I think one common theme is happiness comes from yourself, not from other wishes. In "The Three Brass Pennies", it says, '"After all, we are but human!" he mused. "Tuan See is no worse than I. But what am I to do now?"' It also says, '"Kind old man," he said, "I beg you to take back these brass pennies. They have brought me nothing but woe, and I quite realize that it was all through my silly choosing. I desire only to be as I was before!"' That quote proves that Ah Fo regrets his decisions to have all the power he wants. Now that he got those powers, he doesn't want them anymore. They have only brought him nothing but woe and it was because of his silly choosing. In "The Stone", it says, "'No, no!" cried Maibon. "I want no more of it. Whatever may happen, let it happen. That's better than nothing happening at all. I've had my share of being young; I'll take my share of being old. And when I come to the end of my days, at least I can say I've lied each one of them."' It also says, "'Stones are all right in their way,” said Maibon. “But the trouble with them is, they don’t grow."' That also shows that Maibon regrets asking for the stone. He wants to throw it or break it. Also, he never wants to see any of Fair Folks ever again. Those four quotes really show that having powers that you want isn't going to make you happy, instead, it is going to make you miserable. You should always be happy with yourself, and not want more things that you don't need.
The theme is developed in each story in a quite particular way. In "The Stone", the stone prevented tooth to grow on the toothless baby, the cow was calfless, the tree was fruitless, and the hen was sitting desperately on her eggs, but there was no luck.. His wife kept telling him that it's the fault of the stone and to get rid of the thing, but Maibon doesn't want to and he thinks the seasons are slow. Everyday, the similar things happened. The baby was teething but not a single tooth was able to be seen. She tells him that the stone is bad luck and she wants no part of it! His wife said that so many times that he finally threw it out of the cottage window and was going to get it again. At last, when he was trying to bury the stone again, he saw the Dwarf. He was going to blame the Dwarf for this but the Dwarf said that he did not listen to the warning that he told him. It says, ‘“You!” shouted Maibon, shaking his fist. “Cheat! Villain! Trickster! I did you a good turn, and see how you’ve repaid it!”’ He is truly blaming the Dwarf for this Stone. I think everytime Maibon tries to throw the Stone away, the theme of the story is getting developed. I think the theme of the story is getting developed because each time he does that, it shows that he regrets having it so he does not want it anymore.
In the “Three Brass Pennies”, Ah Fo wishes three things: for the power to read accurately the thoughts of others; secondly, for the power to foretell his own future at least a month in advance of any given moment; third, for the power to acquire all learning without any effort. At first, he thought that it was very wise of him to choose those powers because, on page 17 it says, ‘“I have carefully considered the matter, O wise and generous one!” he announced.” But later, he regrets it. On page 20 it says, ‘“This power may prove to be very useful later,” he mused, “but it has taken all the joy from studying for me at the present time.”’ That means he doesn’t like the second penny taking all of his joy from studying. On page 21 it says, ‘“This reading of other people’s minds certainly had its inconveniences!” That was when he touched the third penny accidentally and thought that it was very inconvenient. Finally, when he couldn’t handle it anymore, he went to the magician again to take back these powers (the pennies). When the magician saw him, he said that he could ask for another 3 wishes and that he could replace the pennies for him. But Ah Fo said, ‘“No, no, no!” cried Ah Fo, wildly. “With all gratitude to you, I desire none of these things—less now than ever. If you would grant me three wishes, let them, I pray you, be these. Allow me to forget all that I have learned through the agency of these terrible pennies; give me a contented mind; and lastly, allow me to return to my studies with a new zest and the determination to rise by my own honest effort above all obstacles. It is all that I would ask!”’ He finally learns that he is happy by himself without any superpowers. I think each time he doesn’t like the use of one penny, it builds the theme of the story up. He has wished for too much power and therefore, he regrets asking for each power. You should always be happy with yourself, and not want more things that you don't need.
NONOE OF THIS IS COPIED! I TURNED THE UNIT TEST IN AND GOT 100%!!! CHekc it on grammarly plagiarism if you'd like
