e to listen to their complaints. Even the crawfish state that the animals that do listen, the Mud Turtle and the Spring Lizard, have influence that lacks power. The smaller animals represent the other slaves that care about the situation but have no power or influence close to that of the elephant, who represents the powerful non-listening white race. When the elephant proceeds to step on another crawfish this pushes them into a revolt where they bore holes into the ground and create a flood, which could be associated with a slave revolt—or even greater, a war. The crawfish as one could make no difference but as a huge group of smaller animals they do. This can be compared to the idea that many slaves as opposed to one can make a difference. The anger of the crawfish because of the careless elephant push them to revolt just as the black slaves can revolt against the careless white slave holders despite size and the difficulty of overcoming something or somebody more powerful. Of course the reversal of power seen in the relationship between black Uncle Remus and the white boy is not as dramatic or characterized by anger as the story of the small crayfish and large elephant. Uncle Remus’ power over the white boy allows him to hold the boys attention by telling a more intensified version of the reversal of power in the story of “The deluge and how it came about” that is utilized in Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings. Uncle Remus is certain to have several other stories so he does not choose this story for the sole purpose of entertainment but it seems as he does this in hopes of relaying the deeper meaning. Although the boy may only see this now as an amusing story he may retain the story because of its whimsicalness and unconventionality. Later in life he can remember it and discover that a deeper meaning is present. ...
