Fables

The Lion's Share

THE LION went once a-hunting along with the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf. They hunted and they hunted till at last they surprised a Stag, and soon took its life. Then came the question how the spoil should be divided. “Quarter me this Stag,” roared the Lion; so the other animals skinned it and cut it into four parts. Then the Lion took his stand in front of the carcass and pronounced judgment: “The first quarter is for me in my capacity as King of Beasts; the second is mine as arbiter; another share comes to me for my part in the chase; and as for the fourth quarter, well, as for that, I should like to see which of you will dare to lay a paw upon it.”

“Hump,” grumbled the Fox as he walked away with his tail between his legs; but he spoke in a low growl—

“YOU MAY SHARE THE LABOURS OF THE GREAT, BUT YOU WILL NOT SHARE THE SPOIL.”

Interpretations and Insights:

  1. Abuse of Power: The most evident lesson is that power can often be abused. The lion uses his position as the ‘King of Beasts’ to claim all the parts of the stag for himself, leaving none for the others who participated in the hunt. This reflects how, in some systems, those in power may exploit others and disproportionately reap the benefits.

  2. Inequality and Unfairness: The story paints a clear picture of inequality and unfairness, with the lion claiming all the rewards of the joint effort. This could serve as a cautionary tale about injustice in social structures where those at the top reap more benefits than those who do the actual work.

  3. Fear and Intimidation: The lion’s final remark implies a threat to any who would dare challenge his claim. This represents the use of fear and intimidation in maintaining an unfair share of resources or power.

Hidden Insights:

  1. The Role of Each Character: Each animal plays a role in this story that may reflect societal structures. The lion represents an authoritarian figure or system, the fox may symbolize those who recognize the unfairness but feel powerless to change it, while the jackal and the wolf could represent those who, although being exploited, remain silent and accepting.

  2. The Silence of the Jackal and the Wolf: These characters do not voice their dissatisfaction as the fox does. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the dangers of silence and complacency in the face of injustice.

  3. Rationalization of Unfair Advantage: The lion gives various reasons (his kingship, his role as arbiter, his participation in the hunt) for each share he claims. This highlights how those in power often rationalize their disproportionate shares in a way that may sound fair on the surface but is inherently unjust.

  4. Manipulation of Systems: The lion manipulates his position and the situation to his advantage, reminding us of the power dynamics at play in many social and organizational structures.

  5. The Underlying Theme - “You May Share the Labours of the Great, But You Will Not Share the Spoil”: This captures the essence of the fable. In certain structures, those who do the work (the ‘labours’) do not always receive their fair share of the benefits (the ‘spoil’). The fable reminds us of the need for fairness and equity in any system, whether it’s societal, organizational, or interpersonal.

Additional Insights:

  1. Exploitation: The Lion, as the king of beasts, exploits the efforts of the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf. This exploitation reflects scenarios where authority figures take advantage of the work done by others, highlighting the imbalance often present in power dynamics.

  2. Tyranny: The Lion’s forceful claim to all the shares of the spoils and his threat to anyone who would dare oppose him is a clear representation of tyranny. This can serve as a warning about the destructive nature of tyrannical rulers or systems.

  3. Cowardice: The Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf all remain silent despite the evident unfairness, possibly due to fear. This could be an illustration of how fear can lead to cowardice, further enabling oppressive systems to remain unchallenged.

  4. Complicity in Unfair Systems: The silence and inaction of the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf contribute to the perpetuation of the unfair system led by the Lion. This reflects on how passive acceptance and lack of resistance can lead to the continuation of harmful societal structures.

  5. The Role of Fear in Maintaining Power: The Lion uses fear as a tool to maintain his power and control. This highlights how fear can be a significant factor in power dynamics, often used by those in power to keep others submissive and obedient.