LA BESACE
by Jean de La Fontaine · from Fables de La Fontaine
Adapted Version
Long ago, the great god called all creatures. He was a great god. He was very wise. He wanted to talk. He wanted to hear ideas. He wanted to know their thoughts. The great god asked all to come. He said, "Tell me about you. Tell me about others. What do you think? Speak without fear. Tell me everything."
The great god looked at The Monkey. "Monkey, speak first," he said. The Monkey felt happy. It felt very proud. It looked at its body. It looked at its fur. It looked at its legs. It thought, "I am very nice. My fur is good. My legs are good. I am perfect. I am the best."
The Monkey said, "I am happy with me. I have four feet. My face is good. My body is just right. Monkey looked at Bear. It saw The Bear. "But look at The Bear!" it said. "The Bear is not good. Its body is too big. It looks not done. No one should paint The Bear. It is not pretty. The Bear is ugly. Its shape is bad."
The
Original Story
LA BESACE.
Jupiter dit un jour: Que tout ce qui respire
S’en vienne comparoître aux pieds de ma grandeur;
Si dans son composé quelqu’un trouve à redire,
Il peut le déclarer sans peur:
Je mettrai remède à la chose.
Venez, singe; parlez le premier, et pour cause:
Voyez ces animaux, faites comparaison
De leurs beautés avec les vôtres.
Êtes-vous satisfait?—Moi, dit-il; pourquoi non?
N’ai-je pas quatre pieds aussi bien que les autres?
Mon portrait jusqu’ici ne m’a rien reproché;
Mais pour mon frère l’ours, on ne l’a qu’ébauché:
Jamais, s’il me veut croire, il ne se fera peindre.
L’ours venant là-dessus, on crut qu’il s’alloit plaindre.
Tant s’en faut: de sa forme il se loua très-fort;
Glosa sur l’éléphant, dit qu’on pourroit encor
Ajouter à sa queue, ôter à ses oreilles;
Que c’étoit une masse informe et sans beauté.
L’éléphant étant écouté,
Tout sage qu’il étoit, dit des choses pareilles:
Il jugea qu’à son appétit
Dame baleine étoit trop grosse.
Dame fourmi trouva le ciron trop petit,
Se croyant pour elle un colosse.
Jupin les renvoya s’étant censurés tous;
Du reste, contents d’eux. Mais parmi les plus fous
Notre espèce excella; car tout ce que nous sommes,
Lynx envers nos pareils et taupes envers nous,
Nous nous pardonnons tout, et rien aux autres hommes:
On se voit d’un autre œil qu’on ne voit son prochain.
Le fabricateur souverain
Nous créa besaciers[3] tous de même manière,
Tant ceux du temps passé que du temps d’aujourd’hui:
Il fit pour nos défauts la poche de derrière,
Et celle de devant pour les défauts d’autrui.
VIII
Story DNA
Moral
Humans are quick to see the flaws in others but blind to their own, a trait shared by all creatures.
Plot Summary
Jupiter calls all creatures to a grand assembly, inviting them to critique their own forms and those of others. Each animal, from the Ape to the Ant, praises its own appearance while finding significant flaws in others. After dismissing them, Jupiter observes that all creatures, especially humans, are quick to judge others' imperfections but blind to their own. The fable concludes by explaining that the creator gave all beings two pouches: one for their own faults, hidden behind, and one for others' faults, visible in front.
Themes
Emotional Arc
amusement to realization
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Jean de La Fontaine's fables are often adaptations of ancient Greek and Roman fables (like Aesop's) or Indian tales, reinterpreted with a French 17th-century perspective, often satirizing human nature and society.
Plot Beats (9)
- Jupiter calls all living creatures to appear before him to voice any complaints about their own forms or others'.
- The Ape is asked to speak first, comparing its beauty to others.
- The Ape declares itself satisfied with its own form but criticizes the Bear, suggesting it's unfinished.
- The Bear then speaks, praising its own shape and criticizing the Elephant, suggesting improvements to its tail and ears.
- The Elephant, despite its wisdom, finds fault with the Whale, deeming it too large.
- The Ant, believing itself a giant, finds the Mite too small.
- Jupiter sends them all away, each having criticized others but remained content with themselves.
- The narrator concludes that humans are the most foolish, being lynxes to others' faults and moles to their own.
- The narrator explains that the 'sovereign creator' made all humans with two pouches: one behind for their own faults, and one in front for the faults of others.
