The old one is tamer than it was, and can laugh and talk…
““The old one is tamer than it was, and can laugh and talk like the parrot, having learned this, no doubt, from being with the parrot so much, and having the imitative faculty in a highly developed degree. I shall be astonished if it turns out to be a new kind of parrot, and yet I ought not to be astonished, for it has already been everything else it could think of, since those first days when it was a fish. The new one is as ugly now as the old one was at first; has the same sulphur-and-raw-meat complexion and the same singular head without any fur on it. She calls it Abel. Ten Years Later They are boys; we found it out long ago. It was their coming in that small, immature shape that puzzled us; we were not used to it. There are some girls now. Abel is a good boy, but if Cain had stayed a bear it would have improved him. After all these years, I see that I was mistaken about Eve in the beginning; it is better to live outside the Garden with her than inside it without her.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage reflects on evolution and imitation, suggesting that beings become more like what they emulate, and that expectations about purity or originality are often misguided.
In simple terms: Imitation shapes identity; expectations can be wrong.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change and question assumptions.
Themes
evolution
imitation
expectations
identity
change
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- relationships
- self‑reflection
- societal norms
Key Concepts
philosophy
literary critique
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does imitation affect personal identity?
- Can expectations limit growth?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook innate differences and overemphasize external influence.