Stories About Power

The following collection of stories explores themes of power, control, and influence. They delve into how different beings—whether animals, people, or mythical figures—navigate the complexities of power dynamics.

One key theme in many of these stories is the assertion of dominance. In The Dog and Her Whelps, a Dog is granted a place to give birth by a shepherd, but as her puppies grow, she claims the area as her own and drives the shepherd away. Similarly, The Lion and the Three Bulls shows a Lion using deception to separate three Bulls, who were stronger together, ultimately isolating and attacking them one by one.

Power dynamics are also explored through relationships and manipulation. In The Lion and the Fox, a Fox helps a Lion find prey in exchange for servitude, but when the Fox tries to act independently, he is caught by hunters. In The Lion and the Bull, a Lion deceives a Bull into thinking he has killed a sheep, but when the Bull realizes the Lion’s true intentions, he wisely walks away. The same theme of power through deception appears in The Cat and the Cock, where the Cat justifies eating the Cock for disturbing the humans, despite the Cock’s argument about his helpful role.

Several stories tackle the consequences of power imbalance. The Man and the Lion illustrates this when a Man and a Lion argue about their strength, but when they encounter a statue depicting a Man conquering a Lion, the Lion comments that if Lions were the creators of statues, the Man would be depicted under the Lion’s paw. Similarly, Measure for Measure follows Duke Vincentio, who leaves Angelo to rule Vienna, where Angelo’s harsh laws lead to corruption. The story ends with the Duke returning to restore justice.

The question of creation and the nature of power is explored in The Tyger, a poem that contrasts the fierce nature of the tiger with the innocence of the lamb, raising doubts about the creator’s ability to craft both. In a more direct confrontation of strength, The Lioness has the animals arguing about who can produce the most offspring, with the Lioness asserting that her single cub, though few in number, is of pure lion blood.

The theme of justice and the unpredictable nature of power plays a role in The Lady, or the Tiger?. In this story, a king forces the accused to choose between two doors, one hiding a tiger and the other a woman, leaving the fate of the prisoner uncertain. In a similar vein, A Dark Brown Dog examines power in a tragic context, where a child’s abusive relationship with a dog ends in the animal’s death after the father discards the dog.

These stories showcase different facets of power, from the subtle manipulation of creatures to the consequences of unchecked authority, highlighting the fragile nature of dominance and its potential to destroy.