By
Washington Irving
I would like to share to you a story I read when I was in third year. This was the same story that I made a report and was used in our radio play.
Synopsis
Long time ago, Peregil, a water carrier, resided in Granada, Spain with his ragged children and talkative wife. One night, he helped a sick Moor but later died in Peregil's home, leaving him a sandalwood box. Unluckily, Pedrillo, his gossip neighbor, wrongly related everything to the greedy mayor. The mayor, upon hearing this, called Peregil and found out that the Moor only left a sandalwood box with paper scroll and a candle end but, in exchange of Peregil’s life, he seized Peregil’s donkey. Peregil asked a Moor at a shop about the contents of the sandalwood box and knew that those were used for a spell to open a cave in Alhambra where treasures were found. Peregil and the Moor get some of the treasures there and agreed to come back. Because of Peregil’s wife, Pedrillo knew about it and related it again to the greedy mayor. The mayor thought of a plan between him and his sheriff to burn the Moor and Peregil after they acquire the treasure. So, Peregil and the Moor led the mayor, the sheriff and Pedrillo to the cave. At first, only the Moor and Peregil got two jars of gold. Greedy for more, the mayor, the sheriff and Pedrillo entered the cave. The Moor blew out the candle and threw it away, trapping the three greedy men in the cave forever. The partners divided the treasure between themselves and left Granada with their families.
Setting
The details presented by the author showed the locality of the story. It indeed happened in Granada, Spain! The Alhambra, a palace and fortress found in Granada, Spain, can even say it all. The use of Spanish names like Pedrillo and Peregil can also tell that it happened in Spanish-influenced countries or really in Spain. Or the being considered as enemy of the Moors or Muslims shows that it is a non-Muslim country, like Spain, a Christian country.
But we cannot directly conclude the date this story happened. Yet, I am quite sure that this story may occur after Granada was conquered in 1492 by the Christians from Muslims’ hands. If this story happened before the Christians conquered Granada, then why is that the Moors are considered enemies of the state? Before 1492, everybody in Granada is in good terms. They have their freedom of belief when the Muslims rule Granada.
Theme
Contentment is the way to happiness.
If you are a contented person and someone gives you something, you will gratefully thank him or her. Yet, if you are an uncontented one, you will surely ask for more and would make you a greedy person. Anything you want, though not for you, but still you want to seize it. Greed can even harm you in many ways. In the story, three people were trapped in a cave forever and may die there. That happened because of the greed of these people.
Personal Insight
Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.The above saying is considered the golden rule. The golden rule is best interpreted as saying: “Treat others as you want to be treated.” It was endorsed by Confucius in his analects and Jesus in his teachings and parables. To apply it, you'd imagine yourself in the exact place of the other person on the receiving end of the action. If you act in a given way toward another, and yet are unwilling to be treated that way in the same circumstances, then you violate the rule. You will need your imagination to visualize what would you feel in somebody’s place upon receiving your action. Would he or she feel good about it or not? Think about it!
In the story, this was applied between the greedy ones and not. The greedy mayor was planning to burn the Moor and Peregil after he seizes the treasure. Yet, he and the others were the ones trapped and could die in the cave. If he was not planning to kill the two, the Moor would not think about trapping them too.
Washington Irving
I would like to share to you a story I read when I was in third year. This was the same story that I made a report and was used in our radio play.
Synopsis
Long time ago, Peregil, a water carrier, resided in Granada, Spain with his ragged children and talkative wife. One night, he helped a sick Moor but later died in Peregil's home, leaving him a sandalwood box. Unluckily, Pedrillo, his gossip neighbor, wrongly related everything to the greedy mayor. The mayor, upon hearing this, called Peregil and found out that the Moor only left a sandalwood box with paper scroll and a candle end but, in exchange of Peregil’s life, he seized Peregil’s donkey. Peregil asked a Moor at a shop about the contents of the sandalwood box and knew that those were used for a spell to open a cave in Alhambra where treasures were found. Peregil and the Moor get some of the treasures there and agreed to come back. Because of Peregil’s wife, Pedrillo knew about it and related it again to the greedy mayor. The mayor thought of a plan between him and his sheriff to burn the Moor and Peregil after they acquire the treasure. So, Peregil and the Moor led the mayor, the sheriff and Pedrillo to the cave. At first, only the Moor and Peregil got two jars of gold. Greedy for more, the mayor, the sheriff and Pedrillo entered the cave. The Moor blew out the candle and threw it away, trapping the three greedy men in the cave forever. The partners divided the treasure between themselves and left Granada with their families.
Setting
The details presented by the author showed the locality of the story. It indeed happened in Granada, Spain! The Alhambra, a palace and fortress found in Granada, Spain, can even say it all. The use of Spanish names like Pedrillo and Peregil can also tell that it happened in Spanish-influenced countries or really in Spain. Or the being considered as enemy of the Moors or Muslims shows that it is a non-Muslim country, like Spain, a Christian country.
But we cannot directly conclude the date this story happened. Yet, I am quite sure that this story may occur after Granada was conquered in 1492 by the Christians from Muslims’ hands. If this story happened before the Christians conquered Granada, then why is that the Moors are considered enemies of the state? Before 1492, everybody in Granada is in good terms. They have their freedom of belief when the Muslims rule Granada.
Theme
Contentment is the way to happiness.
If you are a contented person and someone gives you something, you will gratefully thank him or her. Yet, if you are an uncontented one, you will surely ask for more and would make you a greedy person. Anything you want, though not for you, but still you want to seize it. Greed can even harm you in many ways. In the story, three people were trapped in a cave forever and may die there. That happened because of the greed of these people.
Personal Insight
Don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.The above saying is considered the golden rule. The golden rule is best interpreted as saying: “Treat others as you want to be treated.” It was endorsed by Confucius in his analects and Jesus in his teachings and parables. To apply it, you'd imagine yourself in the exact place of the other person on the receiving end of the action. If you act in a given way toward another, and yet are unwilling to be treated that way in the same circumstances, then you violate the rule. You will need your imagination to visualize what would you feel in somebody’s place upon receiving your action. Would he or she feel good about it or not? Think about it!
In the story, this was applied between the greedy ones and not. The greedy mayor was planning to burn the Moor and Peregil after he seizes the treasure. Yet, he and the others were the ones trapped and could die in the cave. If he was not planning to kill the two, the Moor would not think about trapping them too.
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