A Fable a Day — Aesop’s “The Hawk and the Pigeons”
“Some pigeons had long lived in fear of a hawk, but since they had always kept on the alert and stayed near their dovecote, they had consistently managed to escape their enemy’s attacks. Finding his sallies unsuccessful, the hawk now sought to use cunning to trick the pigeons.
“Why,” he once asked, “do you prefer this life of constant anxiety when I could keep you safe from any conceivable attack by the kites and falcons? All you have to do is make me your king, and I won’t bother you anymore.”
Trusting his claims, the pigeons elected him to their throne, but no sooner was he installed than he began exercising his royal prerogative by devouring a pigeon a day.
“It serves us right,” said one poor pigeon whose turn was yet to come.
Some remedies are worse than the disease itself.”
The first thought that comes to mind is wondering when I might have been in a situation like this. Who was the hawk? Was I a pigeon? Or was I, perhaps, the hawk at any point?
I know I have been in relationships with people who were just like the hawk.
“Be with me. I’m the only one who can protect you from your crazy ex.”
The hawk assured me I would be safe from the torments of my last relationship, but what he did not share was that his own form of torments would have more room to grow.
The pigeon that said it “serves them right” had a melancholy approach to this situation, and I have been that pigeon before — gave up hope, gave into the astronomical needs of an emotionally abusive partner under the impression that I would be saved from the worst while recognizing that I put myself in that position.
Does it really serve us right?
Do we deserve to be hurt because we didn’t foresee the outcome clearly?
I don’t think so. Let me know what you think about this fable.
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