass insists the Rabbit is a small donkey. Unable to agree, they consult a Coyote, who, desiring to please both, ambiguously declares both are right and blames humans for transposing their names. Satisfied, the animals nominate the Coyote for a political office.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confusion to satisfaction
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his cynical and satirical writing, often reflecting on human folly and political maneuvering through fables and short stories.
Plot Beats (9)
- A Jackass encounters a Rabbit in the sage-brush country.
- The Rabbit, astonished by the Jackass's size, exclaims that the Jackass must be the largest rabbit living.
- The Jackass corrects the Rabbit, stating that the Rabbit is actually the smallest donkey.
- They argue fruitlessly about their true identities.
- They decide to refer their dispute to a passing Coyote for a decision.
- The Coyote, wishing to please both parties, declares that both are correct.
- The Coyote explains that the Jackass is a rabbit and the Rabbit is a jackass, blaming humans for transposing their names.
- Both animals are delighted with the Coyote's diplomatic, if nonsensical, ruling.
- They nominate the Coyote as their candidate for the Grizzly Bearship.
Characters
Jackass ★ protagonist
A sturdy, medium-sized donkey, about 4 feet tall at the shoulder, with a robust, muscular build typical of a working animal. His coat is a uniform dusty grey-brown, with a slightly lighter belly and muzzle. His legs are strong and end in dark hooves.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To assert his true identity and correct what he perceives as a factual error.
Flaw: His stubbornness can make him inflexible in argument, and he relies on external validation (from the Coyote) to resolve the dispute.
He starts by being confident in his identity but becomes embroiled in an argument. He seeks external validation and is pleased when his identity is affirmed, even if through a convoluted explanation.
Logical, direct, somewhat stubborn, and confident in his own identity. He is not easily swayed by others' perceptions.
Image Prompt & Upload
A medium-sized adult donkey standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a dusty grey-brown coat, a long narrow face with a prominent muzzle, large dark eyes, and exceptionally long, upright ears. His tail is thin with a tuft of black hair. He has a calm, slightly stubborn expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Rabbit ◆ supporting
A small, agile rabbit, typical of the sage-brush country, with a lean, compact body. His fur is a mottled brown and grey, providing camouflage against the desert environment. He is about 1.5 feet tall when standing on his hind legs.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To understand the unusual sight before him and to assert his own understanding of species.
Flaw: His lack of knowledge and tendency to jump to conclusions makes him easily confused and drawn into fruitless arguments.
Starts in astonishment, engages in a fruitless argument, and is ultimately pleased by the Coyote's diplomatic, if illogical, resolution.
Astonished, easily confused, prone to making assumptions, and somewhat naive. He is quick to express his surprise.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small adult rabbit standing upright on its hind legs, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. It has mottled brown and grey fur, a small twitching nose, large round dark eyes, and long sensitive ears. It has an expression of wide-eyed astonishment. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Coyote ◆ supporting
A lean and cunning coyote, about 2.5 feet tall at the shoulder, with a shaggy coat of greyish-brown fur, often with reddish tints on its legs and ears. Its build is slender but muscular, indicative of its predatory nature.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To please both parties, maintain his reputation, and potentially gain political advantage (the 'Grizzly Bearship').
Flaw: His desire to please everyone leads him to deliver a nonsensical, illogical judgment, sacrificing truth for popularity.
He begins as an arbiter, uses his cunning to deliver a pleasing but illogical judgment, and successfully gains the favor of both parties, positioning himself for future political gain.
Cunning, diplomatic, opportunistic, and a 'demagogue' – skilled at flattery and manipulation to gain favor. He prioritizes standing well with others.
Image Prompt & Upload
A lean adult coyote standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has shaggy greyish-brown fur, a sharp pointed muzzle, keen yellow eyes, and erect triangular ears. His expression is intelligent and sly, with a slight smirk. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Sage-brush Country
An expansive, open landscape dominated by low-lying sagebrush plants, suggesting a dry, arid environment.
Mood: Open, natural, somewhat desolate but peaceful.
The initial meeting of the Jackass and the Rabbit, and their subsequent argument.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, sun-drenched landscape stretches under a clear, pale blue sky. The ground is covered in countless clumps of silvery-green sagebrush, interspersed with patches of dry, light brown earth and small, scattered rocks. The air shimmers faintly with heat, and the horizon is a soft, indistinct line where the flat land meets the sky. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
