The Mourning Brothers
Story Summary
In the short story "The Mourning Brothers," an Old Man, sensing his death, challenges his sons to prove their sorrow by wearing weeds on their hats, promising his fortune to the one who endures the longest. After years of stubbornness, they agree to share the inheritance, only to discover that an Executor has taken control of the estate, leaving them with nothing. This tale, rich in folklore and moral lessons, highlights the consequences of hypocrisy and obstinacy, making it one of the best moral stories in short story collections.
Click to reveal the moral of the story
Hypocrisy and stubbornness can lead to self-inflicted loss and regret.
Historical Context
This story reflects themes common in fables and moral tales, particularly those found in Aesop's Fables, which often explore human nature, familial relationships, and the consequences of actions. The narrative highlights the futility of insincere displays of grief and the complexities of inheritance, resonating with cultural traditions that emphasize the moral lessons gleaned from familial disputes and the value of genuine respect. Variations of such themes appear in various cultures, including similar tales in folk literature that critique hypocrisy and the folly of stubbornness.
Our Editors Opinion
This fable serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of posthumous respect and the futility of competing for approval through empty gestures. In modern life, we often see similar dynamics in family inheritance disputes, where relatives may feign loyalty or manipulate situations for personal gain, ultimately leading to fractured relationships and unintended consequences. For instance, siblings might engage in a bitter rivalry over their parents' estate, pretending to honor their parents' memory, only to realize that their actions have estranged them from one another, much like the sons in the story.
You May Also Like
The Miser and His Gold
A Miser hides his gold at the foot of a tree, visiting it regularly to gloat over his wealth but never using it, illustrating a classic moral lesson. When a robber steals the gold, the Miser laments its loss, only to be reminded by a neighbor that since he never utilized the treasure, he might as well simply look at the empty hole instead. This tale, one of the top 10 moral stories, teaches that wealth is worthless if not put to use.
The Salt Merchant and His Ass
In this quick moral story, a peddler's Ass attempts to lighten its load of salt by intentionally falling into a stream, but the clever peddler sees through this trick and replaces the salt with sponges. When the Ass falls again, the sponges absorb water, resulting in a double burden instead of relief. This folklore teaches a meaningful lesson on the consequences of deceit in life-changing stories with moral implications for students.
Religions of Error
In "Religions of Error," a Christian in the Orient witnesses the violent conflict between Buddhists and Mohammedans, reflecting on the animosities that divide faiths. Despite acknowledging the brutality of religious intolerance, he smugly concludes that his own religion is the only true and benevolent one, illustrating a moral lesson for young readers about the dangers of arrogance and the need for understanding among different beliefs. This easy small story with a moral encourages students to learn from the flawed perceptions that lead to conflict.
Other names for this story
Brothers of Grief, The Weeds of Regret, Inheritance of Sorrow, The Last Will of the Old Man, Hat of Mourning, Legacy of Hypocrisy, The Price of Grieving, Brothers in Mourning
Did You Know?
This story illustrates the futility of seeking respect through artificial displays of mourning, highlighting how genuine emotions and familial bonds can be overshadowed by competition and greed. Ultimately, it serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of hypocrisy and stubbornness in human relationships.
Subscribe to Daily Stories
Get a new moral story in your inbox every day.