The Fox \& Grapes -- \( \begin{array}{l}\text { A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along } \\ \text { the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice and the Fox's mouth } \\ \text { watered as he gazed longingly at them. } \\ \text { The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he } \\ \text { jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running } \\ \text { leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain. } \\ \text { Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust. } \\ \text { "What a fooll am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour is the moral of this story? } \\ \text { grapes that are not worth gaping for," And off he walked very, very scornfully. }\end{array} \) 2. Describe a situation in society today in which you might see the same reaction as the fox.

1. The fox's reaction in the fable is a classic example of what is often called "sour grapes." When the fox repeatedly fails to reach the grapes, he dismisses their value by claiming they are not worth the effort. This is a mechanism for protecting one’s ego and self-esteem in the face of failure. 2. A modern-day situation that illustrates the same reaction could be found in the job market. Imagine an individual who applies for a highly desirable job. After a series of interviews, they do not get the offer. Instead of reflecting on ways to improve or acknowledging the disappointment, they dismiss the opportunity entirely by saying, for example, \[ \text{"Well, that job wasn't really all that interesting anyway; it would have just stressed me out."} \] 3. In this scenario, the individual is essentially exhibiting the same behavior as the fox. By devaluing the job—which he initially desired—he protects his self-image from the sting of rejection, even though deep down he might still regret not obtaining it. 4. This kind of rationalization is common in various aspects of life, including academic admissions, love interests, or even social media trends, whenever the outcome does not meet one’s expectations.