# The Shepherd and the Wolf explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A Shepherd raises a Wolf cub with his dogs, but the Wolf's innate nature eventually leads him to betray the Shepherd by stealing sheep, resulting in his execution.

## Themes in this chapter

### Human Nature and Vice

The Wolf's innate predatory nature cannot be overcome by upbringing, illustrating the persistence of inherent vice.

### Justice and Consequence

The Shepherd's swift punishment of the Wolf reflects the inevitable consequences of betrayal and wrongdoing.

## Character check-ins

### The Shepherd

Raises a Wolf cub with his dogs, but eventually catches the Wolf stealing sheep and hangs him.

### The Wolf

Raised by the Shepherd, the Wolf initially helps hunt sheep thieves but later succumbs to his nature and steals sheep himself.

## Key lines

> What’s bred in the bone is sure to come out in the flesh.

Innate characteristics cannot be hidden or changed; they will eventually reveal themselves.

_The moral of the fable, emphasizing the theme of inherent nature._

## Links

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