L’ÉDUCATION
by Jean de La Fontaine · from Fables de La Fontaine
Adapted Version
Once, there were two dog brothers. Their names were Laridon and César. They had very good parents. Their parents were strong dogs. They were also very handsome dogs. People knew them far and wide. They were famous in the land.
Laridon went to one home. César went to a new home. Other people took them. They lived in new places. The brothers were now far apart. They did not see each other often. Their new lives began.
Laridon lived in a kitchen. He did not get much food. He was often hungry. He did not get much care. He grew up small. He was not very strong. A kitchen boy saw him each day. The boy gave him a new name. He called him Laridon. Laridon was a common dog. He looked like many other dogs.
César lived in a new home. He went on many trips. He learned to hunt in the forest. He became very big and strong. César was a brave hunter. He caught many wild beasts. People called him César. It was a very strong name. He was famous for his courage. Everyone knew his name.
César had strong children. They were brave dogs too. His kin stayed strong and good. People took good care of them. They gave them good food. They made sure the children were strong. His kin did not get weak. They kept their good nature.
Laridon had many, many puppies. His puppies were like him. They were small and common dogs. They lived in many kitchens. These dogs helped turn meat for cooking. They turned the cooking spits. It was hard work. Many dogs like Laridon were in the land. They were all over the country.
So, César was strong and famous. Laridon was small and common. They were very unlike dogs. But good parents made them. Their lives were very unlike. It was a big change. A very big change indeed.
This story teaches us a lesson. Good care helps things grow strong. They can become great. No care makes things weak. They can become common. Good care makes a big change. Always remember this. It is a true lesson.
Original Story
L’ÉDUCATION.
Laridon et César, frères dont l’origine
Venoit de chiens fameux, beaux, bien faits et hardis,
A deux maîtres divers échus au temps jadis,
Hantoient l’un les forêts, et l’autre la cuisine.
Ils avoient eu d’abord chacun un autre nom;
Mais la diverse nourriture
Fortifiant en l’un cette heureuse nature,
En l’autre l’altérant, un certain marmiton
Nomma celui-ci Laridon.
Son frère, ayant couru mainte haute aventure,
Mis maint cerf aux abois, maint sanglier abattu,
Fut le premier César que la gent chienne ait eu.
On eut soin d’empêcher qu’une indigne maîtresse
Ne fît en ses enfants dégénérer son sang.
Laridon négligé témoignoit sa tendresse
A l’objet le premier passant.
Il peupla tout de son engeance:
Tournebroches par lui rendus communs en France
Y font un corps à part, gens fuyant les hasards,
Peuple antipode des Césars.
On ne suit pas toujours ses aïeux ni son père:
Le peu de soin, le temps, tout fait qu’on dégénère.
Faute de cultiver la nature et ses dons,
Oh! combien de Césars deviendront Laridons!
XXV
Story DNA
Moral
Without proper care and cultivation, even the most noble nature can degenerate, and great potential can be lost.
Plot Summary
Two brothers, born of noble dogs, are separated and given to different masters. One, neglected in a kitchen, is named Laridon and becomes the progenitor of common turnspit dogs. The other, through adventure and careful breeding, becomes the legendary hunter César, whose noble lineage is preserved. The fable concludes by emphasizing that without cultivation, even the greatest potential can degenerate, turning 'Césars' into 'Laridons'.
Themes
Emotional Arc
potential to decline
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
La Fontaine's fables often reflected societal values and class distinctions of 17th-century France, using animals to satirize or comment on human behavior and social structures. Turnspit dogs were a real and common sight in kitchens, used to turn spits for roasting meat.
Plot Beats (8)
- Two brothers, Laridon and César, are born from a noble lineage of dogs.
- They are separated and given to different masters.
- One brother, through neglect and poor feeding in a kitchen, is named Laridon by a scullion.
- The other brother, through adventure and hunting, becomes a renowned hunter, earning the name César.
- César's noble bloodline is carefully maintained to prevent degeneration.
- Laridon, neglected, breeds indiscriminately, populating France with common turnspit dogs.
- The story highlights the vast difference in their outcomes, despite their shared noble origin.
- The fable concludes with a moral emphasizing that lack of care and cultivation leads to degeneration, turning potential 'Césars' into 'Laridons'.
Characters
Laridon
A medium-sized dog, likely a scruffy terrier or a common kitchen dog breed, with a somewhat unkempt appearance due to neglect. His build is sturdy but not athletic, showing signs of a less active life.
Attire: None, as a dog. His 'wardrobe' is his natural fur, which is unkempt.
Wants: To find comfort and companionship, to reproduce.
Flaw: Lack of ambition, indiscriminate affection, susceptibility to domestication's softening effects.
He degenerates from his noble lineage, becoming a common kitchen dog and the progenitor of many 'turnspit' dogs, symbolizing the decline of potential due to environment.
Affectionate, indiscriminate, prolific, easy-going, domesticated.
César
A powerful, well-muscled hunting dog, likely a large hound or mastiff breed, with a noble and imposing presence. His build is athletic and lean, indicative of a life spent in the hunt.
Attire: None, as a dog. His 'wardrobe' is his natural fur, which is well-maintained.
Wants: To hunt, to prove his prowess, to uphold his noble lineage.
Flaw: Potentially pride in his achievements, though not explicitly stated as a flaw.
He fulfills his potential, becoming a legendary hunting dog, symbolizing the cultivation of nature and its gifts.
Brave, adventurous, noble, skilled, disciplined.
The Marmiton
A young, likely robust kitchen boy, perhaps with flour-dusted clothes and a practical, sturdy build from his work. He would be of average height for a young man of the 17th century French working class.
Attire: Simple, practical 17th-century French kitchen attire: a coarse linen smock or tunic, possibly a leather apron, and sturdy breeches. The clothes would be functional and likely stained from kitchen duties.
Wants: To perform his kitchen duties, to identify and categorize the dog based on its behavior.
Flaw: Not applicable, as he is a minor character with no significant flaws shown.
He serves as a catalyst for Laridon's new identity but has no personal arc.
Observant, practical, naming, unpretentious.
Locations
The Forest
A wild, untamed expanse of trees and undergrowth, where noble hunting dogs pursue deer and wild boars.
Mood: Wild, adventurous, challenging, a place of skill and prowess.
César's domain, where he hones his hunting skills and earns his name through 'high adventures' and bringing down stags and boars.
The Kitchen
A bustling, warm, and somewhat chaotic kitchen, likely in a large household or estate, filled with the smells of cooking and the activity of servants.
Mood: Domestic, comfortable, perhaps a bit neglected for a dog of noble lineage, but safe and well-fed.
Laridon's domain, where he is fed and lives a life of ease, leading to his degeneration and the proliferation of 'turnspit dogs'.