The Sole’s Mouth
by Unknown · from Tales of Laughter: A third fairy book
Adapted Version
Once, in the big blue sea, fish lived. But they were not happy. Big fish pushed small fish. Strong fish hit weak fish with tails. No one was safe. The fish felt very sad. They wanted things to be fair. They wished for a good leader. They wanted peace in their home. They needed help.
The fish talked together. They said, "We need a king." A fast king. He must swim the best. He must help weak fish. He will make things fair for all. They all agreed. They would find this king. They planned a big race. The fastest fish would win.
All the fish came to the shore. They lined up in a row. Many fish were there. The Pike Fish was ready. The Herring Fish was ready. Even the flat Sole Fish was there. The Sole Fish wanted to win. He hoped to be the king. All waited for the start.
The Pike Fish moved his tail. This was the signal. "Go!" he seemed to say. All the fish started to swim. They swam very fast. The Herring Fish was quick. Many fish swam together. The race was on! They tried their best.
The fish swam and swam. One fish was very fast. It was the Herring Fish. He swam past all the others. He reached the end first. "The Herring Fish won!" cried many fish. He was the fastest swimmer. He would be their new king. Everyone saw him win.
The Sole Fish was not happy. He felt very jealous. He did not like this at all. He asked, "Who won?" He wanted to win. He wanted to be the king himself. He felt bad inside. He was vexed.
"The Herring Fish won!" someone said. The Sole Fish was very mad. He said a mean thing. "The naked Herring Fish!" he cried. He said this to be unkind. He wanted to hurt the Herring Fish. He was full of bad envy. This was not nice.
This was a very bad thing to say. The Sole Fish was mean. For his bad envy, he got a punishment. His mouth twisted to one side. It stayed that way forever. His mouth was always awry. This showed his bad heart. It was a sad mark.
Sole Fish has a twisted mouth now. Do not be jealous or mean.
Original Story
The Sole’s Mouth
The Fishes once grew very discontented because no order was kept in their dominions. None turned aside for the others, but each swam right or left just as it pleased him, sometimes between those who wished to be together, or else pushed them to one side, and the stronger ones gave the weaker blows with their tails, which made them get out of the way as fast as they could, or else they devoured them without more ceremony. “How nice it would be,” thought the Fishes, “if we had a king who should exercise the power of judging between us!” And so at last they assembled together to choose a lord, who should be he who could swim the quickest and render help best to the weaker fishes.
So they laid themselves all in rank and file by the shore, and the Pike gave a signal with his tail, on which they started off. Like an arrow darted away the Pike, closely followed by the Herring, the Gudgeon, the Perch, the Carp, and the rest. Even the Sole swam among them, hoping to gain the prize.
All at once a cry was heard, “The Herring is first, the Herring is first!” “Who is first?” asked the flat, envious Sole in a vexed tone. “Who is first?”
“The Herring, the Herring!” was the reply. “The nak-ed Herring, the nak-ed Herring!” cried the Sole disdainfully.
And ever since that time the Sole’s mouth has been all awry as a punishment for his wicked envy.
Story DNA
Moral
Envy and disdain can lead to lasting, negative consequences.
Plot Summary
The fishes, living in chaos, decide to choose a king by holding a swimming race to find the quickest and most helpful leader. During the race, the Herring is declared the winner. The Sole, consumed by envy, disdainfully questions the outcome and insults the Herring. As a direct punishment for its wicked envy, the Sole's mouth is permanently twisted awry.
Themes
Emotional Arc
discontent to order (for the community) / ambition to humiliation (for the Sole)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Fables often use animal characters to convey human morals, a common storytelling tradition across many cultures.
Plot Beats (8)
- The fishes are discontent with the lack of order in their underwater dominion, where stronger fish bully weaker ones.
- They decide to choose a king who is the quickest swimmer and best helper to bring order.
- All the fishes, including the Sole, line up for a race to determine their new king.
- The Pike gives the signal, and the race begins, with many fishes participating.
- The Herring is declared the winner of the race.
- The Sole, filled with envy, asks who won in a vexed tone.
- Upon hearing it was the Herring, the Sole disdainfully calls the Herring "naked."
- As a punishment for its wicked envy, the Sole's mouth is permanently twisted awry.
Characters
The Sole
A flat, broad fish with both eyes on one side of its head, typically a mottled brown or grey color to blend with the seabed. Its body is compressed laterally, giving it a very thin profile when viewed from the front. After the story's events, its mouth is permanently twisted to one side, giving it a perpetually vexed or disdainful expression.
Attire: N/A (fish)
Wants: To win the race and become king, or at least to see someone it deems worthy win. It is driven by a desire for status and a strong sense of superiority.
Flaw: Envy and pride. Its inability to accept the success of others, especially those it looks down upon, leads to its downfall.
Starts as an envious participant and ends as a permanently disfigured outcast, punished for its 'wicked envy'. It does not learn from its mistake but is physically marked by it.
Envious, disdainful, vexed, proud, arrogant.
The Herring
A slender, silvery fish with a streamlined body, typically about 20-30 cm long. Its scales are small and iridescent, giving it a 'naked' appearance compared to some other fish. It has a forked tail and relatively large eyes.
Attire: N/A (fish)
Wants: To win the race and potentially become king, or simply to demonstrate its natural speed.
Flaw: N/A (no specific weakness highlighted, its 'nakedness' is only perceived as a flaw by the Sole).
Starts as a contender and achieves victory in the race, becoming the fastest fish.
Fast, agile, unassuming (as it is simply swimming its best), successful.
The Pike
A long, torpedo-shaped fish with a distinctive duck-bill snout filled with sharp teeth. Its body is typically olive green to dark brown with lighter spots or patterns, providing camouflage. It has a powerful, muscular tail.
Attire: N/A (fish)
Wants: To win the race and become king, or to ensure the race is conducted fairly.
Flaw: N/A (no specific weakness shown, though it doesn't win the race).
Starts as a strong contender and the race starter, but is ultimately outpaced by the Herring.
Authoritative (as it gives the signal), powerful, swift.
Locations
The Fishes' Dominion
A vast, open underwater realm, likely a large lake or a calm sea area, where countless fish of all species swim chaotically without order. The water is clear enough to see the general movement of the fish.
Mood: Chaotic, bustling, discontented, full of jostling and minor conflicts.
The initial setting where the fishes experience disorder and decide to elect a king.
The Starting Line by the Shore
An underwater area near the edge of a body of water, where the seabed meets the shallower 'shore' area. The fishes line up in an orderly fashion, awaiting the signal for the race.
Mood: Anticipatory, competitive, ordered for the moment of the race.
The fishes gather and begin their race to choose a king.
The Race Course
The open water through which the fish race. It's a dynamic environment, with fish darting quickly, creating movement and perhaps minor disturbances in the water.
Mood: Fast-paced, competitive, tense.
The actual race where the Herring wins, and the Sole expresses its envy.