# The Ass — Aesop's Fables character guide > The Ass in Aesop's Fables by Aesop. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ass, The Ass, the Ass, an Ass, the Wild Ass **First appearance:** 0019-the-ass-the-fox-and-the-lion ## Snapshot A patient beast of burden whose trust and self-importance make him the perennial mark in a world of sharper teeth. ## Who they are The Ass hauls, grazes, and partners with creatures who see him less as a companion than as a stepping stone. In one fable he forages alongside a Fox only to be led into a hunter's pit, betrayed for the sake of another's skin. His vanity—mistaking reverence for an image on his back as reverence for himself—makes him both pitiable and instructive, the reader's mirror for every time flattery has been mistaken for worth. ## Relationships ### [The Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_lion) _rivalry_ The Ass is often the victim of the Lion's strength, but sometimes foolishly challenges or mocks the Lion. ### [The Wolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_wolf) _rivalry_ The Ass and the Wolf are frequent adversaries, with the Wolf preying on the Ass or the Ass outwitting the Wolf. ### [The Ant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_ant) _social_ The Ant and the Ass are contrasting characters in fables, often representing hard work versus laziness, but interact as fellow creatures. ### [The Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_lion) _rivalry_ The Ass is often the victim of the Lion's strength, but sometimes foolishly challenges or mocks the Lion. ### [The Wolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_wolf) _rivalry_ The Ass and the Wolf are frequent adversaries, with the Wolf preying on the Ass or the Ass outwitting the Wolf. ### [The Ant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_ant) _social_ The Ant and the Ass are contrasting characters in fables, often representing hard work versus laziness, but interact as fellow creatures. ### [The Wolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_wolf) _rivalry_ The Ass and the Wolf are frequent adversaries, with the Wolf preying on the Ass or the Ass outwitting the Wolf. ## In the story ### [The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-the-fox-and-the-lion) Forms a partnership with the Fox and is led into a hidden pit by the Fox's betrayal. ### [The Ass and the Lapdog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-the-lapdog) Grows jealous of the Lapdog's ease and tries to mimic its antics, leading to a beating. ### [The Ass and His Burdens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-his-burdens) The Ass repeatedly lies down in the stream to lighten his salt load, but is outwitted when his master replaces the salt with sponges. ### [The Ass and His Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-his-shadow) The hired animal whose shadow becomes the subject of dispute; ultimately escapes while the men fight. ### [The Ass in the Lion's Skin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-in-the-lion-s-skin) Dresses in a lion's skin to frighten others, but reveals himself by braying. ### [The Ass and the Old Peasant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-the-old-peasant) Shows indifference to danger, valuing only the weight of his loads. ### [The Lion and the Wild Ass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-and-the-wild-ass) Hunts with the Lion but is bullied into giving up his share. ### [The Soldier and His Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-soldier-and-his-horse) The horse compares itself to an ass after being overworked and underfed, highlighting its degraded condition. ### [The Lion and the Ass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-and-the-ass) Braggart partner who scares the goats out of the cave but takes undue credit. ### [The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-the-cock-and-the-lion) Elated by the Lion's flight from the Cock's crow, the Ass foolishly pursues the Lion and is eaten. ### [The Ass and the Wolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-the-wolf) Feigns lameness and tricks the Wolf into a vulnerable position, then kicks him and escapes. ### [The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-miller-his-son-and-their-ass) The donkey being taken to market, who is subjected to various treatments and eventually drowns. ### [The Ass and the Mule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-the-mule) Overburdened and exhausted, pleads for help but dies from the strain. ### [The Ass and His Driver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-his-driver) The stubborn animal that rushes toward the precipice despite the Driver's efforts. ### [The Ass and His Purchaser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-his-purchaser) The newly purchased ass reveals its lazy and greedy nature by choosing the worst companion in the stable. ### [The Mule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-mule) The mule's father is implied to be an ass, reflecting the mule's humble origins. ### [The Pack-Ass and the Wild Ass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-pack-ass-and-the-wild-ass) The Pack-Ass is initially seen enjoying leisure but later endures hard labor and beatings. ### [The Pack-Ass and the Wild Ass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-pack-ass-and-the-wild-ass) The Wild Ass observes the Pack-Ass's change in fortune and learns a lesson about the price of comfort. ### [The Ass and His Masters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-his-masters) The Ass is discontented with his hard labor under the Gardener, then the Potter, and finally despairs when sold to the Tanner, realizing his mistake in seeking change. ### [The Pack-Ass, the Wild Ass, and the Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-pack-ass-the-wild-ass-and-the-lion) The Pack-Ass, burdened and dependent on its master, is taunted by the Wild Ass but survives the Lion's attack due to the driver's presence. ### [The Ass and the Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-and-the-dog) Finds and reads the packet, focusing only on content relevant to himself. ### [The Ass Carrying the Image](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-carrying-the-image) The ass becomes conceited, mistaking reverence for the image as respect for himself, and refuses to proceed. ### [The Ploughman, the Ass, and the Ox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ploughman-the-ass-and-the-ox) Yoked with the Ox to plough the field; questions which beast will carry the master home. ### [The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-the-fox-and-the-ass) Divides the booty into three equal parts and is killed by the Lion for his fairness. ### [The Horse and the Ass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-horse-and-the-ass) Endures the Horse's insolence patiently and later derides the Horse when their fortunes reverse. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_ass - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters