In my childhood, I used to love Aesop Fables. I read many of them over and over again. There was this simplicity vis-à-vis a symbolism of some sort that eluded me initially; but gradually I started to grasp it. But there was this one tale that still intrigues me to no end. It is the story called “The Cat and the Venus” and it goes like this :
A female Cat fell in love with a Handsome young man who was the paragon of manliness. She used to watch him all the time with starry eyes and dreamt of him every single day. Seeing the depth of her love Venus-the goddess of love descended and transformed the cat into a maiden-befitting a man of such stature. The young man was smitten the moment he saw her and married her the very next day and took her home.
While the lovers were having a nice time ; Venus ,as capricious she was ; became somewhat bored and conspired to test the woman – whether the transfiguration had altered her character too ?
She conjured up a mouse and sent it to their bed-chamber. Venus figured that matrimonial-conduct would force her to reconsider following her primal instinct and she would pay heed to reason. But on the contrary, the woman startled the man by jumping up and pursuing the mouse.
Disappointed, Venus turned the woman back into the cat-for the greater good.
What I think the writer wanted to convey was; whatever we do , or think that we’d do ; whether it is to reform ourselves or the opposite , our basic nature has the capacity to subdue the effects of our nurture. This “nature” that I speak of; is like a tube light , it stays off unless we push the switch on. The switch’s role is played by ardent temptations that are in abundance, all around us.
We for the sake of our ties; try to run from it and suppress it ; develop a will strong enough to resist it-when faced off. This strengthening of will- takes a lifetime and is still not complete by the time we breathe our last. Even the most respected saints have been enveloped by controversies (names may spike contempt-so I would rather not).
In an organization, many people try to mould themselves or others to preserve the conformity. This conformity was desired in the Industrial Revolution-Age ; when management theories talked about coordinating arm and leg movements , minimising the wastage of muscular contractions and as such. But in this era; that may lead to people resorting to slander against you.
We have learnt to accept diversity in the many forms it manifests itself. It is high time we acknowledge it in thought and character too. For even a crook has a place in society doesn’t he , why you ask ; I hope this quote quells your curiosity >
I rank myself no higher in the scheme of things than a policeman - whose utility would disappear if there were no criminals.
#Lord Salisbury