Week 7 Story: Brother Rabbit

A Walt Disney Productions depiction of Brer Rabbit from their adapted cartoon series. 

One day at the estate of Mr. Brother Fox, a mischievous and malicious thought entered the catacombs of his mind. Though he was indeed a man of literature and finer things, Mr. Brother Fox was still a fox, an animal with animal needs. After pondering about how to execute his plan to ensnare Mr. Brother Rabbit, he began preparing. The plan was simple: create a life-like child made of tar and turpentine that resembled a very small child. Mr. Brother Fox began sculpting the child out of tar and turpentine, then dyed the skin and painted a greatly detailed face, which was easy for him with his arts background from his study abroad year at the Paris Conservatory. After completing his masterpiece, he laid it out near where Mr. Brother Rabbit would be often approaching. Mr. Brother Rabbit, a proud Yale graduate, came around the corner and quickly noticed the baby leaning against a rock. He called out many a time to greet the child and attempt to locate the parents, but he was finding the child's lack of initiative quite disturbing. After his frustrations grew greater, Mr. Brother Fox delivered the coup de grace. He roared in a child's voice "Yale is a second rate institution and Harvard is clearly superior in all facets." Mr. Brother Rabbit, unable to control his animalistic instincts, punched the baby and quickly became stuck. After struggling and getting more stuck, Mr. Brother Rabbit gave in and Mr. Brother Fox appeared. Trying to think on his feet and escape, Mr. Brother Rabbit began pleading not be thrown into the briar patch, as it would be the worst fate of them all. Mr. Brother Fox, possessing a minor in Biology, retorted that rabbits are actually very comfortable and at home in those particular areas of nature, and was mostly just confused by his pleadings. After allowing Mr. Brother Rabbit to get his affairs in order and visit with a lawyer to set up his estate and inheritance, Mr. Brother Fox hosted a grand party, with the main course being a delectable entree of rabbit. 

Author's Note: I began thinking about the nature of the story and how dialectical language predominates to engage readers that were mostly illiterate, and I thought it would be funny and interesting to experiment with characters that were well-read, literate, intelligent, and critical thinkers. From there, I just put a twist ending on the classic Tar Baby tale. 

Bibliography: Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-brer-rabbit.html

Reading Notes: Africa, Brer Rabbit, Part B

A depiction of Brer Rabbit in Uncle Remus Songs and Sayings 

The Brer Rabbit stories, originating from the collection of stories known as Uncle Remus Songs and Sayings in the late 19th century in the post-Civil War South in the United States, serve as an important development and resource in the African-American folklore in the United States post-slavery, as these people were separated from their ancestral cultures, values, and stories by the slave trade. Additionally, these stories, written by Harris, are written in dialect, which means every word is spelled phonetically. This is important because not many African-Americans, let alone people in general, were literate in this period, which allowed these stories to be accessible to the public. In Reading B, there are stories of Brer Fox trying to trick Brer Rabbit, a slight detour from the tricky rabbit trope he has used for so long, Old Man Terrypin fishing, Tarrypin talk, which is how the turtle character speaks in the context of the story. In one thrilling story, Brer Rabbit sneaks into Brer Fox's garden in hopes of stealing his goober peas, also known as peanuts at this time. Unfortunately, Brer Rabbit is caught in a trap and help upside in the air by a rope. He shutters at what Brer Fox will do to him, but quickly notices Brer Bear approaching, who is notoriously slow. Brer Rabbit convinces Brer Bear that he is there for a job as a scarecrow and that he makes a dollar an hour being in the trap, but he'll swap with Brer Bear if he wants to make some money. Brer Bear agrees and takes his place, while Brer Rabbit steals the peanuts and heads home. 

Bibliography: Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-brer-rabbit.html

Reading Notes: Africa, Brer Rabbit, Part A

A depiction of Brer Rabbit and the Tar-Baby from the famous folklore of the American South

The stories of Brer Rabbit and many other "Brer" animals originates from the stories of Uncle Remus written in the times of the American South in the 19th century. These tales are so ingrained into the fabric of American storytelling that they even serve as inspiration for the theming of the water rollercoaster at Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain ride. These stories often involve Brer Fox, a cunning character that is always trying to eat Brer Rabbit and trying to trick him. In one instance, Brer Fox makes a "tar baby" made of sticky turpentine and tar and dresses it in clothes and sets him out. Brer Rabbit, an amiable fellow tries to talk the baby and is angered and shocked by the lack of manners of the baby and punches him, only to be stuck. After more kicking and punching, Brer Rabbit only gets more stuck, and Brer Fox ponders how to dispose of him. After feigning pleading to not be put into the briar patch above all else, even getting skinned, roasted, and murdered, Brer Fox chucks him into the briar patch, where rabbits are at home, and Brer Rabbit escapes the tar baby. This is generally the most famous of the Uncle Remus stories. This similar premise of getting caught and pleading to not be punished in a certain way that is actually beneficial is repeated in the story with Brer Fox and Old Man Terrypin, a turtle character similar to a terrapin in name. After getting caught by Brer Fox, Old Man Terrypin convinces Brer Fox that being thrown into the water would be unbearable, but it actually would be the most helpful. This idea of a trickster and antagonist has influenced many cartoons, including Disney's own cartoon of Brer stories, as well as influences in Tom and Jerry. 

Bibliography: Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris. http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-brer-rabbit.html