The Crow and the Raven


Summary

The story revolves around a Crow who feels envious of the Raven because the Raven is traditionally seen as a bird that can predict future events, attracting human interest and attention. Motivated by this jealousy, the Crow attempts to mimic the Raven's role by perching on a tree and cawing loudly to capture the attention of passing travelers. However, the travelers, unimpressed, dismiss the Crow's efforts with one noting that her cawing lacks any significant meaning or predictive power. This tale illustrates themes of envy and the futility of trying to change one's inherent nature to gain approval or recognition, highlighting that authenticity and natural gifts cannot be artificially acquired.

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A Crow was jealous of the Raven, because he was considered a bird of good omen and always attracted the attention of men, who noted by his flight the good or evil course of future events. Seeing some travelers approaching, the Crow flew up into a tree, and perching herself on one of the branches, cawed as loudly as she could. The travelers turned towards the sound and wondered what it foreboded, when one of them said to his companion, “Let us proceed on our journey, my friend, for it is only the caw of a crow, and her cry, you know, is no omen.”