The Fabulist and the Animals
by Ambrose Bierce
The Writer and the Animals
A writer wants new ideas. He goes to see the creatures.
The Writer wants new stories. He goes to the creature place. He looks for ideas there. Many creatures live in this place. He watches them. He thinks about new tales.
The Elephant sees The Writer. He says, "Your stories are good. I like them very much. But you write about long noses. This makes me sad. My nose is very long. My trunk is my nose. Please do not make fun of long noses."
The Kangaroo talks next. She says, "Your stories are good. You write about other creatures. You make fun of them. That is okay. But you laugh at our pouches. My pouch holds my baby. It is very special. Do not laugh at pouches."
The Camel speaks to The Writer. He says, "Your stories are fine. But you do not respect humps. My hump is very good. My group has humps too. We do not like those stories. My group will not read them. Please respect our humps."
The Ostrich sees The Writer. She quickly hides her head. She puts it in the straw. She says, "I like stories about silly people. They are very clever. I do not want a story about me. I have no feathers on my head. I eat strange things. Please do not write about me."
The Buzzard talks to The other Buzzard. He says, "That is The Writer. He wrote a good story. It was about the Ostrich. But he wrote one more story. It was about eating old food. He said it was bad. We eat old food. Old food is good for us."
The Writer heard the creatures. He saw The Man coming. The Man worked there. The Writer walked away softly. He went out of the tent. He did not pay to enter. This was his secret.
The writer did not pay. He was like the creatures. He liked stories about others. He did not like to pay.
Original Story
The Fabulist and the Animals
A Wise and illustrious Writer of Fables was visiting a travelling menagerie with a view to collecting literary materials. As he was passing near the Elephant, that animal said:
“How sad that so justly famous a satirist should mar his work by ridicule of people with long noses—who are the salt of the earth!”
The Kangaroo said:
“I do so enjoy that great man’s censure of the ridiculous—particularly his attacks on the Proboscidæ; but, alas! he has no reverence for the Marsupials, and laughs at our way of carrying our young in a pouch.”
The Camel said:
“If he would only respect the sacred Hump, he would be faultless. As it is, I cannot permit his fables to be read in the presence of my family.”
The Ostrich, seeing his approach, thrust her head in the straw, saying:
“If I do not conceal myself, he may be reminded to write something disagreeable about my lack of a crest or my appetite for scrap-iron; and although he is inexpressibly brilliant when he devotes himself to censure of folly and greed, his dulness is matchless when he transcends the limits of legitimate comment.”
“That,” said the Buzzard to his mate, “is the distinguished author of that glorious fable, ‘The Ostrich and the Keg of Raw Nails.’ I regret to add, that he wrote, also, ‘The Buzzard’s Feast,’ in which a carrion diet is contumeliously disparaged. A carrion diet is the foundation of sound health. If nothing else but corpses were eaten, death would be unknown.”
Seeing an attendant approaching, the wise and illustrious Writer of Fables passed out of the tent and mingled with the crowd. It was afterward discovered that he had crept in under the canvas without paying.
Moral of the Story
People tend to appreciate criticism only when it is directed at others, and resent it when it applies to themselves.
Characters
The Wise and Illustrious Writer of Fables ★ protagonist
Average height and build, nondescript enough to blend into a crowd. Likely wears practical, slightly worn clothing suitable for a writer on a research trip, perhaps with a slightly disheveled appearance from his clandestine entry.
Attire: Simple, dark-colored suit jacket and trousers, possibly made of wool or tweed, with a plain white shirt and a loosely tied cravat. His shoes would be sturdy leather, suitable for walking.
Wants: To collect 'literary materials' for his fables, seeking inspiration and subjects for his satirical writings.
Flaw: His tendency to satirize others' perceived flaws, which makes him unpopular with those he writes about. Also, a slight dishonesty (sneaking in without paying).
He remains unchanged, merely gathering material and confirming his cynical view of human (and animal) nature.
Observant, cunning, somewhat cynical, opportunistic, and a keen satirist. He is not above bending rules (like sneaking in) for his craft.
The Elephant ◆ supporting
A large, grey African elephant with thick, wrinkled skin, immense ears, and two long, curved tusks. Its trunk is prominent and powerful.
Attire: None, as it is an animal in a menagerie.
Wants: To be respected and for its 'long nose' to be seen as a strength, not a weakness.
Flaw: Vanity and sensitivity regarding its physical appearance.
Remains unchanged, expressing its fixed opinion.
Proud, sensitive about its physical features (specifically its trunk), and critical of satire that targets those features.
The Kangaroo ◆ supporting
A large, muscular marsupial with powerful hind legs, a thick tail for balance, and short forelimbs. Its fur is reddish-brown.
Attire: None, as it is an animal in a menagerie.
Wants: To have its unique marsupial trait respected and not mocked.