Characters
Jupiter
A majestic and powerful figure, embodying the classical Roman depiction of the king of gods. Imposing height and broad build, radiating authority. His skin is smooth and unblemished, suggesting eternal youth despite his ancient wisdom.
Attire: Draped in a flowing toga of rich, deep purple silk, edged with intricate gold embroidery. He wears heavy gold armbands on his biceps and a broad gold belt. His sandals are made of fine leather, also adorned with gold. His attire speaks of ultimate power and regality.
Wants: To observe and subtly teach his creations about self-perception and judgment, highlighting the inherent human (and animal) flaw of seeing others' faults before one's own.
Flaw: Perhaps a slight detachment from the immediate concerns of his creations, viewing them with a god's distant perspective.
Remains largely unchanged, serving as the catalyst and observer for the story's moral revelation.
Authoritative, observant, somewhat amused, and ultimately wise. He sets the stage for the moral lesson, allowing his creations to expose their own flaws.
The Monkey
A medium-sized monkey, agile and slender, with long, prehensile limbs. Covered in short, dark brown fur, slightly lighter on its belly and face. Its tail is long and often curled.
Attire: None, as a wild animal.
Wants: To assert its own perceived superiority and find fault in others, particularly its 'brother' the bear.
Flaw: Extreme vanity and lack of self-awareness.
Remains unchanged, serving as the initial example of the fable's central theme.
Vain, self-satisfied, and quick to criticize others while oblivious to its own flaws. It is the first to speak, setting the tone for the others' self-congratulatory judgments.
The Bear
A large, powerful bear with a stocky, muscular build. Covered in thick, shaggy brown fur. Its paws are large and heavy.
Attire: None, as a wild animal.
Wants: To defend its own appearance and deflect any potential criticism by finding greater flaws in others.
Flaw: Profound lack of self-awareness and a tendency to project its own insecurities.
Remains unchanged, serving as another example of the fable's central theme.
Self-satisfied, defensive, and quick to turn criticism onto others. Despite being criticized by the monkey, it finds no fault in itself and immediately criticizes the elephant.
The Elephant
A massive, grey-skinned elephant with thick, wrinkled skin. Its body is immense and powerful, supported by thick, columnar legs. It has large, flapping ears and a long, prehensile trunk.
Attire: None, as a wild animal.
Wants: To assert its own perceived ideal form by finding fault in others, specifically the whale.
Flaw: Even with its wisdom, it is not immune to vanity and the human-like tendency to judge others.
Remains unchanged, demonstrating that even the 'wise' are prone to the fable's central flaw.
Despite its reputation for wisdom, it succumbs to the same flaw of self-satisfaction and criticism of others, judging the whale for its size.
Dame Whale
An enormous marine mammal, blue-grey in color, with a streamlined, immense body. Its skin is smooth and sleek, adapted for aquatic life.
Attire: None, as a wild animal.
Wants: To exist as it is.
Flaw: Its immense size is perceived as a flaw by others.
Remains unchanged, serving as an example of a creature criticized for its natural form.
Not directly shown, but implied to be simply existing in its natural state, becoming the object of the elephant's criticism due to its size.
Dame Ant
A tiny insect with a segmented black body, six slender legs, and small antennae. Its body is hard and chitinous.
Attire: None, as a wild animal.
Wants: To assert its own perceived significance by finding fault in even smaller creatures.
Flaw: Extreme self-importance and lack of perspective regarding its own size in the grand scheme.
Remains unchanged, serving as the final example of the fable's central theme.
Self-important and prone to judging others, despite its own small size. It considers itself a 'colossus' compared to the mite.
The Mite
An infinitesimally small arachnid, barely visible to the naked eye, with a translucent or pale body and eight tiny legs. Its form is almost imperceptible.
Attire: None, as a wild animal.
Wants: To exist as it is.
Flaw: Its minuscule size is perceived as a flaw by others.
Remains unchanged, serving as an example of a creature criticized for its natural form.
Not directly shown, but its existence is simply 'too small' for the ant.
Locations
Mount Olympus Throne Room
A grand, celestial throne room befitting Jupiter, likely adorned with classical Greek architectural elements like polished marble, golden accents, and open views to a stylized, ethereal sky. The atmosphere is one of divine authority and judgment.
Mood: authoritative, formal, judgmental
Jupiter convenes all creatures to judge their own forms and those of others, setting the stage for the fable's moral.