FABLE LXXXIII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once there was The Wise Father. He had many sons. His sons were called The Brothers. They often argued. They did not play well. The Wise Father felt sad. He wanted them to be friends.
The Wise Father talked to them. He said, 'Stop arguing!' They did not listen. They still argued a lot. He did not know what to do. He thought and thought.
Then The Wise Father had an idea. It was a good idea. He called The Brothers. They came to him. He asked for some sticks. A servant brought many sticks. The servant tied them up. It was a big, strong bundle.
The Wise Father held the bundle. He said, 'Break this!' He gave it to a brother. The brother tried hard. He used his strength. But the bundle did not break. He gave it to the next. That brother tried. He could not break it.
All The Brothers tried. They pulled and pushed. They used all their power. But the sticks stayed firm. The bundle was too strong. No one could break it. They looked tired now.
The Wise Father took the bundle back. He smiled a little. He said, 'Untie the rope!' One brother untied it. The sticks fell apart. The Wise Father gave each brother one stick. Each brother had one stick.
Father said, 'Break your stick!' Each took his stick. Snap! The sticks broke simply. They broke with no effort. The Brothers looked surprised. They looked at their father. They did not know yet.
The Wise Father looked at The Brothers. He said, 'See? As one, you are strong. Alone, you are weak. The bundle was strong. One stick was weak. You are like the sticks. When you argue, you are alone. You become weak. But as friends, you are one. You become strong. No one can hurt you. Be like the bundle of sticks, my sons. Be as one, be strong.' The Brothers listened. They knew. They learned a good lesson. From that day on, The Brothers did not forget. They stayed as one. They were strong.
Original Story
FABLE LXXXIII.
THE OLD MAN AND HIS SONS.
An Old Man had many Sons, who were often falling out with one another. When the father had exerted his authority, and used other means in order to reconcile them, and all to no purpose, he at last had recourse to this expedient: he ordered his Sons to be called before him, and a short bundle of sticks to be brought; and then commanded them, one by one, to try if, with all their might and strength, they could any of them break it. They all tried, but to no purpose; for the sticks being closely and compactly bound up together, it was impossible for the force of man to do it.
After this the father ordered the bundle to be untied, and gave a single stick to each of his Sons, at the same time bidding him try to break it, which, when each did, with all imaginable ease, the father addressed himself to them to this effect: "O, my sons, behold the power of unity! for if you, in like manner, would but keep yourselves strictly joined in the bonds of friendship, it would not be in the power of any mortal to hurt you; but when once the ties of brotherly affection are dissolved, how soon do you fall to pieces, and become liable to be violated by every injurious hand that assaults you."
MORAL.
Union is strength. Love is a powerful bond, which, when cherished, will make those who are bound together by it irresistible.
Story DNA
Moral
Union is strength; love and friendship create an irresistible bond that protects against external harm.
Plot Summary
An old man is troubled by his sons' constant fighting. After other methods fail, he gathers them and presents a bundle of sticks, challenging them to break it, which none can do. He then unties the bundle, gives each son a single stick, which they easily break. The father then uses this demonstration to teach them that just as the bound sticks are strong, so too are they when united, but individually, they are vulnerable.
Themes
Emotional Arc
conflict to understanding
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This fable is widely attributed to Aesop, though its exact origin is debated. It reflects common ancient wisdom regarding social cohesion.
Plot Beats (8)
- An old man has several sons who are always fighting.
- The father tries various methods, including his authority, to make them stop, but nothing works.
- As a last resort, the father calls his sons together and has a bundle of sticks brought to him.
- He instructs each son, one by one, to try and break the entire bundle.
- Despite their best efforts, none of the sons can break the tightly bound sticks.
- The father then tells them to untie the bundle and gives each son a single stick.
- Each son easily breaks their individual stick.
- The father uses this demonstration to explain that just as the bound sticks are strong, so too is their family when united by friendship, but individually, they are easily broken.
Characters
The Old Man
A man of advanced years, likely of average height but with a slightly stooped posture from age. His build is probably thin but still retains a sense of quiet strength, indicative of a life of labor or responsibility. His hands would be gnarled and calloused, showing the marks of time.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a patriarch in a rural or modest setting, likely 18th-century European. He would wear a plain, long-sleeved linen shirt, perhaps a waistcoat of dark wool or homespun fabric, and sturdy breeches or trousers. His outer garment might be a simple, unadorned wool coat in a muted color like brown or grey. His shoes would be practical leather boots or buckled shoes.
Wants: To teach his sons the value of unity and prevent them from harming each other through their constant quarrels.
Flaw: His inability to directly control his sons' behavior through mere authority, leading him to resort to a parable.
He serves as the catalyst for change in his sons, moving from a position of frustration with their disunity to successfully imparting a crucial life lesson.
Wise, patient, authoritative, concerned, resourceful. He tries various methods to teach his sons.
The Sons
A group of adult men, varying in height and build, but generally strong and capable, reflecting their ability to exert 'might and strength'. Their physical appearance would be consistent with men who might engage in physical labor or active lives, perhaps with calloused hands and sturdy frames.
Attire: Practical, sturdy clothing typical of 18th-century European working or middle-class men. They would wear linen shirts, wool waistcoats, breeches or trousers, and sturdy boots or shoes. Colors would be muted and functional, like browns, greys, and blues, suitable for everyday wear.
Wants: Initially driven by individual desires and rivalries, leading to constant arguments. Later, their motivation shifts to understanding their father's lesson about unity.
Flaw: Their disunity and inability to cooperate, which makes them vulnerable.
They begin as a group divided by constant quarrels. Through their father's demonstration, they learn the profound lesson of unity and the strength it provides.
Quarrelsome, competitive, strong-willed, initially disobedient, eventually receptive to wisdom.
Locations
The Old Man's Study/Private Chamber
A private, somewhat austere chamber within a traditional German Fachwerk house, likely on an upper floor. The room would feature exposed dark timber beams, whitewashed plaster walls, and a sturdy wooden table where the father sits. Light would filter in through small, leaded-pane windows.
Mood: Serious, formal, with an underlying tension due to the family conflict, but also a sense of paternal authority and wisdom.
The father gathers his sons to teach them a lesson about unity using a bundle of sticks.