Encore: 'It Could Always Get Worse' | feat. Jason Alexander
May 29, 2018
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Jason Alexander, known for his role in Seinfeld, stars in this Yiddish folktale about a man overwhelmed by his crowded house. He seeks advice from a wise old woman and brings chaos by bringing goats and chickens inside. He then seeks further guidance and tries bringing in a cow, leading to more frustration. Finally, he finds peace and spaciousness in his house with the help of the wise old woman.
Sometimes the solution to a problem lies in reversing course or undoing what was done.
Sometimes things can always get worse before they get better, but appreciating what one already has is important.
Deep dives
Crowded House
In a tiny one-room house, a man and his large family struggle with the lack of space and noise. Seeking a solution, the man consults a wise old woman who advises him to bring their two goats inside the house. The goats wreak havoc and make the house even noisier. The man returns to the wise old woman seeking further advice, and she instructs him to bring their six chickens inside as well. The house becomes more chaotic and filled with a terrible stench. The man, feeling desperate, once again visits the wise old woman, who advises him to bring their brown cow inside the house. The situation worsens, and the man and his family become even more unhappy. Finally, the old woman tells the man to move all the animals back to the barn. The man follows her advice, and the house finally becomes peaceful and spacious.
Finding Solutions
The story highlights the theme of problem-solving. The man seeks a solution to the cramped and noisy house, but his attempts at improvement only make the situation worse. Through this experience, the man learns that sometimes the solution lies in reversing course or undoing what was done. By moving the animals out of the house, he finally finds the peace and comfort that he had been seeking.
Lesson Learned
The tale emphasizes the lesson that sometimes things can always get worse before they get better. The man's initial attempts to improve the situation only compounded the problems. However, by going through this process, he appreciates the significance of the old woman's advice and learns to be content with what he already had.