In a kingdom plagued by a dragon that demands a daily human sacrifice, the people have come to accept the beast as an inevitable fact of life. The dragon represents human aging and the sacrifices symbolize the lives lost to senescence. Eventually, a boy challenges the kingdom's resignation to the dragon's tyranny, igniting a movement to find a way to kill the dragon.
Technological advancements lead to the development of a missile capable of killing the dragon. Despite initial resistance from the king and his advisors, who worry about the social ramifications of killing the dragon, the beast is eventually slain, and the people celebrate their newfound freedom.
The fable teaches several moral lessons:
Acceptance of the "inevitable" can blind us to the suffering it causes. A static view of technology may cause us to underestimate the possibility of finding solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems. Society may prioritize damage control over addressing the root cause of an issue. Societal good must ultimately benefit individuals. A sense of proportion and priority is essential. Rhetoric can obscure the truth and hinder progress. Addressing urgent problems, like aging, should be a top priority. Societal reorganization and adaptation will be necessary after overcoming long-standing challenges. In conclusion, the fable urges society to invest in research to extend the human health-span, combat aging, and improve the quality of life, rather than merely accepting it as an inescapable fact.