FABLE XL
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
The monkeys, Max and Pip, went to the fair. It was a happy place. They saw bright red and blue colors. They heard happy songs and laughing. Max and Pip felt so excited. They wanted to see a fun show. They ran past people to the tent.
Max and Pip looked for a good spot. They saw two empty seats. The seats were in the front row. They sat down. Many people were there. A little girl saw the monkeys. She pointed. "Look, Mommy! Two funny monkeys!" Her mommy smiled. The people were happy to see them. Max and Pip felt very important. They sat up straight and tall. They looked at the big red stage. They could not wait for the show.
Max looked at all the people. They were talking and laughing. He leaned over to Pip. He whispered in Pip's ear. "These people are so silly!" Pip giggled, nodding. "Yes, they are very silly," he said. The people did not hear the monkeys.
Suddenly, music started to play. A funny clown came out. He had a big smile. He wore big, floppy shoes. He did a funny dance. Everyone laughed out loud. Then two people did big flips. They jumped and rolled in the air. Then a woman walked on a rope. The rope was very high. She did not look down. She was very good. Everyone clapped. They all shouted, "Hooray! Hooray!"
Max puffed out his furry chest. "Look at them, Pip," he said. He pointed to the flipping men. "They are trying to be like us. "They are trying to jump," he said, shaking his head. "But they are not good at it. We can jump much, much better. We can jump from tree to tree. They cannot climb like us, either. We are the best jumpers!" Pip clapped.
Pip looked at the people walking. He watched them leave the tent. "You are right, Max," said Pip. "I do not like how they walk." He wrinkled his nose. "They walk on only two legs. It looks very funny." The show was over. The monkeys were ready to go. Then, Max and Pip stood up. They walked away on their two legs.
Original Story
FABLE XL.
The Two Monkeys.
The scholar, of his learning vain,
Beholds the fop with deep disdain:
The fop, with spirit as discerning,
Looks down upon the man of learning.
The Spanish Don—a solemn strutter—
Despises Gallic airs and flutter:
Whilst the Gaul ridicules the Don,
And John Bull looks with like disdain
On manners both of France and Spain:
They hold, indeed, a deed tripartite
To see each other in a tart light.
'Tis thus the bard is scorned by those
Who only deal in learned prose:
Whilst bards of quick imagination
Are hipped by the dull prose oration.
Men scoff at apes: apes scoff at them;
And all—except themselves—contemn.
Two monkeys visited the fair,
Like critics, with Parnassian sneer;
They forced a way through draggled folk,
Laughed at Jack Pudding and his joke,
Then bought their tickets for the show,
And squatted in the foremost row;
Their cut-of-jib was there so stunning,
It set the idle rabble funning.
"Brother," one Pug to other said,
"The mob is certainly ill-bred."
A sentiment which found no favour,
And the retorts were of ill-savour.
The clown with entrance stopped the jar—
Head over heels—with "Here we are!"
The tumblers made their somersets,
The vaulters made tremendous jets;
The dancer on the rope did wonders,
And drew down the applauses—thunders,
As Numa once elicited
From Jove Elicius, so they did.
"Behold the imitative crew!"
Said Pug: "they copy me and you,
And clumsily. I'd like to see
Them jump from forest-tree to tree;
I'd like to see them, on a twig,
Perform a slip-slap or a rig;
And yet it pleasant is to know
The boobies estimate us so."
"Brother!" the other Pug replied,
"They do their best—with us their guide;
We must allow praise is their due,
Whilst they example good pursue;
But when I see them take a flight,
Or walk, like they walk—bolt upright,
Because we sometimes walk on two—
I hate the imitative crew!"
Story DNA
Moral
Those who are quick to criticize others often fail to see their own flaws and hypocrisies, especially when those others are merely imitating them.
Plot Summary
John Gay's Fable XL illustrates human hypocrisy through the story of two monkeys. The fable begins by showing how various groups of people disdain others, then introduces two monkeys who visit a fair and immediately criticize the 'ill-bred' human crowd. As they watch the performers, one monkey scoffs at the humans for clumsily imitating monkey actions. The second monkey agrees, but then ironically expresses hatred for humans who walk upright, a trait monkeys sometimes exhibit, thus exposing their own profound hypocrisy and reinforcing the fable's central message about self-importance and prejudice.
Themes
Emotional Arc
amusement to critical reflection
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was known for his satirical fables, often critiquing societal norms and human folly in 18th-century England. The references to national stereotypes (Spanish Don, Gallic airs, John Bull) reflect common perceptions of the time.
Plot Beats (8)
- The narrator establishes a pattern of disdain among different groups of people (scholars vs. fops, Spanish vs. French, English vs. both, bards vs. prose writers).
- The narrator explicitly states that men scoff at apes, and apes scoff at men, and everyone contemns all but themselves.
- Two monkeys, acting like critics, attend a fair, pushing through the crowd.
