The Emperor's New Clothes
“God chooses things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise and chooses what is weak in the world to shame the strong” - 1Cor1:27 (my translation).
I visited a library for the first time in my life when I was 13 and in J. H. S 1. Then, my small stature coupled with the fact that I was new and not very confident restricted me to the children's section all through my adolescent years and even beyond. Nevertheless, I was really enjoying the stories in that section. My favourite story was; "The Emperor's New Clothes” by the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen. I do not know exactly why it was my favourite then. Perhaps because it was so hilarious (the thought of a king walking down the street naked). Today, I remember it and love it not because it is so hilarious (for it is no longer so to me) but because it speaks volumes about society. I have come to learn a lesson from it that I can’t forget.
I visited a library for the first time in my life when I was 13 and in J. H. S 1. Then, my small stature coupled with the fact that I was new and not very confident restricted me to the children's section all through my adolescent years and even beyond. Nevertheless, I was really enjoying the stories in that section. My favourite story was; "The Emperor's New Clothes” by the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen. I do not know exactly why it was my favourite then. Perhaps because it was so hilarious (the thought of a king walking down the street naked). Today, I remember it and love it not because it is so hilarious (for it is no longer so to me) but because it speaks volumes about society. I have come to learn a lesson from it that I can’t forget.
The Plot
The story is about a vain Emperor who was obsessed with fashion. He loved nothing more than wearing and displaying new clothes. He had different clothes for every hour of the day and every occasion. One day two weavers (more of swindlers than weavers) arrived in his kingdom and promised the Emperor a new suit of clothes that they say is invisible to those who are stupid and unfit for their jobs. The Emperor became excited. Here was an opportunity to test the competence and suitability of his ministers and advisers. The story spread quickly in the palace and in the kingdom and everyone was eagerly waiting to see the Emperor’s new clothes. The weavers took charge of the palace loom and collected a large amount of silk threads and gold. Then they set to work.
After some time, the Emperor wished to know how the work was progressing. He also thought it a good opportunity to test the wisdom of his senior adviser. The poor old wise man was thus sent to the loom to have a look and report how things stood. When the man went into the loom, he looked and looked. He could not see anything on the loom. There was nothing there. “What!” thought the old man. “Is it possible that I am a fool? No one must know this. If I say I cannot see it, the Emperor will say that I am unfit for my job”. So he went back to the Emperor and said that his new cloth was coming on very beautifully! The weavers took the opportunity to request for more silk and gold and it was provided.
The Emperor soon sent a second adviser. He was also shocked by the empty loom. The frames were absolutely empty but he remembered that his senior colleague had already seen the cloth and praised its beauty. He decided that he would not be the fool. So he also went back to the Emperor and said the cloth was indeed a piece of beauty unlike any other that he had seen.
Finally, the Emperor himself went to see things for himself. He went with many officers of the court and the two advisers who had already admired the cloth. “Is not the work absolutely magnificent?” said the two advisers. “What a splendid design! What glorious colors!” they said whilst pointing to the empty frames; for they imagined that everyone else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship. The Emperor looked at the empty frames and could not believe his eyes! “How is this? I can see nothing! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an Emperor? That would be a terrible affair!" He said to himself. Then aloud, he said; “The cloth is charming”. “I approve of it completely.” He smiled very graciously and looked closely at the empty looms. No way would he say that he could not see what two of his advisers had praised so much. All the people who came with the Emperor strained their eyes hoping to see what was on the looms, but they could see nothing! Nevertheless, they all exclaimed, “Oh, how beautiful!” and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from the splendid material for the parade that was planned.
The two weavers kept up the charade and on the day of the parade, took the Emperor through the motions of putting on the new trousers, scarf, mantle etc. The lords of the bedchamber, who carry the Emperor’s train felt about on the ground as if they were lifting up the ends of the mantle. Then they pretended to be carrying it for they would by no means want to appear foolish or not fit for their jobs. Thus the whole procession set out on the city streets.
All the people watching the procession, cried out, “Oh! How beautiful are our Emperor’s new clothes! What a magnificent train there is to the mantle; and how gracefully the scarf hangs!” No one would admit that they couldn’t see anything at all because, in doing so, they would be saying that they were stupid or unfit for their jobs. Finally a little child in the crowd who could not understand this pretense by everybody blurts out:
“The Emperor is naked!”
“Listen to the innocent one,” said the proud father. And the people whispered among each other and repeated what the child had said. At last, everyone started shouting that the Emperor was naked!
Questions
Questions
This story raises serious questions when one looks deeply beyond the funny surface. For instance:
Why was the emperor so easily fooled by the swindlers?
Why did all the adults refuse to tell what was so obvious?
Why did only a child have the courage to tell the truth?
Lessons
Lessons
Ultimately, this story teaches us to curb our vanity and to be self-assured. It also teaches us that we must create the right environment for honest communication and surround ourselves with the right people; people who love us for who we are and who will not hesitate to point out our shortcomings to us and help us make better decisions for our personal and collective good.
The story illustrates the absence of moral courage. This is captured succinctly by Hemingway in his book, A Farewell to Arms;
The story illustrates the absence of moral courage. This is captured succinctly by Hemingway in his book, A Farewell to Arms;
"Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change". Ernest Hemingway (A Farewell to Arms, 1929).
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