Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Monkey and the Dolphin explained
A pet monkey, traveling by ship, is thrown into the sea during a storm.
What happens
A pet monkey, traveling by ship, is thrown into the sea during a storm. A dolphin mistakes him for a man and carries him to shore. When questioned, the monkey lies about his identity and knowledge of the Piraeus, revealing his deceit. The dolphin, disgusted by the hypocrisy, dives and drowns the monkey.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Deception
The monkey's lies about his identity and knowledge ultimately lead to his downfall.
Appearance vs. Reality
The dolphin mistakes the monkey for a man based on appearance, but the monkey's true nature is revealed through his deceit.
Characters to notice
- The Monkey
A pet on board a ship; pretends to be an Athenian of distinguished family but is exposed as a liar.
- The Dolphins
A dolphin rescues the monkey, mistaking him for a man, but abandons him upon discovering the lie.
Key passages
“The Monkey replied that he was, and added that he came of a very distinguished family.”
The monkey claimed to be an Athenian from a noble lineage.
The monkey's boastful lie sets up his exposure.
“At that, detecting his hypocrisy, the Dolphin was so disgusted that he dived below the surface, and the unfortunate Monkey was quickly drowned.”
Realizing the monkey's deceit, the dolphin dove underwater, causing the monkey to drown.
The dolphin's reaction underscores the moral against false pretenses.