Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Blind Man and the Cub explained
A blind man with a keen sense of touch is given a wolf cub to identify.
What happens
A blind man with a keen sense of touch is given a wolf cub to identify. Though he cannot determine whether it is a wolf or a fox cub, he knows it should not be trusted near a sheepfold, illustrating that evil tendencies are evident early.
Themes in this chapter
Human Nature and Vice
The fable illustrates that evil tendencies are apparent from a young age, emphasizing inherent vice.
Appearance vs. Reality
The blind man cannot tell if the cub is a wolf or fox, yet its dangerous nature is clear regardless of appearance.
Characters to notice
- The Blind Man
Uses his fine sense of touch to identify animals, but cannot distinguish between a wolf cub and a fox cub.
- The Wolf
The cub placed in the blind man's hands is a wolf cub, though its identity is uncertain.
Key passages
“Evil tendencies are early shown.”
Bad inclinations reveal themselves from a young age.
The moral of the fable, emphasizing that harmful traits are evident early on.