Summary: Androcles and the Lion is a parable about interspecies bond and the divine rewards of compassion. It originates from a 2nd-century Roman fable (Attic Nights), in which a runaway slave from the Roman Empire, called Androclus/Androcles, saved a lion by plucking a thorn stuck in his paw. When Androclus was subsequently thrown into an arena by the Romans, the lion he had helped him snuggled up to him, and an amused Roman Emperor let both of them go,
which is generally read as God’s protection for the merciful.
This story was adapted into a satirical animal-friendly Christian comedy by Bernard Shaw in 1912. Being staunchly vegan himself, Shaw transformed Androcles into an animal-rights activist cum meek Christian tailor, who deeply respects animals, who understands animals, who adopts a lot of stray animals apart from saving the lion, who believes that all animals have a soul and should not be kept in cages, and who would not worship Diana, even at the cost of his life, because that goddess hunts animals. The encounter between Androcles and the lion in the countryside and their reunion in the arena are intensely touching. Apart from Androcles, many more characters were added to the story, such as the repressed warrior Ferrovius, the hypocritical coward Lentulus, the beautiful, intelligent and defiant Lavinia, and the handsome, sceptical Roman Captain who falls in love with Lavinia.
Through the sundry characters in the play, Shaw questions whether Christian virtues like meekness and non-resistance can thrive in a cruel, power-driven world. For example, Androcles is overly kind, timid, and naively innocent, speaking to animals and treating everyone with boundless mercy. Ferrovius struggles to repress his enormous strength, but ironically saves the ass of the other Christians by valorously killing a number of gladiators in the Coliseum at the end of the day. Lentulus speaks devoutly of martyrdom but shamelessly surrenders when confronted with execution.
Shaw’s play was faithfully and successfully adapted into an intriguing Hollywood movie by Chester Erskine in 1952, starring Jean Simmons, Alan Young and Victor Mature.
In a nutshell, by emulating Bernard Shaw in embracing veganism and sagely embodying Androcles' love for animals, you will be deserving of God’s protection. Christly love, when coupled with the militant valour of a Ferrovius, wields the power to compel even a Roman Emperor to give in.
Full text: https://www.vegantheology.net/post/androcles-and-the-lion-a-vegan-christian-story-by-dr-chapman-chen
1. Aulus Gellius’ Attic Nights
The story originates from Aulus Gellius’ "Attic Nights" (2nd century AD). Androcles (or Androclus), a runaway slave in ancient Rome, rescued a lion by plucking out a thorn lodged in his paw. When Androcles was subsequently re-captured by Roman authorities and thrown in to the arena, the lion that emerges from the cage turned out to be the one that Androcles had aided, and began to lick his hand. A touched Roman Emperor then freed him, which is commonly interpreted as divine protection for compassionate people.
2. A Satirical Comedy by Bernard Shaw
The legend was adapted into a satirical comedy by Bernard Shaw in 1912. The bond between the lion, who seems to stand for not only animals in general but divine justice, and the protagonist in the play is unequivocal, intense, warm, moving, and rewarding. Androcles was transformed from a runaway slave into a meek Christian tailor. Captured alongside a group of Christians, including the repressed warrior Ferrovius, the hypocritical coward Lentulus, and the beautiful, intelligent and defiant Lavinia, Androcles is taken to Rome, where they are all sentenced to either to fight gladiators or to be devoured by wild beasts in the Colosseum. Meanwhile, a passionate and potentially tragic romance develops between the Roman Captain in charge of the captured Christians and Lavinia. Ferrovius’ faith that sees God in the sword finally overcomes Christian non-violence. After Ferrovius heroically kills a number of gladiators, an impressed Caesar gives him a place in the Pretorian Guard, and promises to stop persecuting Christians.
But then a Christian must still be offered to the claws and stomach of a hungry carnivore in order to appease the audience. Androcles, mistaken for a sorcerer because of his close relationship with animals, is pushed out into the arena, where the lion he saved before recognizes him and waltzes around with him amid a sudden burst of deafening applause. Amused and also fearful of the powerful lion, the Roman Emperor lets Androcles and his lion go.
