Aesop's Fables · Chapter
The Man and the Image explained
A poor man prays daily to a wooden god for riches but remains poor.
What happens
A poor man prays daily to a wooden god for riches but remains poor. In frustration, he throws the image against the wall, breaking it open to reveal gold coins inside. He then mocks the god for rewarding him only when treated with violence.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the victor Cock, swollen with pride after his triumph, is sud…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Appearance vs. Reality
The wooden image appears to be a powerless idol but actually contains hidden wealth, revealing that its true value is concealed.
- Human Nature and Vice
The man's greed and frustration lead him to violence, and his hypocrisy is exposed when he worships the god only for material gain.
Characters to notice
- The Man
The poor man who prays to the wooden image and later destroys it in anger, finding gold inside.
Key passages
“When I honoured you, you did me no good whatever: but no sooner do I treat you to insults and violence than you make a rich man of me!”
You never helped me when I respected you, but now that I've smashed you, I finally get rich.
The man's ironic realization that his devotion was futile, and his violence was unexpectedly rewarded.
