A critical analysis of evolution of fables in the era of technological characters in storytelling.

In an era dominated by technology, adult literature has largely abandoned animal fables, confining them to children's sections due to market branding. Yet, these simple narratives historically offered profound insights into complex human behavior and politics. As we replace organic symbolism with artificial intelligence, have we outgrown the foundational wisdom of animal perspectives, or do we need their simplicity more than ever?

We have turned our backs on animals, or rather, we use them solely for consumption, while
embracing technology as our literary muse. Modern subjects certainly demand modern
attention, but we have largely confined animal-centric themes to children's literature.

Animal literature is primarily found in Xenofiction, where stories are told from a non-human
perspective. Interestingly, however, it is not restricted to this genre, as animals have played a
major role in fables and allegories, often featuring animal or humanlike characters that
convey moral lessons. Literature has extensively used animals for centuries, even before the
term "literature" existed. From mythologies to modernity, animals have walked with us in
every invention and form. When we read stories of Indian gods, many of them are incarnated
in animal forms, each with distinct characteristics, creating nonexistent creatures. This
amalgam has been a pillar of fantasy. This is why animals are widely used as symbols and
metaphors in stories: they are not likeus, and every species has variations in anatomy and
functioning, so we are delighted by their uniqueness. If we hadn't engaged with fables, or
paid attention to animals at all, we wouldn't use them as symbols. For example, lions as
symbols of 'kingship,' foxes for 'cunning,' or doves for 'peace.' The ability to draw such
comparisons is indeed a special gift of intelligence bestowed by nature upon authors.

Animal-perspective literature has significantly shifted over decades. Simple moral lessons
have been stripped away, and deep, complex themes have been embedded in adult literature.
Is it that precisely when we are in need of the simplest answers, we have made the process
the most complex? The animal perspective, through books like Animal Farm, has taught
more about politics than any news channel ever could.

Fables are relatively shorter in length and easier to decode. They are not straightforward, thus
requiring our brains to actively unravel their meaning, much like the complex ideas adults
love to contemplate. Furthermore, they are time-saving and enjoyable to ponder.

So what caused the decline of fables among adults? It is the demands of marketing and
branding that have led writers and readers to deem animal fables and their insightful
narratives as childlike, thus confining their consumption to children. This is why authors are
unknowingly shying away from writing animal fables for adults. The bright pictures and
colors would be more appropriate for the children's section in a bookstore than the minimalist
adult sections. It is a matter of debate whether writing trends are driving this shift, leading
reading trends to follow suit, or vice versa. Either way, the market is immensely affected.
Publishers often discourage writers from pursuing short moral fictions because the demands
of the market are aligned with long-form novels and series-based storytelling. Even when
animal stories are published, the books have to be marketed in a certain way to make them
more acceptable for an adult. For instance, Animal Farm is marketed as a political satire, and
the idea that it is primarily an animal-perspective book is overlooked.

The more readers fables attract, the more writers will be inspired to enter the genre. It seems
that with advancing technologies that children are exposed to, soon characters like Rocky
from Project Hail Mary will occupy children's fables instead of rabbits and turtles, which
they can see and touch in reality.

The realm of storytelling built around technologies is interesting; we've experienced a lot of it
through sci-fi. Robots with feelings in cartoons also seem engaging and exciting to kids.
However, can they largely replace animals? If children were asked, they would find a robot
interesting, but they would definitely be more compassionate towards the animals around
them. This is the feeling they would practice, which would develop their capacity for reacting

to other objects as well. Psychology suggests that practicing a feeling more often makes it a
natural reaction to most things. This is why behavioral learning is crucial in early life. But
can't we apply this as adults? When life becomes hard and we become less compassionate
and more irritated as adults, can't we look back at animals and feel good about our
coexistence with them once in a while?

When we look at ancient fables, the Panchatantra was written by Vishnu Sharma for three
adult princes who needed to learn about governing a kingdom. Vishnu promised the king that
he would simplify complex concepts through animal stories, making it easier for them to
understand ideas such as friendship, betrayal, wisdom, and defeat. The Jataka Tales were
written as stories featuring different animals as reincarnations of Buddha, for teaching moral
values such as virtue, compassion, and sacrifice. Aesop's Fables in ancient Greece used
animals to teach common sense, which, as adults, we know is not so common as we mature.
Who knew that stories the size of a paragraph could teach lifelong morality?

As we move a bit forward in time, Herman Melville's book Moby Dick was an American
sensation. The novel is about a voyage and the whalers who want to encounter a white whale
called Moby Dick. The climax is notable for its various symbolisms, such as the whale's
divinity versus its cruelty, the man's obsession with revenge, and his pride. Its representations
are open to interpretation for everyone; one just needs a perspective. Yann Martel's Life of Pi.

If we reflect on why fables were written in the first place, we can understand that they were
unequivocally meant to be remembered. Yet, their lessons have largely been confined to
elementary school. We opted for complex subjects to broaden our perspectives and increase
our intelligence, but we overlooked simplicity to the point of eliminating it.

By replacing animals with AI, we think we have filled a void in our minds that fables once
did. Adults, with their growing intellect, are always curious about everything, but they

become fixated on questions to the point of losing patience and altering their choices
accordingly, thus causing a shift in literature. When children read, they become curious and
ask questions without shame. However, when they understand that they cannot get answers to
everything, they either forget it or accept it without losing patience. We always say that the
child within us never dies; it is important to nurture that child with learning patterns similar to
those we employed at that age.

If we were to reread fables like the Panchatantra and Jataka Tales as adults, we wouldn't
have to worry about half of these technological problems in the way we do.