# Beyond Lies the Wub explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Philip K. Dick.

## What happens

Captain Franco and his crew load a Martian wub aboard their spaceship. The wub, a large pig-like creature, speaks telepathically and pleads for its life, but Franco insists on eating it. After a philosophical discussion, Franco shoots and butchers the wub. The crew eats the meat, but most are disturbed; Franco alone enjoys the meal and continues a discussion about Odysseus, suggesting the wub's consciousness may have transferred to him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Violence and Consumption

The wub is killed and eaten despite its intelligence and pleas, highlighting the crew's willingness to consume life for sustenance.

### Ethics and Morality

The crew grapples with the ethical dilemma of killing a sentient being; Franco dismisses moral concerns in favor of practicality.

### Alienation and Otherness

The wub is treated as an alien 'other' to be exploited, despite its attempts at communication and shared humanity.

## Character check-ins

### Captain Franco

Captain of the spaceship; pragmatic and ruthless, he kills and eats the wub despite its pleas.

### Peterson

Crewman who bought the wub from a native; feels guilty when it is killed.

### Jones

Crewman who helps bring the wub aboard; disturbed by its killing.

### French

Crewman who is unsettled by the wub's death and leaves the table.

## Key lines

> The slovenly wub might well have said: Many men talk like philosophers and live like fools.

The wub embodies the irony of those who speak wisely but act foolishly.

_Opening epigraph sets up the wub's philosophical nature._

> Really, Captain, I suggest we talk of other matters.

The wub politely asks to discuss something other than being eaten.

_First instance of the wub speaking, surprising the crew._

> Can you look me in the eye and do it?

The wub challenges Franco to face the moral weight of killing it.

_Climactic moment before the shooting._

> The taste was excellent.

Franco finds the wub meat delicious, indifferent to the moral cost.

_Final irony; Franco enjoys the meal while others are disturbed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_43_se/chapters/beyond-lies-the-wub
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_43_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_43_se/chapters