- They laugh at a clown and then buy tickets to sit in the front row, drawing amusement from the human crowd due to their appearance.
- One monkey comments to the other that the human mob is 'ill-bred,' which is met with 'ill-savour'd' retorts from the crowd.
- A clown performs, followed by tumblers, vaulters, and a rope dancer, all receiving great applause.
- The first monkey criticizes the human performers, calling them an 'imitative crew' who clumsily copy monkeys and challenges them to perform true monkey feats.
- The second monkey agrees, acknowledging that humans do their best but then expresses hatred for humans who walk upright, 'because we sometimes walk on two'.
Characters
First Monkey ★ protagonist
A medium-sized monkey, agile and quick, with a lean build. Its fur is likely a common brown or greyish-brown, typical of a macaque or similar species, with expressive features.
Attire: None, as a monkey. Its natural fur is its covering.
Wants: To assert its perceived intellectual and physical superiority over others, particularly humans, and to find amusement in their 'clumsy' imitations.
Flaw: Extreme vanity and a condescending attitude, which prevents it from appreciating the efforts or unique skills of others.
No significant arc; remains consistently critical and self-important throughout the brief fable.
Vain, critical, scornful, arrogant, observant. It sees itself as superior to humans and other creatures.
Image Prompt & Upload
A medium-sized monkey, standing on two legs, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. It has brown fur, a darker muzzle, and sharp, intelligent dark eyes narrowed in a look of disdain. Its posture is upright but slightly hunched, with its hands clasped in front of it. It has a 'Parnassian sneer' on its face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Second Monkey ◆ supporting
A medium-sized monkey, similar in build and appearance to the First Monkey, suggesting they are of the same species. Agile and capable of complex movements.
Attire: None, as a monkey. Its natural fur is its covering.
Wants: To observe and critique human behavior, particularly their attempts to mimic monkey actions, and to assert the natural superiority of monkeys.
Flaw: Also suffers from vanity and a condescending view of humans, particularly their 'imitative' nature.
No significant arc; remains consistently critical and self-important, though with a particular focus on the 'imitative' aspect of human behavior.
Critical, but with a slightly more nuanced perspective than the First Monkey. It acknowledges human effort but despises clumsy imitation.
Image Prompt & Upload
A medium-sized monkey, standing on two legs, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. It has brown fur, a darker muzzle, and intelligent dark eyes. Its expression is one of strong disapproval and slight disgust, with its mouth slightly open as if mid-sentence. Its posture is upright but rigid, conveying its disdain. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Jack Pudding ○ minor
A traditional English clown or jester, likely of average height and build, designed to be comical. His face would be painted for performance.
Attire: A traditional motley costume, likely made of coarse wool or linen, in bright, contrasting colors like red, yellow, and blue, with large buttons or pom-poms. Baggy trousers and a tunic, possibly with a ruff around the neck. Exaggerated shoes.
Wants: To entertain the fairgoers and earn a living through his comedic performances.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, but perhaps a lack of intellectual depth, as he is mocked by the monkeys.
No arc; he is a static character representing the entertainment at the fair.
Jovial, boisterous, entertaining, unpretentious. His role is to amuse the crowd.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult male English clown, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a white painted face with large red cheeks and a wide, exaggerated red smile. He wears a bright red and yellow motley costume made of coarse fabric, with large blue buttons, a ruffled collar, and baggy trousers. His shoes are large and exaggerated. He has a cheerful, boisterous expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Fairground Entrance
A bustling, crowded outdoor area at the entrance of a fair, filled with 'draggled folk' and the general public. The atmosphere is lively and somewhat chaotic, with people pushing their way through.
Mood: Lively, boisterous, slightly chaotic, common
The two monkeys arrive at the fair, navigate the crowd, and purchase their tickets.
Image Prompt & Upload
A bustling 18th-century English fairground entrance, with a dense crowd of common folk in period attire pushing past each other. A simple wooden ticket booth stands to one side, and the ground is churned earth. Overhead, a bright, slightly overcast sky suggests a busy afternoon. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Show Tent Interior
The interior of a performance tent, likely a large canvas structure, set up for a variety show. There are rows of seating, with the monkeys positioned in the 'foremost row'. A stage area is present where performers like clowns, tumblers, vaulters, and rope dancers perform.
Mood: Excited, entertaining, theatrical, somewhat confined
The monkeys watch various acts, including a clown, tumblers, vaulters, and a rope dancer, while offering their critical commentary.
Image Prompt & Upload
The interior of a large, dimly lit 18th-century English circus tent, with a circular performance ring in the foreground. Simple wooden benches are arranged in rows, filled with an excited, boisterous audience. Overhead, ropes and rigging for acrobats are visible against the canvas ceiling. Warm, focused stage lighting illuminates the central performance area, casting deep shadows on the surrounding audience. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
