Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Jackdaw and the Pigeons explained
A jackdaw disguises himself as a pigeon to share their food, but his chatter reveals his true identity, leading to rejection by both the pigeons and his own kind.
What happens
A jackdaw disguises himself as a pigeon to share their food, but his chatter reveals his true identity, leading to rejection by both the pigeons and his own kind.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
The jackdaw's painted disguise fails to conceal his true nature, leading to his downfall.
Cunning and Deception
The jackdaw attempts to deceive the pigeons for personal gain, but his plan backfires.
Characters to notice
- The Jackdaw
Disguises himself as a pigeon to gain food, but is exposed and rejected by both groups.
Key passages
“A Jackdaw, watching some Pigeons in a farmyard, was filled with envy when he saw how well they were fed, and determined to disguise himself as one of them, in order to secure a share of the good things they enjoyed.”
A jackdaw, jealous of the well-fed pigeons, decides to disguise himself to get their food.
The jackdaw's motivation and plan are introduced.
“But one day he was unwise enough to start chattering, when they at once saw through his disguise and pecked him so unmercifully that he was glad to escape and join his own kind again.”
When the jackdaw foolishly chatters, the pigeons recognize him and attack, forcing him to flee.
The deception is exposed through the jackdaw's own mistake.
“But the other jackdaws did not recognise him in his white dress, and would not let him feed with them, but drove him away: and so he became a homeless wanderer for his pains.”
The other jackdaws, not recognizing him in his white paint, also reject him, leaving him homeless.
The jackdaw faces double rejection for his attempted deception.