Introduction
Fables are short narratives which contain strong moral messages. They are easy to read and offer life-long wisdom. A famous tale of Aesop, and the subject of one of these stories, is The Stag in the Pool. It also tells us of the vanity and humility and the need to put into perspective things that really matter in life.
In this blog, we are going to read the entire story of the Stag in the Pool, its meaning and the life lessons it imparts on us.
The Story of the Stag in the Pool
One hot afternoon the stag came to a pool of clear water to drink. Bending down to drink, he observed in the water his own mirror. what he saw mesmerized that stag.
Oh, see my antlers, he said to himself. so big, so mighty, so fair. Alas! what a crown to my head!
He could not help admiring his antlers. He was proud, and imagined how impressive he was.
But as his eyes descended to his legs his countenance changed.
Look at how skinny and ugly my legs are," he said. Weak and shameful, too, compared to my enormous horns.For a brief moment, the stag stood in one spot, embarrassed by his legs and proud of his antlers.
He heard the sound of hunters all of a sudden. Dogs shouted and the stag was aware that he was in danger of his life.
Right away he ran as fast as possible. His spindly legs took him speedily through the woods, more quickly than the hunters and the dogs. He was safe, and relieved, a moment.
But shortly after, he became entangled in the trees.He desperately attempted to loosen his bonds, the harder he fought the more he became trapped.
The hunters and their dogs came to him and the poor stag was in a trap. He has burst out in woe Before being seized he spouted:
How foolish I have been! In my pride I was proud of my antlers, which now have turned me traitor, and of my legs, which would have rescued me.
Moral of the Story
The message of the story The Stag in the Pool is perennial:
Not everything beautiful is actually valuable and not everything useful is actually beautiful.
It makes us realize that we should not despise the things we find to be unappealing to us since they might prove to be the most important.
Life Lessons from the Stag in the Pool
This fable imparts to us knowledge which is applicable to most aspects of life:
The real value is usefulness. Beauty will be nice to the eyes but strength and ability will also come in handy during hard times.
Don't judge by appearance. Something small or feeble looking can be of great significance.
Be grateful for your strengths. We should not bother with what we do not have but be thankful of what we possess.
Pride can blind us. Vanity of the stag about his antlers led him to forget that his legs were of real value.
Modern Relevance of the Story
This story is full of meaning even in present times. Most individuals envy money, appearance and prestige without remembering to appreciate the inner virtues such as truthfulness, generosity and diligence. In the same way as with the stag, when we only consider the outward appearances we may be ignorant of the real issues.
The moral of the story is also not to judge any one underestimated. One can look like a regular human being, however, his or her inner characteristics can be more worthwhile than the outward appearance.
Conclusion
The Stag in the Pool is a short and yet effective fable that will teach us to be humble and accept ourselves as we are. The issue of the stag was the loss of its life due to the beauty of things. In life, things are not always about appearances-it is what is inside that assists us in the actual situations.
Then, remember this tale the next time you consider both yourself and other people.List the things you appreciate, make yourself worthy of yourself and never underrate the things that appear minor. The real value is always utilitarian and not the surface.
Suggested Next Story
Read the next story The Donkey in lion skin discover another exciting life lesson!
