The Mistress and Her Servants by Aesop with a podcast, vocabulary practice in real context for advanced ESL students The Mistress and Her Servants is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project. Podcast of the Mistress and Her Servants https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcB_vtkdOaQ The Mistress and Her Servants A widow, thrifty and industrious, had two servants, whom she kept pretty hard at work. They were not allowed to lie long abed ...
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The Mistress and Her Servants by Aesop for ESL Students
Updated: by Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl
Time to Read: 2 minutes | 305 Views | 2 Comments on The Mistress and Her Servants by Aesop for ESL Students
About the Author

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl
Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl is an English and Persian instructor, educator, researcher, inventor, published author, blogger, SEO expert, website developer, entrepreneur, and the creator of LELB Society. He's got a PhD in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language).
Number of Posts: 4160
The story of the mistress and her servants by Aesop is a reminder that taking dishonest shortcuts can lead to worse consequences than honest hard work. For instance, a student tries to cheat by writing answers on their hand, thinking it will make the test easier. However, they get caught, fail the exam, and damage their reputation.
Moreover, employers should notice that overworking people can lead to resistance and unintended consequences. So, an unfair employer who pushes workers too hard, will have faced with big problems such as hiring and training new staff.
Your analysis of The Mistress and Her Servants highlights two important lessons from Aesop’s fable. The first, about dishonest shortcuts leading to worse consequences, is well illustrated by your example of a student cheating on a test. It reinforces the idea that integrity and hard work are ultimately more beneficial.
The second point about overworking employees is also insightful. Just as the servants in the fable resisted their mistress’s increasing demands, real-world workers may push back against unfair treatment, leading to burnout, turnover, and difficulties for the employer. It’s a great reminder that balance and fairness are key to a successful work environment.