# The Ant explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

Ants were originally men who farmed but stole from their neighbors out of covetousness. Jupiter punished them by transforming them into ants, yet their thieving nature persisted, as they continue to gather others' crops. The moral is that punishment does not change a thief's inherent disposition.

## Themes in this chapter

### Justice and Consequence

Jupiter punishes the thieving men by transforming them into ants, illustrating divine justice.

### Human Nature and Vice

The story emphasizes that covetousness and thievery are ingrained vices that persist even after punishment.

## Character check-ins

### The Ant

Formerly men turned into ants by Jupiter as punishment for stealing.

### Jupiter

Angered by the covetousness of the men, he transformed them into ants.

## Key lines

> Ants were once men and made their living by tilling the soil. But, not content with the results of their own work, they were always casting longing eyes upon the crops and fruits of their neighbours, which they stole, whenever they got the chance, and added to their own store.

Ants originally were human farmers who, dissatisfied with their own harvest, constantly coveted and stole their neighbors' produce.

_Sets up the origin and moral failing of the ants._

> You may punish a thief, but his bent remains.

Punishing a thief does not change their inherent thieving nature.

_The moral conclusion of the fable._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ant
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters