The Crow and Mercury
Story Summary
In the fable "The Crow and Mercury," a crow, ensnared and desperate, prays to Apollo for rescue, promising to offer frankincense at his shrine, but forgets his vow once freed. Caught again, he makes a similar promise to Mercury, who scolds him for betraying Apollo and questioning his loyalty. This short story with moral illustrates the consequences of failing to honor one's commitments, a theme found in many well-known moral stories.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
The moral of the story is that one should honor their commitments and loyalty, as betraying trust can lead to a loss of credibility and support.
Historical Context
This fable, attributed to Aesop, reflects themes of gratitude and fidelity, common in ancient Greek storytelling. Aesop’s fables often featured animals with human traits, teaching moral lessons relevant to the society of his time, where the gods were believed to actively influence human affairs. The story illustrates the importance of keeping promises and the consequences of ingratitude, resonating through various retellings in Western literature and moral teachings.
Our Editors Opinion
This fable highlights the importance of integrity and keeping one's promises, especially in times of distress. In modern life, a person may seek help from a mentor or friend during a tough period, vowing to support them in return, only to neglect that promise once their situation improves; this reflects a lack of accountability that can damage relationships and reputations.
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Other names for this story
"Crow's Betrayal, The Snared Promise, Apollo's Wrath, Mercury's Judgment, A Crow's Oath, The Unfaithful Crow, Frankincense and Deceit, The Crow's Redemption"
Did You Know?
This story highlights the theme of faithfulness and the consequences of breaking promises, illustrating how the crow's lack of loyalty leads to distrust from both Apollo and Mercury, emphasizing the importance of keeping one's word.
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Story Details
- Age Group
- adultkidschildrenstory for class 2story for class 3story for class 4story for class 5story for class 6story for class 7story for class 8
- Theme
- betrayalaccountabilitythe consequences of promises
- Characters
- CrowApolloMercury
- Setting
- shrinesnareApollo's domainMercury's domain