The Wallet
by Jean de La Fontaine · from A Hundred Fables of La Fontaine
Adapted Version
King Jupiter lived in the sky. He was a great king. He called all the animals to him. King Jupiter sat on his big chair. He called all the animals. "Come here," he said. "Tell me about your bodies. Are you happy with your shape? If not, tell me now. I will make it right."
King Jupiter looked at the Monkey. "Monkey, you speak first," he said. The Monkey jumped up. He felt very good. He thought he was perfect.
The Monkey smiled. "I am great!" he said. "My body is good." He saw the Bear. He pointed his finger. "Look at the Bear!" he cried. "He is big and clumsy. His fur is too thick. I do not like him."
Next, the Bear spoke. He stood up tall. "I am strong and furry!" he said. "My body is best." He saw the Elephant. "The Elephant has big ears," he said. "His tail is too small. That is not good!"
The Elephant spoke next. He thought he was very wise. "My body is perfect!" he said. "I am a good size." He saw the Whale. "The Whale is too big!" he said. "She takes up much space. She is too fat."
Even the tiny Ant spoke. She was very proud. "My size is just right!" she said. Then she looked at the Gnat. "The Gnat is too small!" she cried. "I am a giant next to him."
All the animals spoke. They all did the same thing. They liked their own bodies best. They did not like other bodies. They saw many faults.
King Jupiter saw this. He saw their big mistake. He sent the animals home. They all made the same error. They saw only others' faults.
This story tells us a lesson. People are like the animals. They see bad things in others. They do not see bad things in themselves. This is a very big mistake. People do this all day.
It is like we carry a bag. One part is behind us. Our own mistakes hide there. We cannot see them. The other part is in front. Others' mistakes are there. We see them very well. So, think of this story. It is easy to see others' faults. It is hard to see our own. We all carry a special bag. Our mistakes hide behind us. Others' mistakes are in front.
Original Story
The Wallet.
From heaven, one day, did Jupiter proclaim,
"Let all that live before my throne appear,
And there if any one hath aught to blame,
In matter, form, or texture of his frame,
He may bring forth his grievance without fear.
Redress shall instantly be given to each.
Come, monkey, now, first let us have your speech.
You see these quadrupeds, your brothers;
Comparing, then, yourself with others,
Are you well satisfied?" "And wherefore not?"
Says Jock. "Haven't I four trotters with the rest?
Is not my visage comely as the best?
But this my brother Bruin, is a blot
On thy creation fair;
And sooner than be painted I'd be shot,
Were I, great sire, a bear."
The bear approaching, doth he make complaint?
Not he;—himself he lauds without restraint.
The elephant he needs must criticise;
To crop his ears and stretch his tail were wise;
A creature he of huge, misshapen size.
The elephant, though famed as beast judicious,
While on his own account he had no wishes,
Pronounced dame whale too big to suit his taste;
Of flesh and fat she was a perfect waste.
The little ant, again, pronounced the gnat too wee;
To such a speck, a vast colossus she.
Each censured by the rest, himself content,
Back to their homes all living things were sent.
Such folly liveth yet with human fools.
For others lynxes, for ourselves but moles.
Great blemishes in other men we spy,
Which in ourselves we pass most kindly by.
As in this world we're but way-farers,
Kind Heaven has made us wallet-bearers.
The pouch behind our own defects must store,
The faults of others lodge in that before.
Story DNA
Moral
It is human folly to readily see the faults in others while remaining blind to our own.
Plot Summary
Jupiter summons all living creatures to complain about their physical forms. One by one, from the monkey to the ant, each creature praises its own appearance while finding significant fault with another. No one expresses dissatisfaction with themselves. The story concludes with a moral explaining that humans, like these animals, are quick to see others' flaws but blind to their own, as if carrying a 'wallet' with their own defects hidden behind them and others' faults visible in front.
Themes
Emotional Arc
amusement to realization
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
La Fontaine's fables often drew inspiration from Aesop and other ancient sources, adapting them with his distinctive wit and moral commentary relevant to 17th-century French society.
Plot Beats (10)
- Jupiter calls all living creatures to appear before his throne to voice any complaints about their physical forms, promising redress.
- The monkey is called upon first to speak about his own satisfaction.
- The monkey declares himself perfectly content with his own form, but immediately criticizes the bear's appearance.
- The bear, when his turn comes, praises himself and finds fault with the elephant, suggesting improvements to its ears and tail.
- The elephant, despite his famed judiciousness, finds no fault in himself but criticizes the whale for being too large and wasteful.
