THE VAIN CROW
by Lida B. McMurry
The Crow Who Wanted Peacock Feathers
Once there was a Crow. He had black feathers. He did not like his black feathers. The Crow thought he was special. He wished he had other feathers. He wished he was a Peacock. Peacocks had nice feathers. Their feathers were bright and grand. He wanted bright colors. He wanted to shine.
The Crow flew to a farm. He saw a barnyard there. He found some feathers on the ground. These feathers were from a Peacock. The Peacock lost them. The Crow picked them up. He saw bright feathers. They lay on the dirt. He felt happy.
The Crow put the feathers on himself. He put them among his black feathers. Now he looked new. He walked like a Peacock. He wanted to be a Peacock. He liked his new look. He felt very proud. He tucked them in. He used his beak. The feathers stuck out.
The Peacocks came into the yard. They saw the Crow. They looked at him hard. They knew he was acting. The Peacocks did not like this. They made the Crow leave the yard. They did not want him there. Some peacock feathers fell off. Some of his black feathers fell off too. They made loud calls. They chased him away.
The Crow flew away quickly. He was happy to go. He went back to his home. He went to his crow friends. He thought they would welcome him. He wanted to be with them now. He was not a Peacock. He flew very fast. He left the farm.
One Other Crow saw him. This crow told the others what he did. His Crow friends did not want him. The friends heard it all. They looked at the Crow. They shook their heads. They all cried, "Go away!" They did not want him. They pushed him away.
The Crow flew into the forest. He found a big tree there. He lived by himself now. The tree was near a pond. He was all alone in the forest. He stayed there each day. He felt very alone. The forest was quiet. No friends were there. He sat on a branch.
The Crow learned a lesson. It is always best to be yourself.
Original Story
THE VAIN CROW
"I hate a black dress, no matter how glossy," said a proud crow. "I have made up my mind to be a peacock."
As he said this, he flew away to a barnyard where he found some feathers which the peacock had shed. He picked these up with his bill and placed them among his own feathers.
Then he marched back and forth, looking at his fine new coat. He even tried to walk like the peacock.
The peafowls came into the yard. They did not know at first what to make of the sight. Then they saw that the crow was trying to dress and act as they did. They flew at him, calling, "Away with the cheat! Away with the cheat!" They pulled out all the peacock feathers and many of his own glossy black ones.
He was glad to get away alive, and flew back to his own family and old friends. But one of the crows had seen him in the barnyard and told the others how silly he had been acting.
"Where have you been?" they cried. "We know. We know. We will not have you in this flock. Away! away!" And they drove him from them.
Even the owls, whom he had always hated, made eyes at him and screamed, "Ch-ea-t! ch-ea-t!"
He flew into the forest. Here in a tree by a pond he lived a lonely life.
The tree-toads learned their queer song from him. This is his warning to them. "Don't, don't-be-cheat! Don't, don't-be-cheat!"
Moral of the Story
It is better to be yourself than to pretend to be someone you are not, for vanity can lead to isolation and rejection.
Characters
The Vain Crow ★ protagonist
A medium-sized bird, typically about 17-20 inches long, with a slender but sturdy build. Before his transformation, his body is entirely covered in sleek, iridescent black feathers that shimmer with blue and purple hues in the sunlight. After his encounter with the peafowls, he has several patches of missing feathers, revealing bare skin underneath, and his remaining feathers are disheveled and dull.
Attire: Initially, his 'wardrobe' is his own natural, glossy black plumage. Later, he adorns himself with discarded peacock feathers, which are large, iridescent green and blue, with distinctive 'eyespots' at their tips. These are haphazardly tucked among his own black feathers.
Wants: To escape his perceived plainness and be admired for a more 'beautiful' appearance, specifically by mimicking a peacock.
Flaw: His overwhelming vanity and desire for superficial beauty, leading him to reject his true identity and attempt to deceive others.
He begins as a proud, vain crow who attempts to transform himself into a peacock. He is first rejected by the peafowls, then by his own flock, leading him to a solitary and regretful existence, becoming a cautionary figure.
Vain, discontent, imitative, foolish, ostracized, lonely.
