FABLE XLIX
by John Gay · from Fables of John Gay (Somewhat Altered)
Adapted Version
A bird thinks he is the best. A fish thinks she is the best. A cat thinks she is the best. A dog thinks he is the best. A frog in a pond thinks he is best. And a big, big man thinks he is best.
A big bird flies in the sky. He has big, strong wings. He flies so fast. "I am the king of the sky," he thinks. He looks down with his sharp eyes. He sees little birds on the ground. "My dinner!" he thinks.
A crab walks on the sand. He walks from side to side. Clip, clop, clip. He sees a shiny shell. The sun makes it sparkle. It is pink and white. It is very smooth. "What a good shell!" he thinks. He picks it up. He puts it on his back. "This perfect shell is for me."
A small snail moves on the ground. She moves very, very slow. She leaves a shiny trail. She finds a big green leaf. The leaf is fresh and wet. "This is a good home," she thinks. "This leaf is my home. It is the best leaf."
The Big Man stands on a big hill. He puts his hands on his hips. He looks all around the world. He sees the green, green trees. He sees the blue, blue water. He sees the yellow flowers. He sees the tall mountains. "This is all for me!" he says. He points to the sky. "The bright sun is for me! The white moon is for me! The stars are for me, too!"
The Big Man shouts. His voice is very, very loud. "I am the best! I am the boss of the world! Everything you can see is mine!"
Then, the Big Man felt a tickle. A tiny tickle on his big neck. What was that? He tried to see it. But it was too small. It was a flea. A very, very small flea. The flea said "Hello!" in a tiny voice. "Hello, Big Man!"
The Little Flea looked at the big neck. "You are not the boss," he said. His voice was small but clear. "The world is not just for you."
The Little Flea puffed out his chest. "I may be small," he said. "But I am very, very strong. I am a great jumper." The Little Flea bent his tiny legs. "My legs are small but mighty. I can jump so high! I can jump over a flower. I can jump over a big stone."
"Watch me now!" The Little Flea jumped. He jumped up. He jumped down. "Look at me go!"
Then The Little Flea was still. He sat on the man's big arm. He looked at the Big Man's skin.
"It is perfect," said The Little Flea. "It is perfect for my dinner."
Original Story
FABLE XLIX.
Man and Flea.
Nothing, methinks, is to be seen
On earth that does not overween.
Doth not the hawk, from high, survey
The fowls as destined for his prey?
And do not Cæsars, and such things,
Deem men were born to slave for kings?
The crab, amidst the golden sands
Of Tagus, or on pearl-strewn strands,
Or in the coral-grove marine,
Thinks hers each gem of ray serene.
The snail, 'midst bordering pinks and roses,
Where zephyrs fly and love reposes,
Where Laura's cheek vies with the peaches,
When Corydon one glance beseeches,—
The snail regards both fruit and flower,
And thanks God for the granted bower.
And man, who, standing on some bluff,
Regards the world with soul as tough,—
The sun, the moon, the starry sphere,
The harvests of the circling year,
The mighty ocean, meadows trim,
And deems they all are made for him.
"How infinite," he says, "am I!
How wondrous in capacity!
Over creation to hold reign,
The lord of pleasure and of pain——"
"Hold hard, my hearty!" said a flea,
Perched on his neck, beneath his lee.
"I do not brag that all creation
Is subject to the Flea-ite nation.
I know that parasitic races,
The Ticks and Lucies have their places;
But the imperial race of Flea
Is all surpassing—look at me.
My concentrated vigour, grant,
Then look at yon huge elephant;
Look at my leap, at my proboscis,
Then go and learn, 'ut tu te noscis,'
That man was made with skin to bleed,
That families of fleas may feed."
Story DNA
Moral
Even the smallest creature can challenge the grandest claims of self-importance, reminding us that no being is truly supreme.
Plot Summary
The fable begins by observing that all creatures, from hawks to snails, tend to believe the world exists for them. A man, standing proudly, declares his own infinite capacity and dominion over all creation. Suddenly, a flea perched on his neck interrupts, challenging his grand claims. The flea asserts its own superior qualities, like its vigor and leap, and concludes by stating that man was made with skin to bleed so that families of fleas may feed, thus completely overturning the man's self-important perspective.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to challenged perspective
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist, known for his fables which often satirized human folly and societal norms of his time.
