An Asian Folktale: Who will Marry Mousie?

Angela Carter once said, “For most of human history, 'literature', both fiction and poetry, has been narrated, not written — heard, not read. So fairy tales, folk tales, and stories from the oral tradition, are all of them the most vital connection we have with the imaginations of the ordinary men and women whose labor created our world.” Many of our imaginations, beliefs and values are rooted in the age old folk tales, that have been passed on and narrated to generation after generation.

Who will marry Mousie is an age old Asian folktale that has had various versions, in different countries and languages. Also recited by the titles – A story on caste, The most powerful husband in the world, The rats and their daughter and The Mouse metamorphosed into a maid – in India, Japan, Korea and even Africa, it is based on a not-so abstract concept of patriotism. Partisanship is not just for one’s country and fellow people. It begins at home and sprouts from the love of our parents. They are the vanguards of love, affection and possessiveness, throughout the lifetime of the children.

The folktale, The folktale, Who will marry Mousie, revolves around a fascinating girl mouse, skilful at almost everything. She was diligent and knew everything a young mouse should know; gnawing holes, climbing high shelves and even squeezing into small spaces. Her parents, as per earlier traditions, found it the apt timing to get her married. But as it is rightly said, at times, what we need is a stiletto, what we desire is a katana. The parents regarded her to be finer than anyone in the world and so, deserves even better! Plots like these make us question our belief system, for we do not need more than we deserve.

Laconically speaking, it's beyond us to question the power and integrity of each being of our very surrounding. However, our wants are as much as we can fathom while our needs for survival are nominal. The parents went to the gods for answers. The Sun, shamefully and regretfully, stated himself as not the greatest. For the Cloud spread itself over the Sun’s face and proved his point right. The Cloud further blustered away and out-shown by the Wind. On questioning the Wind with a bit more hope, they are turned down again, because even the Wind is not the greatest. It is forever blocked by the majestic wall, which has the power to stop it when none can. Even the wall refused to marry the amicable and cheerful Mousie, for he too truly was not the most powerful or supreme. “A mouse,” said the wall. “A mouse can pass through and under me. A son-in-law who is the greatest in the world, would be a mouse.”

While we can contemplate over the predictable ending of the tale, we need to realise that the moment we consider ourselves the magnum opus of our race, is the moment we truly die within. Whether our faith is blind or sighted makes no difference on our character; what does, is the very nature of our actions! However, we do not realise the complexity of a simpleton. We fear for a troubled future, ignorant of a precious past and an agglomerated present. Loggerheads we are! Our expectations and the brutal reality are netted by the most ramshackle weave we know of.