Flaw: Hypocrisy and vanity regarding its natural traits.
Remains unchanged, expressing its fixed opinion.
Hypocritical (enjoys others being ridiculed but not itself), sensitive about its unique way of carrying young, and somewhat self-righteous.
The Camel ◆ supporting
A large, sandy-brown dromedary camel with long, slender legs, a long neck, and a single, prominent hump on its back. Its fur is shaggy.
Attire: None, as it is an animal in a menagerie.
Wants: To have its 'sacred Hump' respected and not ridiculed.
Flaw: Extreme sensitivity and vanity regarding its physical features.
Remains unchanged, expressing its fixed opinion.
Proud, highly sensitive about its hump, and protective of its family's sensibilities.
The Ostrich ◆ supporting
A very large, flightless bird with a long, bare neck, long, powerful legs, and a body covered in black and white feathers. Her head is small.
Attire: None, as it is an animal in a menagerie.
Wants: To avoid being ridiculed for her lack of a crest or her unusual diet.
Flaw: Cowardice, vanity, and a lack of self-awareness.
Remains unchanged, expressing its fixed opinion and fear.
Vain, self-deceptive, hypocritical (praises satire of others but fears it for herself), and easily embarrassed by her perceived flaws.
The Buzzard ◆ supporting
A large raptor with dark brown feathers, a bare, wrinkled head and neck, and a hooked beak. Its wings are broad.
Attire: None, as it is an animal in a menagerie.
Wants: To defend its 'carrion diet' as the foundation of sound health.
Flaw: Extreme defensiveness and a somewhat morbid pride in its diet.
Remains unchanged, expressing its fixed opinion.
Proud of its diet and lifestyle, defensive, and critical of anyone who disparages carrion. Also, a fan of the Fabulist's work when it aligns with its own views.
The Buzzard's Mate ○ minor
A large raptor with dark brown feathers, a bare, wrinkled head and neck, and a hooked beak, similar to the Buzzard.
Attire: None, as it is an animal in a menagerie.
Wants: To listen to and agree with its mate.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown.
Remains unchanged.
Supportive and attentive to its mate.
The Attendant ○ minor
Likely a sturdy, working-class man, accustomed to physical labor and managing animals. Average height and build.
Attire: Practical, durable work clothes, possibly a uniform for the menagerie. Likely made of sturdy canvas or denim, in muted colors like brown or green.
Wants: To perform his duties, which includes monitoring visitors and ensuring proper entry.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown.
Remains unchanged, merely performing his duty.
Diligent, observant (notices the Fabulist), and responsible for the menagerie.
Locations
Travelling Menagerie Tent Interior
A large, dimly lit canvas tent, likely striped, with various animal enclosures. The ground is covered in straw and dirt, and the air is thick with the smells of animals and sawdust. The light filters in unevenly through the canvas.
Mood: Confined, slightly dusty, bustling with the presence of animals and the occasional human attendant. A sense of observation and judgment.
The Fabulist encounters and overhears the animals' criticisms of his work.
Outside the Menagerie Tent
The exterior of the large canvas menagerie tent, likely set up in an open field or fairground. There is a crowd of people milling about, and the ground is probably grass or dirt. The tent canvas is visible, possibly with ropes and stakes.
Mood: Public, bustling, anonymous. A sense of escape and blending in.
The Fabulist exits the tent, mingling with the crowd to avoid paying, and is discovered to have snuck in.
Story DNA
Moral
People tend to appreciate criticism only when it is directed at others, and resent it when it applies to themselves.
Plot Summary
A renowned fabulist visits a menagerie seeking inspiration. As he passes various animals, each one offers a critique of his work, praising his general satire but condemning any specific instance that might apply to their own characteristics or habits. The Elephant, Kangaroo, Camel, Ostrich, and Buzzard all demonstrate this self-serving hypocrisy. The fabulist quietly leaves the tent, and it is then revealed that he himself had snuck in without paying, subtly mirroring the very hypocrisy he observes.
Themes
Emotional Arc
amusement to cynical realization
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his cynical and satirical writing, often exposing human flaws and hypocrisy, which is evident in this fable.
Plot Beats (7)
- A renowned fabulist visits a menagerie to find inspiration for his writing.
- The Elephant expresses admiration for the fabulist but criticizes his satire of long-nosed individuals.
- The Kangaroo praises the fabulist's attacks on certain groups but is offended by his jokes about marsupials.
- The Camel states the fabulist would be perfect if he respected camels' humps, otherwise his fables are banned in his family.
- The Ostrich hides her head, fearing the fabulist will target her in his writings, despite appreciating his general critique of folly.
- The Buzzard points out the fabulist as the author of a 'glorious fable' about an ostrich, but then laments another fable that disparages the buzzard's carrion diet.
- The fabulist, seeing an attendant, slips out of the tent and is later discovered to have entered without paying.
