A Lesson of Treachery And Betrayal
The Philippines, with its rich cultural heritage and diverse folklore, is home to numerous tales passed down through generations. One of the most enduring and widely known fables is “The Monkey and the Turtle”. This classic story, rooted in oral tradition and popularized in written form by national hero Dr. José Rizal, encapsulates the values, humor, and wisdom of Filipino storytelling.
Plot Summary
The story begins with the monkey and the turtle finding a banana tree floating down the river. They decide to split it between them. The monkey quickly cut the banana tree and keep the upper half with leaves and planted it on the ground. The turtle begin to plant her half of the tree with roots in the ground.
As time passes, the turtle’s banana tree grows tall and bears fruit, while the monkey’s banana tree died. One day the monkey visited the turtle and see the banana tree with fruits. However because the turtle is slow and cannot climb, He asks the monkey to help her pick and share the bananas. The monkey agrees but, once up in the tree, greedily eats all the fruit himself. He even mocks the turtle and throws down banana peels instead of fruit.
Angered by the monkey’s betrayal, the turtle devises a clever plan for revenge. He places sharp bamboo spikes around the base of the tree, knowing that the monkey will eventually have to come down. When the monkey descends, he falls onto the spikes and is injured. Realizing he’s been outsmarted, the monkey is furious and tries to get even.
The monkey catches the turtle and threatens for a revenge. He contemplates various ways to punish her, throwing her in the fire, smashing him with a rock, or drowning him in the river. But the turtle, being wise and cunning, tricks the monkey by pretending to fear the water more than anything. He pleads not to be thrown into the water, which convinces the monkey that throwing the turtle in the river must be the worst punishment. The monkey throws him into the river, but of course, the turtle swims away happily, having fooled him once again.
Characters and Their Symbolism
At the heart of this fable are the two main characters: the monkey and the turtle.
The Turtle symbolizes wisdom, patience, and cleverness. Despite her physical limitations, the turtle consistently outwits the monkey through intelligence and strategy. She represents the idea that those who are thoughtful and cunning can overcome even the strongest adversaries.
The Monkey, in contrast, embodies greed, impulsiveness, and arrogance. He often acts without thinking and is driven by immediate gratification. His actions illustrate the pitfalls of selfishness and the dangers of underestimating others.
The contrast between the two characters is deliberate. Through them, the story conveys timeless truths about the importance of intellect over brute strength, and morality over greed
Themes and Moral Lessons
There are several key themes woven into the fabric of The Monkey and the Turtle:
Cleverness Over Strength: One of the main lessons is that wisdom and resourcefulness can triumph over physical advantage. The monkey may be stronger and more agile, but it is the turtle who ultimately prevails.
Greed Has Consequences: The monkey’s downfall is his own selfishness. His refusal to share and his gluttony lead to his injuries and humiliation. This teaches that greed often leads to one’s own ruin.
Patience and Hard Work Pay Off: The turtle takes the time to plant her banana tree, showing patience and foresight. While the monkey seeks instant gratification, it is the turtle’s diligence that yields long-term rewards.
Justice and Retribution: The fable also explores the idea of poetic justice. The turtle, though seemingly powerless, finds a way to right the wrongs committed against her, showing that injustice will eventually be addressed.
The Power of Wit: The turtle’s ability to escape harm by using reverse psychology, pretending to fear water, highlights the power of mental agility in tricky situations. It reinforces the idea that thinking on your feet can be a lifesaver.
As with many folktales passed down orally, there are several variations of The Monkey and the Turtle. In some versions, the turtle sets a trap with thorns instead of bamboo spikes. In others, the story ends with the monkey drowning after foolishly trying to follow the turtle into the water. These variations often emphasize different moral angles, but the core message remains: cleverness and fairness are to be valued over greed and deceit.
