# An Apologue explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A traveler, seeing a loaded fruit tree by the road, rationalizes stealing the fruit to prevent others from being tempted to steal it, thereby congratulating himself on his moral superiority.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The traveler's self-deception and moral rationalization for theft highlight hypocrisy.

### Deception and Self-Deception

The traveler deceives himself into believing his theft is virtuous.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator recounts the traveler's self-justifying theft.

### Gentle Pilgrim

Implied as the traveler who steals the fruit under the guise of preventing theft.

## Key lines

> A traveler observed one day A loaded fruit-tree by the way. And reining in his horse exclaimed: 'The man is greatly to be blamed Who, careless of good morals, leaves Temptation in the way of thieves.'

A traveler sees a fruit tree and blames the owner for leaving temptation for thieves.

_The traveler's initial judgment of the tree owner sets up his hypocritical action._

> Now lest some villain pass this way And by this fruit be led astray To bag it, I will kindly pack It snugly in my saddle-sack.

To prevent a villain from stealing, the traveler decides to steal the fruit himself.

_The traveler rationalizes his theft as a protective act._

> He did so; then that Salt o' the Earth Rode on, rejoicing in his worth.

After stealing the fruit, the traveler rides away feeling self-righteous.

_The traveler's self-congratulation underscores his self-deception._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-apologue
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters