Background Information
Fables, short moral stories, have been around for centuries and have been used to pass down meaningful lessons to younger generations. Mark Twain was an American author and humorist who is best known for writing such renowned books as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain has written a number of fables, one of which entitled “The Fable of The Golden Arm” is probably one of the most well-known and beloved of his works.
Summary
The main character of “The Fable of The Golden Arm” is an old man. He yearns for a son who is blessed with wealth and power, so he and his wife travel to a sage for advice. The sage tells the old man that he must travel to the other side of the mountain and retrieve something “astonishingly rich and beautiful” from the forest.
The old man does so, and at the edge of the forest he finds a golden arm hanging from a tree. Thinking it to be something of great value, he cuts it down and takes it home with him. To his surprise, whenever wind blew through the golden arm, it produced beautiful music. The old man joyfully takes the magical arm and reunites with his wife, who is concerned about the danger the golden arm may pose.
However, the old man convinces his wife that the golden arm must be kept safe, sparking a race amongst the wisest men of the town to find out the purpose and value of the magical arm. After much deliberation and investigation, the wise men – and the townspeople – conclude that the golden arm is an instrument of blessing, and has to be buried in the grave of the old man’s grandfather 15 years prior to get the desired child.
The old man and his wife do as the wise men say, and sure enough, nine months later, the old man and his wife are blessed with a beautiful, golden-haired son. The old man thanks the wise men and the people of the town for their advice, and from then on their family experiences a life of luxury and prosperity.
Relevant Data and Perspectives
“The Fable of The Golden Arm” is a tale which explores the idea of the power of luck being transferable and the role of fate in one’s life. Some may view the arm as a symbol of good luck, while others may view it as a way of amassing power by means of trickery. Regardless, the story concludes that the old man and his wife ultimately used the golden arm to obtain the life they wished for their son.
The story also explores the notion of the wisdom of the elders and the power of the collective knowledge of the community. The townspeople took it upon themselves to investigate the purpose of the arm and put forward their opinion of what the significance of it was, ultimately informing the old man on how he should proceed. The communal effort in this story represents a shared goal of achieving a prosperous life for the family and encourages the importance of community.
In this story, Twain also explores the notion of judgement and temptation. Despite warnings from his wife, the old man followed through in his pursuit of greatness, which may have brought tremendous risk. The acquirement of the arm, as well as the decision to bury it in the grave of his grandfather, invites judgement as it could have been done in order to deceive the gods and cause harm. The story gives insight into the age-old debate of whether the ends justify the means.
Analysis
The story serves as a cautionary tale of how one’s actions, particularly those that involve temptations, can have immense consequences. As explored in the story, the old man’s actions were morally ambiguous and could be interpreted as a form of trickery – he was taking a risk in order to fulfil his desires, a decision which could have ended with disastrous results. Twain also anticipates his audience’s views on the old man’s actions and does not provide an answer as to what the moral of the story is – this leaves readers with the ability to make their own conclusions.
Through this story, Twain subtly touches upon the notions of fate and one’s choices. While he takes advantage of the possibilities that come with risk-taking, Twain also acknowledges the uncertainty that comes with such decisions and the consequences they could bring. Ultimately, Twain writes this story as a cautionary tale that encourages readers to be mindful of the choices and risks they take, particularly those that involve temptation, in order to secure the life they desire.
Context
This story is an example of Twain’s use of humor to pass down lessons and wisdom from the past. As one of Twain’s most famous works, the story has been referenced and analysed over the years in various forms, from academic works to popular culture. For example, the Disney movie Inside Out (2015) pays homage to the story by portraying a scene in which two of the main characters, Joy and Sadness, are depicted as coming across a golden arm.
The culture surrounding Twain has also evolved as a result of this story, inspiring the production of various art pieces, merchandise, and other works of art. An example of this is the children’s book The Fable of the Golden Arm – which was inspired by the work, and is still popular among readers today.
Impact
The importance of this story lies in its ability to be interpreted in a multitude of ways. While Twain’s intended purpose may be clear, the story can be used to depict various concepts and values depending on the perspective of the reader. Its timelessness and ability to speak to the modern age has allowed the story to remain relevant in society, inspiring new interpretations and conversations.
This story may also be a reflection of Twain’s personal view on success and life, representing his belief that one should take risks in order to achieve their desired life. It also speaks to society’s emphasis on obtaining recognition and pursuing wealth, while cautioning against being too eager in obtaining one’s goals.
Effects
The impact of the story can be seen in popular culture, inspiring the production of various art pieces and merchandise. The work has also been referenced and analysed in both academic and non-academic texts. Furthermore, the story continues to pass down timeless lessons, emphasizing the importance of determining one’s own destiny and cautioning against being too eager and greedy in obtaining one’s goals.
Audience
The story has an international audience and is popular among readers of various ages. It has been used in various curriculums, from elementary school classrooms to high school English classes, and can be appreciated at any point in a person’s growth and understanding.
Expanded Perspectives
Mark Twain wrote this story in the late 19th century; the story continues to remain relevant in the modern day and continues to transcend the boundaries between cultures and generations. The story speaks to notions of fate, human judgement, and communal knowledge – themes that are applicable to experiences in any time period.
The moral of the story has also been interpreted in various ways. Some may view the arm as a symbol of good luck, while others may perceive it to be a way of garnering power by means of trickery. Ultimately, the story serves as a warning of the possible consequences that come with impulses and desires, while encouraging readers to be mindful of their choices and risks they take.
Relative Advantage
The story of “The Fable of The Golden Arm” has been appreciated over the years for its humor and relevance to modern experiences. One way in which the story has remained relevant is by inspiring the production of various art pieces and merchandise. As a result of consumer demand, various editions of the story have been created over the years – from children’s books to merchandise featuring its characters.
The story has also been used to promote important life lessons to children, encouraging them to be mindful of the consequences of taking risks and pursuing material goods as an objective. In this way, the story strives to promote a sense of humility and wisdom in its audience.
Contribution
As one of Twain’s most famous works, the story has been influential in popular culture and academia alike. Its themes of fate, human judgement, and communal knowledge speak to people of all ages. Moreover, its timelessness and ability to bring about conversations about topics such as risk and temptation have enabled the story to become a relevant source of wisdom in a modern context.
In addition, the story has been used to promote important life lessons in various curriculums, encouraging readers of all ages to be mindful of the consequences that come with taking risks and pursuing material goods as an objective. This can be seen as an example of Twain’s subtle but impactful legacy, which has been carried down through the years.
