# The Wolves and the Dogs explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

The Wolves persuade the Dogs to abandon their servitude to mankind and join them in a life of freedom, but once the Dogs enter the Wolves' den, they are attacked and destroyed. The fable warns that traitors deserve their fate.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cunning and Deception

The Wolves use deceptive persuasion to lure the Dogs into a trap.

### Justice and Consequence

The Dogs' betrayal of their masters leads to their own destruction, illustrating that traitors meet a fitting end.

## Character check-ins

### The Wolf

The Wolves deceive the Dogs with promises of freedom and feasting.

### The Dog

The Dogs are persuaded by the Wolves' words and are betrayed and killed.

## Key lines

> Why should we continue to be enemies any longer? You are very like us in most ways: the main difference between us is one of training only.

The Wolves argue that the Dogs and Wolves are fundamentally similar, differing only in how they are raised.

_The Wolves' opening argument to the Dogs._

> Don’t put up with it any longer, but hand over the flocks to us, and we will all live on the fat of the land and feast together.

The Wolves urge the Dogs to rebel against humans and share the wealth of the flocks.

_The Wolves' persuasive appeal to the Dogs' desire for freedom and plenty._

> Traitors richly deserve their fate.

Those who betray their trust get what they deserve.

_The moral of the fable._

## Links

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