I am trying to figure out the moral of a fable written by Robert Fox. It is about a boy going on an interview and meets a girl who is sitting with her mother on the train and before the ride is over says he wants to marry her.
What was his motivation in proposing to the girl after such a short acquaintance?
The young man was clean shaven and neatly dressed. It was early Monday morning and he got on the subway. It was the first day of his first job and he was slightly nervous; he didn't know exactly what his job would be. Otherwise he felt fine. He loved everybody he saw. He loved everybody on the street and everybody disappearing into the subway, and he loved the world because it was a fine clear day and he was starting his first job.
Without kicking anybody, the young man was able to find a seat on the Manhattan-bound train. The car filled quickly and he looked up at the people standing over him envying his seat. Among them were a mother and daughter who were shopping. The daughter was a beautiful girl with blond hair and soft-looking skin, and he was immediately attracted to her.
"He's staring at you," the mother whispered to the daughter.
"Yes, Mother, I feel so uncomfortable. What shall I do?"
"He's in love with you."
"In love with me? How can you tell?"
"Because I'm your mother."
"But what shall I do?"
"Nothing. He'll try to talk to you. If he does, answer him, be nice to him. He's only a boy."
The train reached the business district and many people got off. The girl and her mother found seats opposite the young man. He continued to look at the girl who occasionally looked to see if he was looking at her.
The young man found a good pretext for standing in giving his seat to an elderly woman. He stood over the girl and her mother. They whispered back and forth and looked up at him. At another stop the seat next to the girl was vacated, and the young man blushed but quickly took it. "I knew it," the mother said between her teeth. "I knew it, I knew it."
The young man cleared his throat and tapped the girl. She jumped.
"Pardon me," he said. "You're a very pretty girl."
"Don't talk to him," her mother said. "Don't answer him. I'm warning you. Believe me."
"I'm in love with you," he said to the girl.
"I don't believe you," the girl said.
"Don't answer him," the mother said.
"I really do," he said. "In fact, I'm so much in love with you that I want to marry you."
"Do you have a job?" she said.
"Yes, today is my first day. I'm going to Manhattan to start my first day of work."
"What kind of work will you do?" she asked.
"I don't know exactly," he said. "You see, I didn't start yet."
"It sounds exciting," she said.
"It's my first job, but I'll have my own desk and handle a lot of papers and carry them around in a briefcase, and it will pay well," and I'll work my way up."
"I love you," she said.
"Will you marry me?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask my mother."
The young man rose from his seat and stood before the girl's mother. He cleared his throat very carefully for a long time. "May I have the honor of having your daughter's hand in marriage?" he said, but he was drowned out by the subway noise.
The mother looked up at him and said, "What?" He couldn't hear her either, but he could tell by the movement of her lips and by the way her face wrinkled up that she said, What.
The train pulled to a stop.
"May I have the honor of having your daughter's hand in marriage!" he shouted, not realizing there was no subway noise. Everybody on the train looked at him, smiled, and then they all applauded.
"Are you crazy?" the mother asked.
The train started again.
"What?" he said.
"Why do you want to marry her?" she asked.
"Well, she's pretty -- I mean, I'm in love with her."
"Is that all?"
"I guess so," he said. "Is there supposed to be more?"
"No. Not usually," the mother said. "Are you working?"
"Yes. As a matter of fact, that's why I'm going to Manhattan so early. Today is the first day of my first job."
"Congratulations," the mother said.
"Thanks," he said. "Can I marry your daughter?"
"Do you have a car?" she asked.
"Not yet," he said. "But I should be able to get one pretty soon. And a house, too."
"A house?"
"With lots of rooms."
"Yes, that's what I expected you to say," she said. She turned to her daughter. "Do you love him?"
"Yes, Mother, I do."
"Why?"
"Because he's good, and gentle, and kind."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Then you really love him."
"Yes."
"Are you sure there isn't anyone else you might love and might want to marry?"
"No, Mother," the girl said.
"Well, then," the mother said to the young man. "Looks like there's nothing I can do about it. Ask her again."
The train stopped.
"My dearest one," he said, "will you marry me?"
"Yes," she said.
Everybody in the car smiled and applauded.
"Isn't life wonderful?" the boy asked the mother.
"Beautiful," the mother said.
The conductor climbed down from between the cars as the train started up and, straightening his dark tie, approached them with a solemn black book in his hand.
To me, there is no clear single moral. But I do see one thing, the first and last paragraph are tied to this: if you are going to try on shoes, be ready to buy them. I hope you get the meaning of my analogy.
There are other morals her: Girls, be wary of Mom's advice and manipulations. Boys, girls can be ready in a few minutes to make a decision,so be prepared and cautious.
The moral is not clear to me, perhaps it is intended for the reader to make their own conclusion.
To determine the moral of a fable or story, you need to analyze the key elements and events within the narrative. In the case of the fable you mentioned, here's a step-by-step guide to help you identify the potential moral:
1. Read and understand the story: Familiarize yourself with the plot, characters, and their interactions. Pay attention to what each character says and does, and how their actions influence the story.
2. Identify the central theme: Consider the overarching theme or message the author might be trying to convey. Look for recurring motifs or ideas throughout the story. In the case of this fable, the central theme could be love, relationships, or the unpredictability of life.
3. Analyze character motivations: Examine the motivations behind the boy's actions and his declaration of wanting to marry the girl. Consider why he made such a hasty decision and what it might symbolize or represent.
4. Evaluate character development: Observe how the characters change and grow throughout the story. Look for any lessons they learn or morals they embody. Reflect on whether the characters' actions align with certain values or principles.
5. Consider context and author's intent: Reflect on the historical, cultural, or societal context in which the fable was written. This can provide insights into the author's intended message or the moral lesson.
Once you have gone through these steps, you should have a better understanding of the fable and be able to derive a potential moral from it. Remember that fables are often open to interpretation, so different people may find different morals or lessons within the same story.
Thank you for copying the story here.
A colleague and I have discussed your post -- and have found no clear cut moral. Perhaps your teacher wants you to use your imagination and find your own moral.
In the meantime -- some of the morals I thought of --
Don't trust a testerone-charged young man.
Don't trust an ambitious mother of a beautiful young woman.
Beware of conductors carrying solemn black books.