Bekale was a married man whose selfish nature gradually became a source of trouble in his household. He was often concerned about what he could gain for himself, giving little thought to the needs of his wife or the responsibilities that came with marriage. Whenever there was something to be shared, he was inclined to think of his own interests first.
His wife noticed his behaviour, but she endured it for some time. She understood that marriage required patience, yet Bekale seemed to mistake her patience for permission to continue behaving as he pleased. He enjoyed the benefits of having a wife and a home, but he was unwilling to make the sacrifices that a husband was expected to make.
As time passed, his selfishness became more obvious. Bekale wanted the best for himself and was reluctant to give anything up for another person. When his wife needed consideration, he often placed his own comfort above hers. When there was work to be shared, he looked for ways to avoid carrying his proper share. He seemed to believe that what belonged to him was his alone, while what belonged to his wife could also be used for his benefit.
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This way of living gradually affected the peace of the household. A marriage cannot remain balanced when one person continually takes while the other is expected to give. Bekale’s wife began to feel the weight of his behaviour, and the harmony between them suffered.
Yet Bekale did not see himself as the problem. In his mind, he was simply making sure that his own needs were met. He did not stop to consider how his actions affected the woman who lived with him or how much she had already endured.
His selfishness eventually brought him into circumstances where he could no longer behave as though his actions had no consequences. The very attitude that had allowed him to put himself first began to work against him.
Bekale was forced to face the consequences of the way he had treated others. The comfort he had valued so highly could no longer protect him. The advantage he had gained from selfishness began to disappear, and he found himself in a position where he needed consideration and help.
This was when he began to understand something he had previously ignored: people cannot continually take from others and expect nothing to change.
A person who refuses to help others may eventually discover that others are unwilling to help them. Someone who constantly places their own needs above everyone else’s may one day find themselves alone when they need support.
Bekale’s experience became a punishment, but it was also a lesson.
For the first time, he had to look beyond himself and consider the consequences of his behaviour. He began to understand that marriage was not a relationship in which one partner existed to serve the other. A husband and wife were expected to share responsibilities and consider each other’s welfare.
The punishment made him recognize the unfairness of his behaviour. He had expected his wife to tolerate his selfishness, but he had never considered whether he would tolerate the same treatment from her.
He began to see that fairness mattered.
If he expected his wife to care for him, he also had a responsibility to care for her. If he wanted her support during difficult moments, he could not spend his entire marriage refusing to support her. Marriage required mutual responsibility rather than one sided advantage.
Bekale’s situation also demonstrated that consequences do not always appear immediately. For a while, selfishness had seemed to benefit him. He got what he wanted and avoided sacrifices. He may even have believed that he had discovered an easy way to live.
But his actions were creating consequences that were waiting for him.
Eventually, the imbalance he had created became impossible to ignore.
The punishment he faced forced him to understand that selfishness is not strength. It can instead become a weakness that destroys trust and damages relationships.
A household depends on cooperation. When one person refuses to contribute, someone else must carry the burden. When one person continually takes advantage of another’s kindness, that kindness can eventually disappear.
Bekale learned this through experience.
His story became a warning about the dangers of putting personal interests above the welfare of others. The selfish person may think they are gaining an advantage, but that advantage can be temporary. In time, selfish behaviour can bring conflict, loneliness and consequences.
The experience also revealed the importance of justice. Bekale’s punishment was connected to his actions. He could not continue behaving selfishly without eventually being confronted by the results.
The lesson was not simply that selfish people deserve punishment. It was that actions have consequences, and people must be prepared to face what their choices produce.
Marriage especially requires consideration. Two people cannot build a peaceful home if only one person’s needs matter. A successful marriage depends on respect, cooperation, sacrifice and fairness.
Bekale had forgotten this.
He had treated his own comfort as though it were more important than the well being of his wife. His punishment forced him to understand that a marriage cannot survive on selfishness.
The experience changed the way he understood responsibility. He learned that being a husband was not simply about receiving the benefits of marriage. It also meant giving, supporting and making sacrifices when necessary.
The story therefore presents Bekale’s experience as a cautionary lesson.
A person should not wait until circumstances turn against them before learning to treat others fairly. Kindness and consideration should be given because they are right, not only because they may be useful later.
Bekale had spent much of his marriage thinking about what he could receive.
His punishment taught him to think about what he owed to others.
The difference was significant.
When a person begins to consider the needs of others, relationships become stronger. When a person thinks only about themselves, even the closest relationships can become damaged.
Bekale’s experience showed that selfishness can eventually carry a price.
What began as a habit of putting himself first became a source of conflict and punishment. The consequences forced him to recognize a truth that he had ignored for too long: a person cannot continually take from others without eventually paying the cost.
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Moral Lesson
Selfishness can damage relationships and eventually bring painful consequences. Marriage requires fairness, respect, cooperation and a willingness to consider the needs of others.
Knowledge Check
1. What was Bekale’s major character flaw?
Bekale was selfish and often placed his own interests above the needs of his wife.
2. How did Bekale’s selfishness affect his marriage?
It created an imbalance in the household because he expected to receive care and support without giving the same in return.
3. What eventually happened because of his behaviour?
His selfish choices brought consequences and punishment that forced him to confront his actions.
4. What did Bekale learn from his punishment?
He learned that marriage requires mutual responsibility and that selfish behaviour can eventually turn against the person who practises it.
5. Why is fairness important in marriage?
Both partners have responsibilities and needs, so a healthy marriage requires mutual care, respect and cooperation.
6. What is the central lesson of the tale?
The story teaches that selfishness has consequences and that people should treat others fairly rather than constantly putting themselves first.
Source
Adapted from Henri Trilles’ Contes et légendes fang du Gabon (1905), from the narrative “Bekale, le mari égoïste puni,” p. 242 onward.
