A Son of Adam
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Once, there was a man. He worked very hard. He was not happy. His name was The Worker. The sun was hot. He dug in the ground. He felt very tired. He thought about a big mistake. It was long ago. He said, "I am smart. I would not do that." "Why do I work so hard?" he asked.
The Master heard The Worker. The Master came to him. He asked, "Why do you blame?" "You would make a mistake too." The Worker said, "No, I would not." The Master said, "I will test you." "Come to me at dinner time."
Dinner time came. The Worker went. The Master led him inside. The room had much food. Good things were on the table. The Master said, "You can eat." "Eat any food you like." "But do not touch this dish." It was a covered dish.
The Master went out. He left The Worker alone. The Worker was in the room.
The Worker sat down. He ate food. He ate some of this. He ate some of that. The food was very good. But his eyes looked at the dish. The covered dish was in the middle. He thought, "What is inside it?" He felt very curious. He wanted to know more.
The Worker thought of the rule. "Do not touch," the Master said. But his wish was very strong. He wanted to see inside. He could not wait. He made a bad choice. He lifted the cover a little. He lifted it a bit more.
Then, a small Mouse popped out! It jumped from the dish. The Mouse ran very fast. It jumped off the table. The Worker was surprised.
The Worker ran after it. He wanted to catch the Mouse. The Mouse ran into a corner. Then it ran to another. It ran under the table. The Worker jumped and ran. He made a big noise. He made much mess. He tried to catch it. He ran all around the room.
The Master came back. He came into the room. He saw The Worker running. He saw the messy room. He saw the little Mouse.
The Master smiled. He said, "See now?" "It is hard to say no." "Everyone can make mistakes." The Worker understood this. He did not blame others. It is hard to say no.
Original Story
A Son of Adam
A man was one day working. It was very hot, and he was digging. By-and-by he stopped to rest and wipe his face; and he was very angry to think he had to work so hard only because of Adam's sin. So he complained bitterly, and said some very hard words about Adam.
It happened that his master heard him, and he asked, "Why do you blame Adam? You'd ha' done just like Adam, if you'd a-been in his place."
"No, I shouldn't," said the man; "I should ha' know'd better."
"Well, I'll try you," says his master; "come to me at dinner-time."
So come dinner-time, the man came, and his master took him into a room where the table was a-set with good things of all sorts. And he said: "Now, you can eat as much as ever you like from any of the dishes on the table; but don't touch the covered dish in the middle till I come back." And with that the master went out of the room and left the man there all by himself.
So the man sat down and helped himself, and ate some o' this dish and some o' that, and enjoyed himself finely. But after awhile, as his master didn't come back, he began to look at the covered dish, and to wonder whatever was in it. And he wondered more and more, and he says to himself, "It must be something very nice. Why shouldn't I just look at it? I won't touch it. There can't be any harm in just peeping." So at last he could hold back no longer, and he lifted up the cover a tiny bit; but he couldn't see anything. Then he lifted it up a bit more, and out popped a mouse. The man tried to catch it; but it ran away and jumped off the table and he ran after it. It ran first into one corner, and then, just as he thought he'd got it, into another, and under the table, and all about the room. And the man made such a clatter, jumping and banging and running round after the mouse, a-trying to catch it, that at last his master came in.
"Ah!" he said; "never you blame Adam again, my man!"
Story DNA
Moral
It is easy to blame others for their mistakes, but human nature is prone to temptation, and we might act similarly if placed in the same circumstances.
Plot Summary
A man complains about his hard work, blaming Adam's sin and claiming he would have known better. His master challenges him, setting up a test: the man can eat anything from a feast except for a specific covered dish. Overcome by curiosity, the man disobeys, opens the dish, and releases a mouse, causing a chaotic chase. The master returns, using the incident to teach the man a lesson about human nature and the ease of succumbing to temptation.
Themes
Emotional Arc
anger to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story draws on the Judeo-Christian narrative of Adam and Eve, where Adam's disobedience (eating the forbidden fruit) led to humanity's expulsion from Eden and the necessity of labor.
Plot Beats (10)
- A man working in the heat complains about Adam's sin, believing he would have known better.
- His master overhears him and challenges his assertion, promising to test him.
- At dinner time, the master leads the man to a room with a feast, instructing him to eat anything but not to touch a specific covered dish.
- The master leaves the man alone in the room.
- The man eats other dishes but grows increasingly curious about the forbidden covered dish.
- Despite his master's warning, the man succumbs to curiosity and lifts the lid of the covered dish.
- A mouse pops out from under the lid and escapes.
- The man frantically chases the mouse around the room, causing a loud disturbance.
- The master returns, witnessing the man's chaotic pursuit.
- The master uses the incident to demonstrate that the man, like Adam, could not resist temptation, thus proving his point.
Characters
The Man
A man of average height and sturdy build, accustomed to manual labor. His skin is likely tanned from working outdoors, and his hands are calloused. He appears strong and capable, though perhaps a bit weary from his work.
Attire: Simple, practical working clothes typical of a laborer in a pre-industrial European setting. Likely a coarse linen or wool tunic, possibly a jerkin, and sturdy breeches or trousers. His clothes would be functional, possibly patched, and showing signs of wear and dirt from his work.
Wants: To avoid hard labor, to satisfy his curiosity, to prove himself better than Adam.
Flaw: Impulsiveness, lack of self-control, quickness to judge others without understanding their circumstances.
He begins by blaming Adam for his suffering and believing himself superior. Through his own actions, he learns that he shares the same human flaw of curiosity and disobedience, leading to a moment of self-realization.
Complaining, curious, impulsive, easily frustrated, quick to blame others.
The Master
A man of authority, likely well-dressed and well-fed, suggesting a comfortable life. He carries himself with an air of calm wisdom.
Attire: Fine but practical clothing befitting a landowner or employer in a pre-industrial European setting. Perhaps a well-tailored wool doublet and hose, a clean linen shirt, and polished leather shoes. His clothes would be of good quality fabric and construction, in muted but rich colors.
Wants: To teach his employee a valuable lesson about human nature and self-reflection.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, acts as a figure of wisdom.
Remains consistent as a wise teacher figure throughout the story.
Wise, observant, patient, didactic, a good judge of character.
The Mouse
A small, quick, and agile field mouse. Its fur is likely a common brown or grey, with small, beady eyes and delicate whiskers.
Attire: None.
Wants: To escape capture.
Flaw: Its small size and vulnerability.
Appears briefly as a catalyst for the man's actions, then disappears.
Fearful, evasive, instinct-driven.
Locations
The Field
A hot, open field where a man is digging, likely under a strong sun.
Mood: Tiring, frustrating, mundane
The man is working hard and complains bitterly about Adam's sin, overheard by his master.
The Master's Dining Room
A well-appointed dining room with a table laden with various dishes, featuring a single, conspicuous covered dish in the center. The room is likely part of a comfortable, perhaps English, country house.
Mood: Inviting, tempting, later chaotic
The man is left alone with instructions not to touch the covered dish, leading to his temptation and the release of a mouse.