Can a story explain the concept of the Other? Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is about four different voyages that Gulliver undertakes. His first adventure is the most well-known; in the story, Lemuel Gulliver is a surgeon who plans a sea voyage when his business fails. During a storm at sea, he is shipwrecked, and he awakens to find himself bound and secured by a group of captors—the Lilliputians—who are six inches tall. Gulliver, having what Europeans consider a normal body height, suddenly becomes a giant. During this adventure, Gulliver is seen as an outsider, a stranger with different features and language. Gulliver becomes the Other.

What lessons about culture can we learn from Gulliver’s Travels? Swift’s story offers lessons about cultural differences, conflicts occurring in human society, and the balance of power. It also provides an important example of the Other. The Other is a matter of perspective in this story: Gulliver thinks the Lilliputians are strange and unusual. To Gulliver, the Lilliputians are the Other, but the Lilliputians equally see Gulliver as the Other—he is  their captive and is a rare species of man because of his size.

The themes in Gulliver’s Travels describe different cultures and aspects of storytelling. The story uses language, customary behaviors, and the conflict between different groups to explore ideas of the exotic and strange. The story is framed as an adventure, but is really about how similar cultures can be. In the end, Gulliver becomes a member of another cultural group, learning new norms, attitudes, and behaviors. At the same time, he wants to colonize them, a reflection of his former cultural self.

In Choctaw tradition, many stories feature animals to teach moral lessons. One such story is about the Rabbit and the Bear:

In this tale, Bear is a boastful character who prides himself on his strength and dominance in the forest. He often bullies the other animals, taking their food and demanding respect. Rabbit, a clever and resourceful creature, grows tired of Bear’s arrogance and decides to teach him a lesson.

Rabbit devises a plan and challenges Bear to a contest, claiming he can do something Bear cannot. Curious and eager to prove his superiority, Bear accepts the challenge. Rabbit leads Bear to a frozen lake and tells him to stick his tail into a hole in the ice, claiming that the fish will bite and Bear will have a grand feast. Bear, believing in his strength and doubting Rabbit’s cunning, does as he is told.

As Bear waits patiently, the ice freezes around his tail. When Rabbit signals that the fish are biting, Bear tries to pull his tail out but finds himself stuck. Rabbit laughs and reveals his trick, teaching Bear that intelligence and humility are more valuable than brute strength and arrogance.

Moral

The story teaches that cleverness and humility can triumph over arrogance and brute strength. It emphasizes the value of using one’s wits and respecting others rather than relying solely on physical power.

Maui is an important hero and trickster from Polynesian myth. His legends appear across Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, New Guinea, and New Zealand, with many different variations of similar tales. Many tales feature the demigod Maui, known for his cleverness and bravery. One such story is about Maui and the Sun.

In ancient Hawaii, the days were too short for the people to complete their work and enjoy life. Maui noticed the sun raced across the sky, giving them very little daylight. Determined to help his people, Maui decided to slow down the sun.

Maui climbed to the top of Haleakalā, a tall mountain on the island of Maui. There, he waited until the sun began its journey across the sky. Using a magical lasso made from his sister’s hair, Maui snared the sun’s rays as it rose. The sun, surprised and struggling, demanded to be released.

Maui struck a bargain with the sun, agreeing to release it only if it promised to move more slowly across the sky. The sun, realizing it had no choice, agreed. From that day forward, the sun kept its promise, and the days became longer, allowing the Hawaiian people to thrive.

Moral

The story of Maui and the Sun teaches the value of determination and clever problem-solving. It highlights the importance of using one’s intelligence and resources to overcome challenges and improve the well-being of the community.

Anansi, the trickster spider, is a central character in many West African tales. One popular story is “Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom.”

In Irish storytelling, many tales feature mythical creatures and magical events. One well-known story is “The Salmon of Knowledge.”

Long ago, there was a wise old poet named Finnegas who lived by the River Boyne. Finnegas spent his days fishing, hoping to catch the Salmon of Knowledge, a legendary fish that could grant immense wisdom to whoever ate it. According to prophecy, the first person to taste the salmon’s flesh would become the wisest person in Ireland.

One day, Finnegas caught the Salmon of Knowledge. He was overjoyed and immediately set about cooking it. He had a young apprentice named Fionn, who was tasked with watching the fish as it cooked, making sure it did not burn.

As the salmon cooked, a small blister formed on its skin. Fionn, wanting to prevent the fish from burning, pressed the blister with his thumb. In doing so, he burned his thumb and instinctively put it in his mouth to cool the burn. Unbeknownst to him, this act transferred the salmon’s wisdom to Fionn.

When Finnegas returned and saw the look of enlightenment on Fionn’s face, he realized what had happened. Although he was initially disappointed that he would not be the one to gain the knowledge, Finnegas accepted that the prophecy had come true. From that day on, Fionn became renowned for his wisdom and went on to become the leader of the Fianna, a band of heroic warriors.

Moral

The story of “The Salmon of Knowledge” teaches that destiny often works in unexpected ways, and wisdom can come from unforeseen circumstances. It also emphasizes the importance of humility and acceptance, as Finnegas gracefully accepted the fulfillment of the prophecy, even though it did not benefit him directly.