# The Fawn and His Mother explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A Hind chides her grown Fawn for cowardice despite his strength and horns, but when hounds are heard in the distance, she herself flees, revealing her own fear.

## Themes in this chapter

### Appearance vs. Reality

The Hind appears brave and critical of her son's cowardice, yet she is the first to flee when danger approaches.

### Human Nature and Vice

The fable illustrates the common human vice of hypocrisy, where one criticizes others for faults they themselves possess.

## Character check-ins

### The Stag

The Fawn, a young stag, is chided by his mother for cowardice despite his strength.

### The Hares

The Hind, the fawn's mother, scolds her son but then flees at the sound of hounds.

## Key lines

> My son, Nature has given you a powerful body and a stout pair of horns, and I can’t think why you are such a coward as to run away from the hounds.

The Hind tells her Fawn that he is physically strong and well-armed, so she cannot understand his fear of the hounds.

_The mother's rebuke highlights the contrast between the fawn's potential and his timidity._

> You stay where you are,” said the Hind; “never mind me”: and with that she ran off as fast as her legs could carry her.

The Hind tells her fawn to remain while she herself flees at top speed from the distant hounds.

_The mother's own flight undercuts her earlier criticism, revealing her hypocrisy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fawn-and-his-mother
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters