# The Fox and the Grapes explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A hungry Fox tries repeatedly to reach some grapes hanging high on a trellis, but fails. He then walks away dismissively, claiming the grapes were sour anyway.

## Themes in this chapter

### Pride and Folly

The Fox's pride leads him to pretend the grapes are worthless rather than admit his failure.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The Fox claims the grapes are sour, but they were actually ripe and desirable; his words mask the truth of his inability.

## Character check-ins

### The Fox

The Fox attempts to reach the grapes but fails, then rationalizes his failure by disparaging the grapes as sour.

## Key lines

> I thought those Grapes were ripe, but I see now they are quite sour.

The Fox pretends the grapes were never worth having to save face after failing to get them.

_This line encapsulates the moral of rationalizing failure by disparaging the unattainable._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-grapes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters