These past few weeks in unit 2 of our Humanities course called stories we have been learning about the intricacies of fables. During this time we learned about the use of anthropomorphism, and dissected its use in various texts and film. Some things we dissected for this include Roald Dahl’s ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’, The Panchatantra from India, and Aesop's fables. Lastly we talked about different types of characters like static or dynamic, and symbolism in these stories. We went in depth on the utilization of all these things so that at the apex of our unit we could adapt them to our own Fables to teach a moral. My fable is about Mr. Bear who wants to repair his family name at all costs. I loved writing this story, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.
Beary Bad Corporate Exploitation
Mr. Bear had humble beginnings many acres deep in the forest with many animal friends. He had pride in being such a big and happy life. He knew he had big paw prints to fill as his grandpa bear was a legendary bee enthusiast who ran a bee tycoon empire. His family amassed much wealth in honey money, but unfortunately it was short lived. Grandpa had a raging gambling addiction, and lost bee-jillions of dollars.
“I must bring pride back to our family!” declared Mr. Bear.
Mr. Bear believed that his Grandpa Bear's actions were a stain on their family name. He was determined to remake his family's legacy from the ground up, no matter what it took. He decided he needed some workers to help run the hives. First, he hired Mikey Mole to tend the ground and trees that the bees will roam on.
“Mikey! My friend, you are an excellent botanist, and you know all about caring for tree root systems. I need you to tend the land for my bee business.” Mikey was excited to see his friend and was charmed by the exciting offer. “Of course, I'll work with you, my friend; together, we will be great!”
Next, Mr. Bear meandered to his long time friend Dakota, the dhole. He decided he needed someone menacing to scare away opossums or raccoons that have been known to scavenge the bee hives.
“Dakota, dear friend, won’t you come work with me as a guard for my bee honey business? I've known you forever, and I know I can trust you with my hives.”
“Sure pal!” Said Dakota “I'm not doing much these days, and I'd say I have quite the knack for it anyways.”
Finally, Mr. Bear hired his workers. He visited the nearest hive and spoke with the queen bee.
“Good day, your majesty. I come to you today to beg your hive's cooperation in a mutually beneficial partnership with me. I wish to sell your honey for honey money and gain great fame in these woods. In return, I offer your hive protection from those who wish to harm you and vitality for the trees and land surrounding your hive.”
Mr. Bear had humble beginnings many acres deep in the forest with many animal friends. He had pride in being such a big and happy life. He knew he had big paw prints to fill as his grandpa bear was a legendary bee enthusiast who ran a bee tycoon empire. His family amassed much wealth in honey money, but unfortunately it was short lived. Grandpa had a raging gambling addiction, and lost bee-jillions of dollars.
“I must bring pride back to our family!” declared Mr. Bear.
Mr. Bear believed that his Grandpa Bear's actions were a stain on their family name. He was determined to remake his family's legacy from the ground up, no matter what it took. He decided he needed some workers to help run the hives. First, he hired Mikey Mole to tend the ground and trees that the bees will roam on.
“Mikey! My friend, you are an excellent botanist, and you know all about caring for tree root systems. I need you to tend the land for my bee business.” Mikey was excited to see his friend and was charmed by the exciting offer. “Of course, I'll work with you, my friend; together, we will be great!”
Next, Mr. Bear meandered to his long time friend Dakota, the dhole. He decided he needed someone menacing to scare away opossums or raccoons that have been known to scavenge the bee hives.
“Dakota, dear friend, won’t you come work with me as a guard for my bee honey business? I've known you forever, and I know I can trust you with my hives.”
“Sure pal!” Said Dakota “I'm not doing much these days, and I'd say I have quite the knack for it anyways.”
Finally, Mr. Bear hired his workers. He visited the nearest hive and spoke with the queen bee.
“Good day, your majesty. I come to you today to beg your hive's cooperation in a mutually beneficial partnership with me. I wish to sell your honey for honey money and gain great fame in these woods. In return, I offer your hive protection from those who wish to harm you and vitality for the trees and land surrounding your hive.”
The queen mulled over this proposition for a bit and decided the terms were fair for her hive and eventually agreed. Many celebrations came following the deal well struck. They knew that much work would be required soon enough. In the coming weeks and months, Mr. Bear's company took off. The hive expanded up to half an acre, and it had honey runners delivering all across the woods. All four animals were thriving off the honey money. The queen commanded an entire bee empire. Mikey and Dakota became famous for their skills in their respective fields, and Mr. Bear's fortune was amassing. He became known all across the woods as the up-and-coming honey tycoon and was dubbed the Biz Grizz.
Soon came the anniversary of his Grandpa Bear’s blunder, and Mr. Bear was again reminded of his family’s tarnished legacy. This was an especially dark time for Mr. Bear, and he still felt like he hadn't quite brought their name back to its former wealth and glory. He sat in the corner of his newly bought granite cave, the biggest in all the woods, and sulked. He stared at his large pile of honey coins, they seemed to speak to him seductively.
“You haven’t nearly enough, Mr. Bear. You think you are the Biz Grizz? You are nothing!” the coins chided and taunted. “You need more! Those other animals are like leeches to you. You’re the one who built this company from the ground up. You deserve everything!!!”
Something dark and twisted churned within Mr. Bear. Perhaps he should have it all, perhaps he had been too kind and giving to the other animals. So he hatched a plan; he would cut costs everywhere. First was safety.
“Safety is not a concern for what would be the forest's greatest honey magnate.” Mr. Bear said menacingly.
He laid off the honey guard, Dakota Dhole.
“We are already thriving. We have no need for a botanist.” Mr. Bear said deviously.
He laid off Mikey Mole the bee botanist.
“Now that we're down to the essentials. It’s time to turn up production!”
Mr. Bear enforced quotas of up to three times as much honey as the hives had already been making. Queen bee now began to hear complaints of over work, and threats of revolts from all over the hive. The workers were under far too much pressure, and they were not happy about it. Resources from all over were being over abused, and a toll had been taken on the surrounding plant life. To make matters worse all the extra honey had been luring in predators and stories of hives being attacked was spreading. The Queen was taking heat and something had to be done. She explained all that had been going wrong, and pleaded to Mr. Bear to ease up on the quotas.
“We need to bring back Dakota and Mikey. The health and safety of the hive depends on it.
Unfortunately all that Mr. Bear could think of was how much less honey money he would make if he did bring them back.
“More! More! I need more, Queen! Tell the workers to double the production once more. All the animals love the stuff. We can’t stop now.”
The queen was shocked.
“If we double it again there could be dangerous consequences. My workers could die, and the forest could rot.”
Mr. Bear would not be swayed. Workers could not keep up anymore; they began dying from sheer overwork. The flowers and trees were not even being properly pollinated and were wilting. Anything within the radius of the hive looked like death itself. A gray and gloomy veil blanketed the forest; things were dying. Mr. Bear could not see the atrocities taking hold of his home from behind the fat stack of money piled high. One morning a very weak looking queen bee came to visit Mr. Bear.
“Look what you’ve done. The balance of the forest is ruined. My hive population is twenty percent of what it used to be, and my subjects cry for help. You cannot hear them because you do not listen. It’s incessant, and I can no longer bear to listen. I am no longer fit to be queen and I will not allow you to abuse my subjects any longer.”
She was at her breaking point. Before Mr. Bear could react the Queen bee zipped up to Mr. Bear and stung him, killing her instantly. Mr. Bear wept at the body of the once powerful queen who now appeared pale and aged. Finally he saw it. The once vibrant forest was decaying by his own hand.
“This is too much! Did I do this?”
Mr. Bear was in agony
“I never meant for this”
He then made a vow in the name of the fallen queen to make sure no creature would have to suffer for his petty greed again. He gave up his honey money, and apologized to his friends. He left the forest that day never to be seen again.
Soon came the anniversary of his Grandpa Bear’s blunder, and Mr. Bear was again reminded of his family’s tarnished legacy. This was an especially dark time for Mr. Bear, and he still felt like he hadn't quite brought their name back to its former wealth and glory. He sat in the corner of his newly bought granite cave, the biggest in all the woods, and sulked. He stared at his large pile of honey coins, they seemed to speak to him seductively.
“You haven’t nearly enough, Mr. Bear. You think you are the Biz Grizz? You are nothing!” the coins chided and taunted. “You need more! Those other animals are like leeches to you. You’re the one who built this company from the ground up. You deserve everything!!!”
Something dark and twisted churned within Mr. Bear. Perhaps he should have it all, perhaps he had been too kind and giving to the other animals. So he hatched a plan; he would cut costs everywhere. First was safety.
“Safety is not a concern for what would be the forest's greatest honey magnate.” Mr. Bear said menacingly.
He laid off the honey guard, Dakota Dhole.
“We are already thriving. We have no need for a botanist.” Mr. Bear said deviously.
He laid off Mikey Mole the bee botanist.
“Now that we're down to the essentials. It’s time to turn up production!”
Mr. Bear enforced quotas of up to three times as much honey as the hives had already been making. Queen bee now began to hear complaints of over work, and threats of revolts from all over the hive. The workers were under far too much pressure, and they were not happy about it. Resources from all over were being over abused, and a toll had been taken on the surrounding plant life. To make matters worse all the extra honey had been luring in predators and stories of hives being attacked was spreading. The Queen was taking heat and something had to be done. She explained all that had been going wrong, and pleaded to Mr. Bear to ease up on the quotas.
“We need to bring back Dakota and Mikey. The health and safety of the hive depends on it.
Unfortunately all that Mr. Bear could think of was how much less honey money he would make if he did bring them back.
“More! More! I need more, Queen! Tell the workers to double the production once more. All the animals love the stuff. We can’t stop now.”
The queen was shocked.
“If we double it again there could be dangerous consequences. My workers could die, and the forest could rot.”
Mr. Bear would not be swayed. Workers could not keep up anymore; they began dying from sheer overwork. The flowers and trees were not even being properly pollinated and were wilting. Anything within the radius of the hive looked like death itself. A gray and gloomy veil blanketed the forest; things were dying. Mr. Bear could not see the atrocities taking hold of his home from behind the fat stack of money piled high. One morning a very weak looking queen bee came to visit Mr. Bear.
“Look what you’ve done. The balance of the forest is ruined. My hive population is twenty percent of what it used to be, and my subjects cry for help. You cannot hear them because you do not listen. It’s incessant, and I can no longer bear to listen. I am no longer fit to be queen and I will not allow you to abuse my subjects any longer.”
She was at her breaking point. Before Mr. Bear could react the Queen bee zipped up to Mr. Bear and stung him, killing her instantly. Mr. Bear wept at the body of the once powerful queen who now appeared pale and aged. Finally he saw it. The once vibrant forest was decaying by his own hand.
“This is too much! Did I do this?”
Mr. Bear was in agony
“I never meant for this”
He then made a vow in the name of the fallen queen to make sure no creature would have to suffer for his petty greed again. He gave up his honey money, and apologized to his friends. He left the forest that day never to be seen again.
THE END
Comments
Post a Comment