A Cat fell in love with a handsome Young Man, and entreated Venus to change her into a woman.
"I should think," said Venus, "you might make so trifling a change without bothering me. However, be a woman."
Afterward, wishing to see if the change were complete, Venus caused a mouse to approach, whereupon the woman shrieked and made such a show of herself that the Young Man would not marry her.
What is he mocking?
A sexist joke: women's fear of mice is as ridiculous and unchangeable as a cat's nature.
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Discussion questions
- What do you think the cat hoped to achieve by becoming a woman?
- How does the cat's reaction to the mouse illustrate her true nature?
- In what ways can this story relate to real-life situations where people try to change who they are?
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Read it in another language
- القط والشاب · العربية
- Die Katze und der Jugendliche · Deutsch
- El Gato y el Joven · Español
- گربه و جوان · فارسی
- Le Chat et le Jeune Homme · Français
- बिल्ली और युवक। · हिन्दी
- Il Gatto e il Giovane · Italiano
- O Gato e o Jovem · Português
- Кот и юноша · Русский
- పిల్లి మరియు యువకుడు · తెలుగు
- Ang Pusa at ang Binata · Tagalog
- Кіт і юнак · Українська
- 猫与青年 · 中文