3. Shaw as an Advocate of Veganism/Vegetarianism
Shaw, a staunch vegan, inserted a lot of animal-friendly elements into the story. Shaw became a vegan in his mid-20s around 1880 (Shaw 1969, p. 92) and remained one for the rest of his life. He was a strong advocate for animal rights and opposed the killing of animals for food. He flatly declared: "a man fed on… dead bodies cannot do the finest work of which he is capable” (Shaw 1969, p. 92-3); that “the enormity of eating the scorched corpses of animals— cannibalism with its heroic dish omitted— becomes impossible the moment it becomes conscious instead of thoughtlessly habitual” (Shaw 1969, p. 92). He also expressed disdain for the animal flesh industry and spoke about the ethical and health benefits of a plant-based diet. As “a vegetarian, he abhorred the slaughter of animals, in sport or in the butcher's yard” (Archibald 1911, p. 411).
4. Androcles as an Animals Rights Activist
Under Shaw’s pen, Androcles is practically an ancient animal rights activist. He is deeply convinced that no animals should be kept in a cage. Although he is a steadfast adherent of Christian pacifism, he once struck a man—the only occasion in his life—when that man lashed an old horse with a whip. Apart from bravely coming to the aid of the lion, Androcles, according to his wife, brings home “every stray cat and lost cur and lame duck in the whole countryside” and takes the bread out of his wife’s mouth to feed them. Androcles, for sure, understands animals very well, e.g., he advises the Emperor, “Never be afraid of animals, your Worship: that’s the great secret. He’ll be as gentle as a lamb when he knows that you are his friend.”
Another example. Lentulus often boasts of martyrdom, but when his moment in the Coliseum comes, he hysterically offers a sacrifice to Diana. Androcles, however, asks Ferrovius not to call this despicable hypocritical coward by the names of the animals. For “we’ve no right to. I’ve had such friends in dogs. A pet snake is the best of company. I was nursed on goat’s milk. Is it fair to them to call the like of him a dog or a snake or a goat?” When Ferrovius questions whether animals have a soul, Androcles ensures him, “Oh, believe me, they have. Just the same as you and me. I really don’t think I could consent to go to heaven if I thought there were no animals there.”
5. The Hollywood Version
The 1952 film Androcles and the Lion, directed by Chester Erskine and starring Alan Young as Androcles, Jean Simmons as Lavinia, and Victor Mature as the Roman Captain, is a rather faithful Hollywood rendition of Bernard Shaw’s satirical play. Most of the important dialogue and plot is transferred intact from the play to the film.
6. Shaw’s Ambivalence toward Christianity
In addition, Shaw’s play, while ultimately sympathetic to Christian ideals of compassion and nonviolence, challenges religious hypocrisy, blind faith, and the practical difficulties of applying Christian doctrine in a harsh world. For example, Lentulus, a cowardly Christian, talks piously about dying for his faith but panics when actually faced with execution, showing how many so-called martyrs are only brave in theory. Ferrovius, a militant and intimidating Christian, insists that he has renounced violence, yet he instinctively kills gladiators in a moment of rage, and effectively saves all the other Christians (almost with the exception of Androcles). Androcles’ character both mocks and affirms Christian values—his selflessness appears absurd, but in the end, it proves to be more powerful than brute force.
7. Conclusion
In conclusion, by following Bernard Shaw in adopting veganism and wisely embodying Androcles' compassion for animals, you shall be worthy of divine protection. Christly love, when complemented by the militant valour of a Ferrovius, has the power to make even a Roman Emperor bow.
References
Archibald, Henderson (1911). George Bernard Shaw; His Life and Works, A Critical Biography (Authorized). Cincinnati: Stewart & Kidd. https://archive.org/details/georgebernardsha01hend/page/n11/mode/2up
Shaw, George Bernard (1969). Shaw: An Autobiography, 1836–1898. Selected from his writings by Stanley Weintraub. London; Sydney; Toronto: Max Reinhardt Ltd. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.183163/page/n105/mode/2up?q=scorched
Shaw, Bernard (1912). Androcles and the Lion. Harmondsworth: Penguin. https://archive.org/details/AndroclesAndTheLion_ShawAlphabetEdition/page/n3/mode/2up?q=1913
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