The Tale of Procrustes

 

He who stretches…..

Procrustes, also called Polypemon, Damastes, or Procoptas, in Greek legend, a robber dwelling somewhere in Attica—in some versions, in the neighbourhood of Eleusis. His father was said to be Poseidon.

He was famous for being a host as he offered hospitality to pasing by strangers including a meal and a night stay in special bed. Procrustes had an iron bed on which he compelled his victims to lie down. As soon as the guest went to bed procrustes began to work on them, stretching them on the rack by hammering if they were too short for the bed or cutting off their legs if they were too tall.

In either event the victim died. Once a traveller was dead procrustes kept their money and luggage for himself. Ultimately Procrustes was slain by his own method by the young Attic hero Theseus, who as a young man slayed robbers and monsters whom he encountered while traveling from Trozen to Athens.

The “Procrustean bed,” has become proverbial for arbitrarily—and perhaps ruthlessly—forcing someone or something to fit into an unnatural scheme or pattern. It’s too easy to take up the approach of Procrustes and adjust the problem to fit the solution. So, at many levels, from the day-to-day job environment to the world around us, Procrustes and his bed survive. It’s important to recognize the trap of trying to fit the evidence into the iron bed of preconception and convenience. It’s often easy to see a new set of facts and find that they fit—with maybe just a little trimming here and there, a nip and a tuck—into a familiar pattern.

Sometimes the bed fits. But be careful, because often it doesn’t, and the results of trying to fit the facts into our preconceptions can be misleading and dangerous to ourselves. Ultimately, emulating Procrustes often results in the same fate he suffered. Having made our bed, we will be forced to recline in it, stretched to fit or sans legs.

Hope you all liked today’s blog…till next time-

SAYONARA!!!!