Through out time, many have served our country under the commands of their leaders without giving it any thought to do otherwise. Whether it be fighting against the enemy to save a fellow human or fighting for human rights, it seems as though no matter how difficult and treacherous the command is, the followers of the command-e will always combat to their greatest ability. But what the disciples of the leader may not comprehend is that the orders given may not always be for good. Through the workings of Jane Yolen, we can see how following orders can not always lead to the land of the superb.
As The Hundredth Dove begins, we are greeted with the preparation of a wedding of a king and queen. As a starting statement, many may begin to believe that this story will be a romance. While planning their wedding ceremony, the king orders his huntsman to collect 100 doves for the marital feast. This order, though one quite large does not frighten the huntsman for that he is the best in the land. As commands are taken, the huntsman notices the absolute beauty in the queen-to-be in her ravishing white dress, and awkwardly salutes her with a kiss on the hand. Unlike many who would be offended at this sign of affectionate interaction, the king takes it as a complement at sends the huntsman off to work. As days go by, the huntsman collects many doves: but one. This dove interests the huntsman for that it is white as snow and plump, yet seems to slip through the traps as though it were air. Like most gentlemen of our generation, the huntsman feels intimidated for that this one silly feathered creature may cost him his job, or even death. As the wedding was coming closer and closer, the huntsman gathered 99 doves; with only the white dove left. Using his skill, he captures the bird with his own two hands and starts to kill. Though the dove speaks and offers treasures to the fowler, his sense of duty to the king over powers his temptations and breaks the dove’s neck. The thought on which labeling the story as a romance is shattered with this gruesome death of the bird. Walking back to the kingdom with a wooden cage containing 99 squawking birds and 1 lifeless bird carcass, both the king and the huntsman are in perturbation for that the intended queen has mysteriously disappeared. With this unfortunate disappearance, the wedding was called off. The huntsman, feeling quite guilty for the murder of the white dove, feels even worse due to the fact the murder is now a worthless killing. After setting the birds go the huntsman became somewhat of a hermit, who lives off the lands, and he never hunted again. This change in character really shows how deeply guilty the huntsman felt for the killing of the white dove; for that he didn’t want to kill it, but it was the king’s command.
As many read this dark and dismal tale, many may see that this story of temptation against the demands of rulers is in other great like many other famous tales. One example would be the Grimm Brother’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Not only does this piece have the same symbolism of white showing purity and peace, but also has a huntsman with the same scenario. The huntsman in this story however is chosen to kill Snow White due to her exceptionally good looks. The huntsman finds it difficult to even think of killing Snow White for that they have known each other for a very long time. Under the queens demand he either kills Snow White or he will get slaughtered himself. At the end of this classic fairy tale we see that the huntsman doesn’t kill poor Snow White but instead lies his way out of the situation and lets Snow escape into the forest.
From generation to generation, society has followed our leaders without think anything of it. The rights, they have defended; the people, they have killed. To extent the commands that they are accomplishing are for good, but all orders are evil. If we follow everything we are told, we would become slaves to the government. For that we shall never endear the fate of the Huntsman, for those who follow our leaders directions completely, be sure to examine situation mistakenly send your in to a spiraling vortex of wrong-doings.