Plot Beats (10)
- The narrator introduces the idea that all beings tend to overween, or think too highly of themselves.
- Examples are given: the hawk views fowls as prey, kings believe men are born to slave for them.
- The crab thinks all gems of the sea are hers, and the snail thanks God for its bower of fruit and flowers.
- Man, standing on a bluff, surveys the world and believes the sun, moon, stars, and harvests are all made for him.
- Man exclaims his own infinite capacity and declares himself lord over creation, pleasure, and pain.
- A flea, perched on the man's neck, interrupts his boastful speech.
- The flea states it doesn't brag about all creation being subject to the 'Flea-ite nation' but acknowledges other parasitic races.
- The flea then asserts the imperial race of Flea is 'all surpassing,' pointing to its concentrated vigor compared to an elephant.
- The flea highlights its leap and proboscis as evidence of its superiority.
- The flea concludes by telling the man to learn that he was made with skin to bleed so that families of fleas may feed.
Characters
Man ★ protagonist
A robust, average-height adult man with a sturdy build, indicative of someone who views himself as a master of his domain. His skin is likely fair, given the European context of the fable, and his complexion is healthy.
Attire: Simple, functional 18th-century European attire, such as a plain linen shirt, breeches, and a waistcoat made of sturdy wool or broadcloth, in muted colors like brown, grey, or forest green. Practical leather shoes.
Wants: To assert his perceived dominance over all creation and revel in his own importance.
Flaw: His inflated ego and inability to see beyond his own perspective, making him vulnerable to being humbled by even the smallest creature.
He is challenged and humbled by the Flea, forced to confront the reality that he is not as all-powerful as he believes.
Arrogant, self-important, overweening, anthropocentric, proud.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy adult man of average height, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has short brown hair, a strong jawline, and confident blue eyes. He wears a plain cream linen shirt, dark brown wool breeches, and a grey waistcoat. His posture is upright and proud, with his chest slightly puffed out. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Flea ⚔ antagonist
A minuscule, dark-brown insect, barely visible to the naked eye, with a hard, chitinous exoskeleton. It possesses powerful hind legs adapted for prodigious leaping and a sharp, piercing proboscis for feeding.
Attire: Its natural exoskeleton, dark and shiny.
Wants: To assert the importance and natural right of its own species, and to feed.
Flaw: Its small size makes it easily overlooked or swatted away by larger creatures.
Serves as a catalyst for the Man's realization, remaining consistent in its nature.
Assertive, pragmatic, self-assured, observant, a bit cheeky.
Image Prompt & Upload
A minuscule, dark brown flea, depicted in extreme close-up to show detail, with a hard, shiny exoskeleton and powerful, bent hind legs. Its tiny head features small, multifaceted eyes and a visible, sharp proboscis. It is posed as if ready to leap. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Golden Sands of Tagus
Expansive golden sands along the Tagus river, possibly with scattered pearls or near a coral grove marine.
Mood: Serene, abundant, natural.
The crab's perspective of ownership over the natural gems.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, sun-drenched expanse of fine golden sand stretching along a calm, wide river. The water's edge is gently lapping, revealing scattered, iridescent pearls among the wet sand. In the distance, the river widens towards a sunlit estuary, hinting at a vibrant coral grove beneath the clear water. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Garden with Pinks and Roses
A lush garden bordered by vibrant pinks and fragrant roses, where gentle zephyrs blow.
Mood: Romantic, idyllic, peaceful, abundant.
The snail's contentment with its bower amidst the beauty of the garden.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vibrant, sun-dappled European cottage garden, overflowing with clusters of fragrant pink roses climbing trellises and bright pinks blooming in neat borders. Soft, green foliage provides a lush backdrop, and the air feels warm and still, hinting at a gentle breeze. Ripe peaches hang from a nearby branch, catching the golden light. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Man on a Bluff
A man standing on a high bluff, overlooking a vast landscape including the ocean, meadows, and the sky with sun, moon, and stars.
Mood: Expansive, contemplative, self-important.
The man's declaration of his perceived dominion over creation, interrupted by the flea.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dramatic, windswept coastal bluff, its rugged, grass-covered edge dropping sharply to reveal a vast, deep blue ocean stretching to the horizon. Inland, rolling green meadows extend under a wide, dynamic sky that transitions from a bright, distant sun to a faint, crescent moon and scattered stars. The ground is a mix of resilient grasses and exposed, weathered rock. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
