I've been re-thinking the story of the Ant and the Grasshopper. It's an interesting tale of extremes, based on different values. The ant works hard all summer while the grasshopper sings. (I love the illustrations in which the grasshopper is playing the violin. Very cool!) When winter comes, the grasshopper is toast while the ants are cozy and warm in their den with the stored food of summer. In many versions at the end of the story, the ants are cruel to the lazy grasshopper.
Mostly in the past when I heard this story, my reaction was shame because clearly I am a grasshopper, not an ant! But since I've decided it's too late in life to feel ashamed of my basic nature, I'm free of the emotional baggage that kept me from examining this story closely.
According to wikipedia there's another version of the tale in which the point of the story is an exploration of one's nature. Are you a grasshopper or an ant? is the theme, rather than You'd better work hard, you lazy bastards -- or else!
What's missing from this story is the Tao of Goldilocks. Sitting around playing the violin all summer long without ever being productive sounds completely boring, while working all summer, never enjoying the long days and warm sunshine, is a very sad idea indeed. I wonder if all of Aesop's fables are polarized in this way.
I was at a party last night with people who have worked hard all their lives. Every one of them comes from families that already had plenty of money, country homes, etc. and every one of them was the recipient of wonderful opportunities, great schools, travel and privilege. Success, for these people, was never an option. They were raised for a life of privilege and they worked hard to create this luxury for themselves. They've amassed lots of property, fabulous clothes and jewelry, and the pride that comes with achievement. They're now looking forward to kicking back and enjoying all they've worked so hard to bring into being. I salute and admire these people! My life could not look less like theirs, however. I was impressed with their warmth towards me, in spite of how obviously I did not fit in.
The haphazard life path I've followed, working just enough to make possible a lot of singing, without the foundation of privilege, has provided many unusual opportunities. Certainly I've happened upon a different set of opportunities than the people at last night's party, no doubt about it.
Am I a grasshopper, then? Not exactly. I'm a grasshopper who does more than just sing, who stops to smell the roses a lot more often than any self respecting ant ever would. I don't regret it.
5 comments:
I know this story in a different way, of the mouse Frederick who did not help to store food for the winter, but instead collected colours and sounds and stories. And when the winter came and food was getting scarce, and they all cuddled together in their den, feeling downhearted, Frederick kept everyone alive by singing songs and telling wonderful stories and making the other mice laugh. I like that story better!!
And it says how much we need storytellers and joy, not only food.
Angela, I like that story better too!
Haphazard life path. Yes. Working just enough to allow lots of singing. Yes. I don't think that's bad. Accumulating property and stuff means caring for and maintaining it which also costs money. What I see though is a disdain for the arts. Making music is not considered an admirable way to spend your time. Poor ants. At they end they just have a lot of stuff they have to take care of.
Not only that - the ants work themselves to death all summer, then have to huddle in their den through the winter. What a life!
Ellen the dinner party people spoke at great length about the cost of property taxes on their real estate, also there was a long talk about how the kids would probably have to sell the houses. One of those properties is 250 years old, in Massachusetts. That kind of familial stability is completely alien to me.
Wow!
I suspect that story was made more extreme by our forebears from the last few centuries, who all so admired a so-called Protestant work ethic. I wonder how much it resembles the fable actually taught by Aesop.
I like Frederick's story better, too!
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