- The tiny ant then criticizes the gnat for being too small, considering herself a giant in comparison.
- Every creature censures others while remaining completely satisfied with themselves.
- Jupiter sends all the creatures back to their homes, having observed their universal folly.
- The narrator concludes by stating that this human folly persists, where people are quick to see others' flaws but blind to their own.
- The fable explains this by suggesting Heaven made humans 'wallet-bearers,' with one pouch for their own hidden faults and another for others' visible ones.
Characters
Jupiter
A powerful, imposing figure of immense stature, radiating authority and wisdom. His form is grand and idealized, reflecting his divine status, with a strong, muscular build.
Attire: Regal, flowing robes of deep purple or royal blue, possibly edged with gold embroidery, made of rich silk or velvet. He might wear a golden breastplate or armbands, signifying his power, and be draped in a grand cloak.
Wants: To observe and perhaps subtly teach his creations a lesson about self-perception and judgment, or simply to understand their nature.
Flaw: Perhaps a certain detachment from mortal concerns, viewing them from a divine perspective that can seem indifferent.
Remains unchanged, serving as the catalyst and observer for the story's moral.
Authoritative, observant, just (in his own divine way), and a bit amused by the foibles of his creations. He sets the stage for the moral lesson.
Jock (The Monkey)
A nimble, medium-sized monkey with a lean, agile build. His body is covered in short, dense brown fur, and he moves with quick, jerky motions.
Attire: None, as an animal. His natural fur is his covering.
Wants: To maintain his self-perception of superiority and to find fault in others.
Flaw: Extreme vanity and hypocrisy, unable to see his own flaws.
Remains unchanged, serving as the first example of the story's moral.
Vain, self-satisfied, critical of others, and quick to judge. He sees himself as perfect.
Bruin (The Bear)
A large, powerful bear with a thick, shaggy coat of dark brown fur. He has a robust, heavy build, suggesting immense strength.
Attire: None, as an animal. His natural fur is his covering.
Wants: To assert his own perfection and to find fault in those he deems inferior.
Flaw: Overwhelming arrogance and a complete lack of self-awareness.
Remains unchanged, serving as another example of the story's moral.
Self-laudatory, arrogant, and highly critical of others, particularly the Elephant. He is completely blind to his own perceived flaws.
The Elephant
A colossal elephant with thick, wrinkled grey skin, massive legs, and a long, powerful trunk. His ears are large and fan-like, and he possesses impressive tusks.
Attire: None, as an animal. His natural skin is his covering.
Wants: To maintain his self-perception of wisdom and to find fault in others' physical forms.
Flaw: Despite his famed judiciousness, he still falls prey to the same judgmental flaw as the others.
Remains unchanged, serving as another example of the story's moral.
Judicious and wise in his own estimation, but still prone to criticizing others (the Whale) while being content with himself.
Dame Whale
An enormous, streamlined whale with smooth, dark grey skin. Her body is immense and rounded, designed for aquatic life.
Attire: None, as an animal. Her natural skin is her covering.
Wants: Not explicitly stated, but likely to exist peacefully in her natural state.
Flaw: Her immense size is seen as a flaw by others.
Remains unchanged, serving as an object of criticism.
Unseen directly, but implied to be content with her own form, despite being criticized for her size.
The Little Ant
A tiny, segmented ant with a hard exoskeleton, six slender legs, and small antennae. Its body is dark brown or black.
Attire: None, as an animal. Her natural exoskeleton is her covering.
Wants: Not explicitly stated, but likely to exist and perform its natural duties.
Flaw: Its minuscule size is seen as a flaw by others.
Remains unchanged, serving as an object of criticism.
Unseen directly, but implied to be content with its own form, despite being criticized for its smallness.
The Gnat
An almost imperceptibly small gnat with delicate, translucent wings, a slender body, and long, spindly legs. Its body is dark and fuzzy.
Attire: None, as an animal. Its natural body is its covering.
Wants: Not explicitly stated, but likely to exist and perform its natural duties.
Flaw: Its extreme smallness is seen as a flaw by others.
Remains unchanged, serving as an object of criticism.
Unseen directly, but implied to be content with its own form, despite being criticized for its smallness.
Locations
Jupiter's Celestial Throne Room
A grand, ethereal chamber where Jupiter holds court, likely adorned with celestial motifs and bathed in divine light. The atmosphere is one of immense authority and judgment.
Mood: Awe-inspiring, formal, judgmental, slightly chaotic due to the complaints
Jupiter convenes all living creatures to hear their grievances about their own forms and the forms of others.