The Caged Bird & The Fish in a Pond
An excerpt from my ongoing project, "Anattus: The Steel Vestige."
Context: The setting is a city enclosed in steel, Anattus, 500 years after its inhabitants were sealed within. Its purpose: sustain the last 10,000 humans for 1,000 years while the Earth remains uninhabitable as a result of global war and catastrophe.
Sash, the protagonist, is speaking with his mentor at the fishery, Svad. In their conversation, Sash has expressed his discontentment with life in Anattus. He longs for the vast natural wonders of the old world and resents the confines of his current existence. The excerpt begins with the mentor's response:
“In the realm of metaphor, young one, it seems you perceive yourself as a bird in a cage,” Svad mused thoughtfully. “But perhaps you are more akin to a fish in a pond.” He paused briefly, collecting his thoughts, then continued in a calm tone: “The caged bird wants for the open sky, to ride the breeze and nest in high places. Yet the boundaries of its enclosure thwart its natural inclinations. And thus, the bird’s discontentment is well-earned. However, let us shift our perspective. Instead of a bird, envision yourself as a fish in a pond. A fish harbors no desire to leave the pond. Of course, certain death awaits any fish who should choose to do so. But more importantly, there is no compelling reason for the fish to want to leave in the first place. For the pond provides all of that which a fish may require. Would the fish find greater happiness in a vast lake? Perhaps. However, that is beside the point. For as time unfolds, a fish in either place will live in contentment, having everything it needs to simply be a fish. A pond, a lake, an ocean - it doesn’t matter. Each provides the fish with the opportunity to live a fulfilling life. And so, young one, my advice to you is this: Continue to revel in the wonder and intrigue of imagining someplace better, but do not make the mistake of believing that life in a small pond cannot afford you all the simple joys of being a fish.”