Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jean de La Fontaine's "The Council Held by the Rats" is a cautionary tale that explores the idea of collective action and the courage (or lack thereof) required to enact meaningful change. The fable describes a council of rats discussing ways to mitigate the threat posed by a predatory cat named Old Rodilard. Although the rats agree on a clever solution-to bell the cat so they can hear him coming-none is willing to take the risk of actually placing the bell. The story closes by drawing a parallel between this council and many human councils or committees, where great ideas often collapse due to lack of actionable courage.

Old Rodilard, the cat, is portrayed as a terrorizing figure, so menacing that he is considered a devil rather than a mere cat. His reign of havoc is so complete that rats scarcely leave their holes, thus symbolizing any overpowering threat or tyrannical force that instills fear in a community. La Fontaine effectively sets the stage for the rats, who hold a council to address this life-or-death issue while the cat is momentarily distracted.

The idea to "bell the fatal cat" represents a perfect solution on paper, an intellectual remedy to a real-world problem. However, the unanimous agreement among the rats regarding the efficacy of the plan is immediately undone by the collective unwillingness to execute it. each rat, wisely considering the danger, thinks, "I'm not so big a fool as that." Here lies the crux of the fable: the disparity between collective wisdom and individual action. each rat recognizes the collective benefit but shirks personal responsibility and risk.

The closing lines compare the rat council to human councils or "reverend chapters with its dean," suggesting that this sort of discrepancy between planning and action isn't limited to the animal kingdom. Human beings, too, can be great planners but poor executors, especially when risk is involved. Committees can come up with revolutionary ideas that never materialize due to a lack of individuals willing to bear the burden or risk.

La Fontaine's narrative cautions against the paralysis that can come from over-deliberation and fear. Ideas, no matter how ingenious, are doomed to remain theoretical unless someone takes the actionable steps to implement them. The story urges a balance between wisdom, which all the rats (and by extension, humans in a council) possess, and courage, which is woefully lacking.

In this manner, the fable serves as a timeless critique of governance and group action, questioning the effectiveness of councils and committees when individual courage is absent. It warns against the pitfalls of groupthink and exposes the irony of a community that can conceive of its salvation but lacks the nerve to achieve it. Through a simple yet compelling narrative, La Fontaine addresses the complex interplay of wisdom, courage, and action, offering a keen insight into both animal and human psychologies.

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