A Needless Labour
Story Summary
In "A Needless Labour," a Skunk seeks revenge on a Lion for a perceived slight and confronts him with an unpleasant odor, believing it to be an effective tactic. However, the Lion dismisses the Skunk's efforts, revealing that he already recognized his identity, making the Skunk's actions pointless. This unique moral story teaches a valuable lesson about the futility of seeking revenge in educational moral stories for class 7.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The moral of the story is that one should not waste effort on actions that are already obvious or unnecessary.
Historical Context
This fable is a modern retelling influenced by the tradition of Aesop's Fables, which often feature anthropomorphized animals to convey moral lessons. The story reflects themes of pride and self-awareness, common in folklore, where characters often misjudge their own importance or abilities in relation to others. In this case, the Skunk's attempt to assert itself against the more powerful Lion highlights the folly of overestimating one's impact or influence.
Our Editors Opinion
This fable illustrates the futility of seeking revenge against those who are unconcerned with our grievances, a lesson that resonates in modern life where holding onto grudges can impact our well-being more than our intended targets. For instance, in a workplace scenario, an employee might harbor resentment toward a colleague for a perceived slight, but instead of addressing the issue or moving on, they waste time stewing in bitterness, ultimately affecting their own productivity and happiness while the colleague remains oblivious.
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Other names for this story
"Unseen Rivalry", "The Skunk's Revenge", "Futile Fumes", "The Lion's Indifference", "Odor of Defeat", "A Skunk's Dilemma", "The Price of Pride", "A Stench of Frustration"
Did You Know?
This story highlights the theme of self-awareness and the futility of seeking revenge against those who are already dismissive of us; the Lion's indifference to the Skunk's threat underscores the idea that sometimes, our attempts to assert ourselves may go unnoticed by those we wish to impress or confront.
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