The Emperor's New Clothes

 

In teaching “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” as a way to introduce Western thought to an Asian student, pulled some materials from the web. They identify two themes: “pride can make you do foolish things,” and “children always tell the truth.”

An example of how putting truths in parable form means only “those who have ears to hear, hear.”

Whoever extracted these lessons from the story obviously saw it from the point of view of the emperor. I suspect this identifies them as a narcissist. And this first moral is indeed the lesson they needed to learn: pride is their chief fault.

But as for the second supposed moral, “children always tell the truth,” this suggest someone incapable of seeing children as human beings.

This would indeed be consistent with narcissism. Narcissists see their children as pets, as toys, and will either decide they are perfect, little lapdogs to be pampered, or make them scapegoats, vermin, bad no matter what they do.

In Andersen’s story, only the emperor is clearly driven by pride. Those in the crowd are more plausibly  driven by humility—of course they cannot see the fine clothes, they are not worthy, but they are not going to contradict their betters who can.

That this commentator cannot imagine from their point of view again suggests narcissism.

The moral of the story is to think for yourself, and not be easily influenced by those around you. To avoid what Francis Bacon called “the idols of the tribe.” 

Narrow is the gate that leads to salvation.