The Epic Fantasy Fable of Net Results was written by Ed Friedman to show the group how forcing the issue, in the face of natural resistance, is counter-productive.
Therapist Rabbi Dr. Edwin Friedman practiced as a minister, who, having utilized systems theory in his original work Generation to Generation, was able to generate a model for pastoral guidance of large and varied family groups.
The Rhetorical Device of Fable as Quantum Mind Power
A fable, also called mythos, is a fictional story conveying imaginary veracity. In forming a fable, the writer learns how to narrate what is happening. An epimythion is language added to the fable to make clear its moral. This can be done in three ways: paradigmatically, enthymematically or prosphonetically. It can be done paradigmatically when it teaches to do or not to do some particular thing. It may be done enthymematically when a person is criticized for failure to perform a specific action. It can be done prosphonetically when the writer says similar words to the following effect: “And you, my boy, keep away from this or that.”
Epic Fantasy in an Aesop Fable – Net Results
Friedman wrote his tenth fable on the topic of how to get past the interference of the resistance demons who inhabit the other person. He noted that successful artists are careful not to give too much information, or to solve the other person's problem. This was The Fable of Net Results.
One day, Harry decided to improve his wife's tennis game. But she didn't care that much about tennis. He did everything to help her improve her game, by getting her outside help of the highest quality and expertise. But, as time went by, Harry's wife began to regress, developing pains, and other sickness, just before the game. She hurt her arm and took a year to recover.
After she recovered, Harry decided to teach her himself. He set her on the court and served to her, and each time, the response was a disaster, nor was she very interested in the game of tennis. In fact, she asked him whether they should paint the house this year instead of next year. Harry tried all teaching angles, but none were successful
Then, one day, he decided to serve the ball with all his might. It went up high into the air and he ran to the other end of the court to be ready for the return. He did this again and again, running from one end of the court to the other.
In this way, their tennis match continued forever and a day, and he never again allowed her to participate in the play.
This fable delivers to the reader the moral of refraining for giving unwanted advice. When people give unwanted advice to loved ones, it is similar to capturing and compromising the loved one. It is better to allow people their own freedom with which they can develop in their own ways.
The Rosetta Stone to Friedman’s Fables
Edwin Friedman drafted an optimal fable for every instance of family/organizational resistance, denial and inability to grasp perspective. Readers can also view these Friedman’s Fables. Readers can also view these Friedman’s Fables: Net Results, along with Metamorphosis, and The Curse.
Sources:
Edwin H. Friedman, Generation to Generation: Family Process in Church and Synagogue, 1st edition, The Guilford Press, New York, 1985.
Edwin H. Friedman, Friedman’s Fables , The Guilford Press, New York, 1990.
Joseph Campbell, Myths to Live By, Penguin Compass, New York, 1993.
George A. Kennedy (transl.) Progymnasmata: Greek Textbooks of Prose Composition and Rhetoric, Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, 2003.
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