Reading Notes: Tricksters: Tiger, Brahman, and Jackal

The story that I would like to focus on today would be the Indian folktale of The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal. Aside from the actual story itself, the author takes advantage of the use of personification to develop an entertaining tale. The use of personification allows writers to add another dimension to their writing that is usually barred by grounds of realism. For us students, personification is a refreshing theme to use considering the fact that we are often limited to the real world and the requirements of the use of facts in our writings.  In this folktale, we are introduced to several, non-titular characters and see their views as personified beings (in this case, the ability to think and have feelings as humans). The author actually shows these characters - such as the road, the buffalo, and the tree - as embittered characters and shows just how unappreciated they are by humans. I feel that I can maybe redesign the story so that we can maybe see these bitter characters in a happier, more playful light. Another thing I might do is to further develop the Jackal's character. The only reason why I knew the Jackal is the way he is is because of the foreword. Why is the jackal a trickster? Is this a common theme that is resonated in different cultures? Going on a tangent, there is a story I know where a disloyal arms dealer is nicknamed "The Jackal". Is he named this due to his "trickster" nature? In another story, The Hare that Was Not Afraid to Die, a jackal is also a character that steals to gain food. Are jackals just automatically to be assumed dishonest? These are some of the questions that I will have to consider while creating my own story.

(The most mistrusted animal of all time, the Jackal:

The Horror Digest)