Section 18
The Peacock and the Crane explained simply
Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Original excerpt
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A Peacock taunted a Crane with the dullness of her plumage. "Look at my brilliant colours," said she, "and see how much finer they are than your poor feathers." "I am not denying," replied the Crane, "that yours are far gayer than mine; but when it comes to flying I can soar into the clouds, whereas you are...
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Public-domain original
A Peacock taunted a Crane with the dullness of her plumage. "Look at
my brilliant colours," said she, "and see how much finer they are than
your poor feathers." "I am not denying," replied the Crane, "that
yours are far gayer than mine; but when it comes to flying I can
soar into the clouds, whereas you are confined to the earth like any
dunghill cock."
Public-domain original text shown for study context.
What happens here
A peacock boasts about his feathers, but the crane points to his own power of flight.
Why this scene matters
This fable teaches that beauty is not the only kind of value.
Characters in this scene
- Peacock: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
- the Crane: A central figure in the fable’s conflict and lesson.
Simple story version
The peacock is proud of his colors. The crane reminds him that usefulness can matter more than display.