Reading Notes: Jatakas

The Crocodile and the Monkey's Heart - I chose this story because it seemed a little longer than the previous ones. Also, it had a couple characters with traits I think I could work with in the future:

• Crocodile's wife - wants to eat the monkey's heart (greedy)
• Crocodile - does what his wife wants; tries to get the monkey's heart, but he isn't very smart. He believes the monkey's heart is near the tree. Maybe he dies in another version?
• Monkey (Bodhisatta) - trustful of the crocodile, but still smart enough to escape

Monkey also does a small song/stanza at the end, maybe I could write something similar in the future.

Bodhisatta; (actually an innocent monkey at a zoo)

Source: Max Pixel

The story of The Self-Willed Deer was sad. I thought Bodhisatta would have tried to at least rescue his nephew. Maybe a version could be written with a happier ending. Bodhisatta rescues the nephew, and he realizes he should listen to the teachings of his uncle. But I guess this may not tie in to the main story about the Unruly Brother.

I also liked the story of The Monkey who Gathered Lotuses.