Though we often dress to impress, we must remember that dignity and courage are finer adornments than any clothing or jewelry. No matter what we look like, we should always try to be courageous, kind, and dignified in what we do. Such qualities lead to strength of character and wisdom.
A Renowned King
The King of the Polar Bears lives among the “icebergs in the far north country,” where his strength, wisdom, and kindness are known by everyone. The polar bears revere him and continually consult him about their troubles. The seals greatly fear him and avoid him at all costs, while the seagulls love him because “he leaves the remnants of his feasts for them to devour.” Even the wolves know of him and whisper that this great king is magical, for nothing harms him and his strength continues to increase.Yet, one day, the king’s wisdom and strength are tested against man, and fail. The king has never seen man before, so when a boat sails nearby, he goes to investigate. He is shocked when one of the men stands up with an instrument that sounds off with a “bang!” The king feels his body weaken and falls unconscious to the ice.
Rising Up With Dignity and Courage
However, the king does not lay exposed for long. The seagulls, seeing their benefactor lying weak, fly to his aid. They lend him their feathers, completely covering his body. Having aided him, they call out: “[Our feathers] will guard you from the cold winds and warm you while you sleep. Have courage, then, and live!”The king heeds well their advice, for he rises from his fallen state and courageously conquers his pain and failure, becoming stronger and wiser than before. Though feathers grow on his back, he is not ashamed.
Nevertheless, once the other polar bears discover their king’s new appearance, they reject him as ruler, for he is no longer a true polar bear. The strongest of the bears, Woof, challenges the king to a fight to gain the kingship.
Understanding their views about his feathery hide, the king accepts Woof’s challenge. And though he lacks his fur, the king courageously prepares to fight in his feathers. He approaches the battle with dignity and resolve.
Through this arctic story, Baum demonstrates that while facing the many pains and failures in life, we must maintain dignity, courage, and kindness. These characteristics, not appearance, define true greatness.
Baum emphasizes, as English Prime Minister Winston Churchill said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
With courage guiding us, we can rise from our failures and pain with dignity and kindness in our hearts. And by rising above our failures, we gain wisdom and strength. Our character, born anew, not our appearance, will make us known and respected.
