FABLE XXIII
by Unknown · from Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse
Adapted Version
Once, there was a Little Jackdaw. He looked at his feathers. He was not happy with his feathers. He wanted new feathers. He wanted to be special. He wanted to be a Proud Peacock.
He walked on the ground. He saw many big feathers. They were shiny. They were colorful. They were from the Proud Peacocks. He thought they were very pretty feathers.
The Little Jackdaw took the big feathers. He put them on his body. He put them on his own feathers. He wanted to look like a Peacock. He wanted to be a big Peacock. He thought this was a good trick.
The Little Jackdaw felt very proud. He walked to the big birds. The Proud Peacocks were there. He walked to them slowly. He thought they would like him. He thought he looked like them.
The Proud Peacocks looked at him. They saw the little bird. They saw his small body. They saw his feathers. The feathers were not real. They knew he was not a true Peacock.
The Proud Peacocks were not happy. They came close to him. They gently took their feathers back. They said, "Go away now!" They were firm. The Little Jackdaw felt small.
The Little Jackdaw was very sad. He felt lonely. He went away from the Peacocks. He went back to his home. He went back to his own friends. He went to The Other Jackdaws.
The Other Jackdaws saw him. They knew he wanted to be a Peacock. They knew he left them. They turned their heads away. They did not look at him. They did not want to play.
Jackdaws said, "You wanted to be a Peacock." They said, "You did not want us." They did not let him join their group. He was alone now.
One wise Jackdaw spoke to him. "You wanted to be someone else," he said. "You did not like your own feathers." "Now you are sad." "Now you are alone." "It is best to be yourself." "Be happy with yourself."
Little Jackdaw learned a big lesson. It is best to be yourself. It is best to be happy as you are.
Original Story
FABLE XXIII.
THE VAIN JACKDAW.
A certain Jackdaw was so proud and ambitious that, not contented to live within his own sphere, he picked up the feathers which fell from the Peacocks, stuck them among his own, and very confidently introduced himself into an assembly of those beautiful birds. They soon found him out, stripped him of his borrowed plumes, and falling upon him with their sharp bills, punished him as his presumption deserved.
Upon this, full of grief and affliction, he returned to his old companions, and would have flocked with them again; but they, knowing his late life and conversation, industriously avoided him, and refused to admit him into their company; and one of them, at the same time, gave him this serious reproof: "If, friend, you could have been contented with your station, and had not disdained the rank in which nature had placed you, you had not been used so scurvily by those amongst whom you introduced yourself, nor suffered the notorious slight which we now think ourselves obliged to put upon you."
MORAL.
Great evils arise from vanity; for when we try to place ourselves in a position for which we are not fit, we are liable to be laughed at, and, when we would return to our former state, we find we have lost the esteem of our former friends.
Story DNA
Moral
Great evils arise from vanity; for when we try to place ourselves in a position for which we are not fit, we are liable to be laughed at, and, when we would return to our former state, we find we have lost the esteem of our former friends.
Plot Summary
A vain Jackdaw, discontent with his own appearance, adorns himself with fallen Peacock feathers and attempts to join an assembly of Peacocks. The Peacocks quickly discover his deception, strip him of his borrowed plumes, and punish him. When the shamed Jackdaw tries to return to his original companions, they reject him, having learned of his vanity, leaving him isolated and reproached for his presumption.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often use animal characters to satirize human behavior and convey moral lessons, a tradition dating back to Aesop.
Plot Beats (10)
- A Jackdaw is vain and ambitious, dissatisfied with his own kind.
- He collects feathers shed by Peacocks.
- He sticks the Peacock feathers among his own to disguise himself.
- He confidently attempts to join an assembly of Peacocks.
- The Peacocks quickly discover his deception.
- The Peacocks strip him of the borrowed plumes and attack him with their bills.
- Full of grief, the Jackdaw returns to his old companions.
- His old companions, aware of his previous actions, avoid him.
- They refuse to let him rejoin their company.
- One of the Jackdaws reproaches him, explaining that his vanity led to his downfall and isolation.
Characters
The Vain Jackdaw
A medium-sized, slender bird, typically about 33 cm (13 inches) long, with a compact body and a relatively short tail. Its build is agile, suited for flight and perching.
Attire: Natural plumage: glossy black feathers covering most of its body, with a distinctive lighter grey on the nape and sides of the neck. Initially, it adorns itself with iridescent blue, green, and gold peacock feathers, haphazardly stuck among its own.
Wants: To gain status and admiration by associating with what it perceives as superior birds, driven by a deep dissatisfaction with its own natural state.
Flaw: Overwhelming vanity and a lack of self-acceptance, leading it to make foolish and disrespectful choices.
Starts as vain and ambitious, attempting to elevate its social standing through deception. It experiences public humiliation and rejection from both the peacocks and its original flock, leading to profound regret and a lesson learned about contentment.
Vain, ambitious, presumptuous, insecure, regretful.
The Peacocks
Large, majestic birds with powerful bodies and long, elegant necks. Males are particularly striking with their enormous, elaborate tail feathers.
Attire: Natural plumage: Males possess spectacular, iridescent blue-green body feathers and an enormous train of elongated upper tail coverts, famously adorned with 'eyespot' patterns in shades of blue, green, gold, and bronze. Females are typically duller, with grey-brown plumage.
Wants: To maintain the integrity and exclusivity of their assembly, and to punish those who attempt to deceive or disrespect them.
Flaw: Their pride makes them intolerant of perceived imposters.
They serve as a static force, representing the established order and the consequences of presumption.
Proud, discerning, territorial, punitive.
The Old Companions (Jackdaws)
Medium-sized, slender birds, similar in build to the Vain Jackdaw, with compact bodies and short tails.
Attire: Natural plumage: glossy black feathers covering most of their bodies, with a distinctive lighter grey on the nape and sides of the neck.
Wants: To maintain the integrity of their flock and to uphold their values of contentment and humility, refusing to associate with those who have shown vanity and disdain for their own kind.
Flaw: Their strict adherence to principles makes them unforgiving of past transgressions.
They serve as a static moral compass, providing the final lesson and consequence for the protagonist's actions.
Discerning, principled, unforgiving, wise (as represented by the speaker).
Locations
Peacock Assembly Grounds
An open, well-maintained area, likely a royal garden or a grand estate's grounds, where peacocks gather. The ground is probably manicured, perhaps with short grass or fine gravel, suitable for displaying their plumage.
Mood: initially grand and elegant, then quickly becomes hostile and punitive
The Jackdaw, adorned with peacock feathers, attempts to join the peacocks but is discovered, stripped, and attacked.
Jackdaw's Former Haunt
A natural, less refined environment typical for jackdaws, perhaps a cluster of trees, a rocky outcrop, or a less manicured part of a park or forest edge, suggesting a humble, communal living space.
Mood: initially familiar and safe, then becomes cold and rejecting
The humiliated Jackdaw attempts to rejoin his old companions but is shunned and reproached.