The Two Mice fable is an excellent example of our current society and the sort of class system or hierarchy that certain wealthy individuals get to live in luxury where others suffer in hunger. The past Jan term course I took at the beginning of this year really opened my eyes to the experiences and struggles the homeless encounter right here in Birmingham. My class got to interview the local homeless population here in Birmingham and it showed me that they are not just facing the problems of not having shelter but also hunger and the climate that surrounds them. The apparent themes of simple living, not indulging in lavish foods, reminded me of the handout we discussed covering the needs versus wants of Epicureanism.
The ideas of Epicureanism and the view that a simple life is ideal is a recurrent theme in antiquity. I feel like each story takes its own approach to its theme of Epicureanism. Reflecting back during times of the Black death others would consume lots of lavish drinks like wine when out in the country in quarantine. This theme instead shows that it is better to be happy with the possessions you have and is in favor of the more simplistic lifestyle, compared to trying to gain more.