The Hidden Voices of Symbolism and Superstition in the Hungarian Folktale of “The Rooster and the Diamond Button”

Abstract:This article examines the symbolism and superstitions surrounding the Hungarian folktale of “The Rooster and the Diamond Button” that deepen the reader's comprehension of the story as one of resistance to the oppressive Ottoman Empire. The analysis reveals that the tale has myriad overlays of meaning culminating in the understanding that the rooster serves as a heroic icon of the folk; the rooster challenges authority and, in carnivalesque fashion, usurps the dominant power and, thereby, reestablishes the rightful order of the world. The accompanying personal story of “The Lebanese Rooster” shows how life often follows a similar, though in this case tragic, narrative vein.