In this blog post, I’ll revisit “Aesop’s Fables”—which I once read as nothing more than entertaining stories during my childhood—through the lens of my life and experiences in my 50s, and reflect on how their meaning has taken on a new perspective.
When I was young, I read “Aesop’s Fables” in book form and also heard them as stories. Back then, Aesop’s Fables were simply entertaining stories featuring animals as protagonists. However, upon rereading them now that I’m in my 50s, the experience felt quite different. The meanings of the stories—which I hadn’t fully grasped as a child—now resonate much more deeply as they overlap with the life experiences I’ve accumulated. I was struck anew by the fact that even when reading the same story, the way we interpret it can change as we grow older and gain more experience.
People in their 50s are a generation that has accumulated a wealth of experiences. Therefore, as I read these fables one by one, I can easily grasp the meaning embedded within them. Some stories mirror experiences I’ve had firsthand, while others describe situations I haven’t yet encountered. But regardless of which category they fall into, the moment I read them, their meaning seems to come alive and stir within my heart. Stories that I once read simply for fun as a child now serve as a mirror reflecting my own life after I’ve gone through life’s experiences.
People in their 50s can be described as a sort of “sandwich” generation, situated between the younger and older generations. This position gives them unique strengths. They possess experiences that the younger generation lacks, and they still have the physical stamina that the older generation might envy. I felt that people in their 50s occupy a special position because they possess both the wisdom gained from the years behind them and the strength to face the years ahead.
We are living in the era of the “100-year life.” For people in their 50s, the number of days they have left to live may now exceed the number they’ve already lived. If that’s the case, couldn’t they live another 50 years based on the experience accumulated over the past 50 years and the physical stamina they still possess? I believe reading ‘Aesop’s Fables’ can be a good companion for slowly embarking on that journey. This is because, as we read the stories in the book one by one, we can reflect on life, look back on the time we’ve lived so far, and gain a fresh perspective on the life ahead.
Aesop is known as an ancient Greek author who was active around the 6th century BCE. As a slave, he was not treated with the dignity befitting a human being. Considering the circumstances of his life, his daily existence may well have been a living hell. Yet the fact that he was able to compose such lighthearted stories resonates deeply. It demonstrates that no matter how difficult one’s situation may be, one can always find laughter and serenity depending on one’s mindset.
Perhaps because Aesop was at the very bottom of society as a slave, he was better able to hear the sounds of the world where the earth meets the sky. He contrasted those who struggle with financial hardship yet find small joys in reality with those who, despite already having more than enough, become unhappy precisely because of their greed to possess even more. In doing so, he conveys the message that the world is a place well worth living in, provided one maintains the right mindset. This message still resonates today, even after thousands of years.
On the other hand, there is also a story that Aesop was originally a nobleman but became a slave of his own accord because he struggled to make ends meet. While a nobleman must maintain dignity and propriety, a slave would have had no such obligations. In fact, having lowered himself to the status of a slave might have made it easier for him to make a living. He could have done any kind of work and wouldn’t have had to worry about saving face. As long as he could shelter from the rain, he could have slept comfortably even on a pile of straw. I can’t help but wonder if it was precisely because he was in that position in life that he was able to observe the diverse aspects of human nature up close and weave them into entertaining fables.
Aesop’s fables feature gods, humans, and animals. These characters sometimes take on leading roles, sometimes play the villain, and sometimes portray fools. While numerous animals—such as foxes, lions, crows, donkeys, and dogs—appear, each animal possesses its own distinct character within the story. The fox acts like a fox, and the donkey acts like a donkey, each displaying certain traits. By superimposing the various human characteristics observed by people of that time onto the animal imagery they envisioned, he created stories that depict a world where humans and animals coexist.
One of the most striking things I realized while reading ‘Aesop’s Fables’ was the fact that the world people live in today isn’t all that different from the one 2,600 years ago. Most of what has changed—such as riding in cars instead of carriages, or using smartphones to share news instead of visiting in person—is merely the “tools” we use. The way people lived back then and the way people live today are surprisingly similar. The human tendency to be greedy, compete with one another, seek small joys, and live hoping for more than we have has not changed significantly, even as the times have changed.
If Aesop were to reappear in today’s world and see how we live, what would he think? Perhaps he might think, “I don’t need to write any new fables after all.” In fact, he might even take pride in the fact that the fables he created still accurately reflect human nature, even thousands of years later. I could sense the enduring vitality of “Aesop’s Fables” in the fact that, even as eras have changed and lifestyles and tools have evolved, the essential nature of humanity has remained largely the same.
If you feel that life today is arduous and that there is no hope for the future, I think it might be a good idea to choose one story from “Aesop’s Fables” that best reflects your current situation. Then, try to become the protagonist of that story. When you feel you can no longer endure the fierce competition, you might recall the story of Aesop, who abandoned his noble status to voluntarily take on the lowest status of a slave. The key is not to remain trapped in your current situation but to view your life from a fresh perspective.
What if I were to turn my own situation into a fable? Drawing on my life experiences so far, I could create my own refreshing and original fable. Just as “Aesop’s Fables”—which were simply amusing animal stories during my childhood—now, in my 50s, serve as a way to reflect on my past and contemplate my future, I, too, can craft a new story from my current life.
