Storytelling for Week 4: The Little Cat

The gods were once disputing whether it was possible for a living being to change its nature. Jupiter said "Yes," but Venus said "No."
So, to try the question, Jupiter turned a Cat into a Maiden, and gave her to a young man for a wife. The wedding was duly performed and the young couple sat down to the wedding-feast.
"See," said Jupiter, to Venus, "how becomingly she behaves. Who could tell that yesterday she was but a Cat? Surely her nature is changed?"
"Wait a minute," replied Venus, and let loose a mouse into the room. No sooner did the bride see this than she jumped up from her seat and tried to pounce upon the mouse.
"Ah, you see," said Venus: "Nature will out."

(The Cat- Maiden from Aesop's Fable)

The Little Cat

    

    Once there was a little cat who wished to be human. All day from a window, the little cat would watch humans go about their day. She would see them going to the market, dancing in the streets, reading books, and eating at restaurants. The little cat envied the humans. She thought that their lives were so much more exciting and carefree. The little cat wished to dance, fall in love, go to movies, and eat ice cream just as the humans do. 

   To make her dreams come true the little cat went to search for someone who could help her achieve this goal. While she was wondering around, she came upon the God Jupiter. Jupiter saw that the little cat was distraught and asked her what was wrong. The little cat replied that she is tired of being a cat and wishes to be human. Jupiter pitied the little cat and granted the little cat her wish on one condition. She is forbidden to speak because if she spoke she would have "meowed," revealing her true identity. If she speaks she will consequently turn back into a cat. The little cat was hesitant about this one condition because if she cannot speak how will she make friends. Despite it, she agreed to the deal. 

     The little cat, no longer a cat anymore but a human, woke up in a strange place. She was in bed in a palace. Apparently, a young prince and his servants found her in the forest and saved her. Eventually, a servant came in asking her what her name was but unable to speak she pointed at a bouquet of daisies on the table, suggesting that the servant call her Daisy. The servant informed her that she will be having dinner with the Prince tonight. 

    During dinner, Daisy could not help but stare at the Prince. The Prince was the most beautiful human she had ever seen. She immediately fell in love with him. The Prince fell in love with Daisy as well. The Prince and Daisy spent the day together. He showed her his kingdom. They went dancing, ate lavishly at restaurants, saw a movie, and ate ice cream. It seemed as though Daisy's wishes were all coming true. 

    They returned to the palace to have tea. While conversing and having tea, a mouse appeared. Daisy unable to resist her instinct "meowed" at the mouse and pounced at it. The Prince stared in astonishment as Daisy turned back to a cat. The little cat embarrassed ran away.

    The Prince never saw her again after that. Their story became a fable that was told to children, from generation to generation. Some said that the Prince still loved Daisy and tried to search for her but was unsuccessful. While some say that the little cat was always with the prince from a distance, watching him-- unable to approach him because of her embarrassment.

(The Little Cat)

 

    Author's Note: 
This story is based on the story of  The Cat-Maiden. The story of "The Cat-Maiden" can be found in Aesop's Fables. The "Cat-Maiden" is about a cat that is turned into a human by the Gods Jupiter and Venus. Jupiter and Venus had a bet. Venus argued that the cat would not be able to resists its instincts and act like a cat. Jupiter disagreed with this belief. In the end Venus won the bet. The cat-human saw a mouse and thus the cat-human could not help but to return to its cat-like instincts. This story reminded me of the Little Mermaid. It reminded me of the Little Mermaid because like Ariel in the Little Mermaid, the cat is transformed into a human as well and experiences love for the first time. I made the cat Ariel and Jupiter Ursula. Analogous to the film the Little mermaid, the Daisy falls in love with a prince. They have a romantic few days but like Ariel, the Daisy could not hide from her true form. My version does not have a happy ending like the Little Mermaid. I chose to change the ending because I wanted the moral of the story to be not to be envious of others. Therefore, I made the ending bittersweet.

The title is inspired by the movie The Little Mermaid.

"The Cat- Maiden" from the Fables of AEsop (1902). Web source: Sacred Texts Archive.