The Peafowls ⚔ antagonist
Large, majestic birds with long, elegant necks and sturdy bodies. The males (peacocks) are particularly striking, with immensely long, iridescent green-blue tail feathers that can be fanned into a spectacular display. The females (peahens) are generally duller in color, with more muted brown and green plumage, and shorter tails.
Attire: Their natural, magnificent plumage. The peacocks' 'wardrobe' is their elaborate train of iridescent green and blue feathers, adorned with numerous 'eyespots'.
Wants: To protect their identity and territory from perceived imposters and cheats.
Flaw: Their pride in their own appearance makes them intolerant of imitation.
They serve as an initial obstacle for the Vain Crow, exposing his deception and driving him away.
Proud, territorial, discerning, aggressive when provoked.
The Crow Flock ◆ supporting
A group of medium-sized birds, all covered in uniform, glossy black feathers. They are indistinguishable from each other in their natural state.
Attire: Their natural, glossy black plumage.
Wants: To maintain the integrity and social order of their flock, rejecting those who deviate or bring shame.
Flaw: Their rigid adherence to social norms and lack of forgiveness.
They serve as the final arbiters of the Vain Crow's fate, completely ostracizing him from his community.
Conformist, judgmental, communal, unforgiving.
The Owls ○ minor
Birds of prey, typically with mottled brown and grey plumage, large heads, and forward-facing eyes. They are known for their silent flight.
Attire: Their natural, camouflaged plumage of browns, greys, and whites, providing excellent concealment in trees.
Wants: To taunt and ridicule a former adversary who has fallen from grace.
Flaw: Their tendency to mock others.
They serve as a final, humiliating reminder of the Vain Crow's downfall.
Observant, mocking, opportunistic.
The Tree-Toads ○ minor
Small, warty amphibians with camouflaged skin, typically green or brown, allowing them to blend into tree bark. They have large, prominent eyes and sticky toe pads for climbing.
Attire: Their natural, camouflaged skin.
Wants: To learn and repeat the sounds they hear.
Flaw: Their susceptibility to mimicry.
They become the unwitting carriers of the Vain Crow's cautionary tale, learning their song from his lament.
Imitative, impressionable, receptive to warnings.
Locations
The Barnyard
A bustling farmyard, likely in a temperate European setting, where domestic fowl like peacocks roam. It contains shed peacock feathers and is a place of social interaction for the birds.
Mood: initially bustling and ordinary, then chaotic and hostile
The crow finds and adorns himself with peacock feathers, then is attacked and stripped of them by the peafowls.
The Crow's Original Flock Gathering Place
A gathering place for crows, likely in a group of trees or an open field, where the crow's family and old friends congregate.
Mood: initially familiar, then judgmental and rejecting
The crow returns to his original flock, only to be rejected and driven away by them for his vanity.
Forest Tree by a Pond
A solitary tree within a quiet forest, situated beside a still pond. This becomes the crow's lonely refuge.
Mood: solitary, melancholic, peaceful
The crow lives out his lonely life here, and the tree-toads learn their song from his warning.
Story DNA
Moral
It is better to be yourself than to pretend to be someone you are not, for vanity can lead to isolation and rejection.
Plot Summary
A proud crow, disliking his black feathers, decides to become a peacock. He finds shed peacock feathers, adorns himself, and attempts to mimic their walk. The peafowls discover his deception, attack him, and strip him of his borrowed finery. Upon returning to his own kind, he is rejected and driven away for his foolish vanity, ultimately living a lonely life in the forest, his story becoming a cautionary tale for tree-toads.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humiliation and loneliness
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Lida B. McMurry was an American educator and author known for children's literature and fables, often with clear moral messages.
Plot Beats (9)
- A proud crow declares his hatred for his black feathers and his desire to be a peacock.
- He flies to a barnyard and collects shed peacock feathers.
- He places the peacock feathers among his own and begins to strut like a peacock.
- The peafowls notice him, realize his deception, and attack him, pulling out his borrowed feathers and some of his own.
- The crow escapes, glad to be alive, and returns to his flock.
- His own flock, having heard of his foolishness, rejects him and drives him away.
- Even the owls, whom he disliked, mock him.
- The crow flies into the forest and lives a lonely life by a pond.
- The tree-toads learn a warning song from him: "Don't, don't-be-cheat!"
