# The Fox — Aesop's Fables character guide > The Fox in Aesop's Fables by Aesop. **Role:** major **Also known as:** A Fox, Fox, the Fox, Reynard the Fox **First appearance:** 0002-the-fox-and-the-grapes ## Snapshot A silken-tongued schemer who survives by reading the appetites of stronger beasts, forever trading loyalty for a head start on the hunt. ## Who they are The Fox moves through these fables as the great improviser, partnering with an Ass one moment and whispering the Ass's location to a Lion the next. His flaw is that cleverness without conscience keeps him calculating the odds even as the jaws close around him. He matters because his betrayals set the moral machinery in motion: readers learn early that the trickster's escape is rarely the last word. ## Relationships ### [The Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_lion) _psychological_ The Fox manipulates the Lion through cunning flattery and deceit, often exploiting the Lion's pride for personal gain. ### [The Goat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_goat) _psychological_ The Fox tricks the Goat into dangerous situations, using flattery or false promises to exploit the Goat's naivety. ### [The Eagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_eagle) _rivalry_ The Eagle and the Fox are cunning adversaries, often competing for food or tricking each other. ### [The Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_lion) _psychological_ The Fox manipulates the Lion through cunning flattery and deceit, often exploiting the Lion's pride for personal gain. ### [The Eagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_eagle) _rivalry_ The Eagle and the Fox are cunning adversaries, often competing for food or tricking each other. ### [The Goat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_goat) _psychological_ The Fox tricks the Goat into dangerous situations, using flattery or false promises to exploit the Goat's naivety. ## In the story ### [The Fox and the Grapes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-grapes) The Fox attempts to reach the grapes but fails, then rationalizes his failure by disparaging the grapes as sour. ### [The Fox and the Crow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-crow) Flatters the Crow to trick her into dropping the cheese. ### [The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-the-fox-and-the-lion) Betrays the Ass to save himself, but is killed by the Lion after the Ass is trapped. ### [The Fox and the Stork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-stork) The Fox plays a trick on the Stork by serving soup in a flat dish, but later suffers the same treatment when the Stork serves food in a narrow pitcher. ### [The Fox and the Monkey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-monkey) Engages in a dispute about noble birth with the Monkey and cleverly exposes the Monkey's lie. ### [The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-dog-the-cock-and-the-fox) Attempts to eat the Cock by flattering him, but is tricked and killed by the Dog. ### [The Fox and the Goat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-goat) Tricks the Goat into the well and then escapes, leaving the Goat trapped. ### [The Monkey as King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-monkey-as-king) Disgusted by the Monkey's promotion, he cunningly lures the Monkey into a trap. ### [The Ass in the Lion's Skin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-ass-in-the-lion-s-skin) Recognizes the Ass by his voice and exposes the deception. ### [The Old Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-old-lion) Suspicious and observant, avoids the trap by noticing the footprints. ### [The Quack Frog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-quack-frog) Exposes the Frog's false claims by pointing out his inability to heal himself. ### [The Swollen Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-swollen-fox) The hungry fox who overeats and gets stuck in the tree. ### [The Swollen Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-swollen-fox) The passing fox who offers advice to the trapped fox. ### [The Fox Without a Tail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-without-a-tail) The protagonist who loses his tail and attempts to persuade others to cut off theirs out of shame and self-interest. ### [The Wild Boar and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-wild-boar-and-the-fox) Questions the Boar's preparation, seeing no immediate threat ### [The Fox and the Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-lion) The Fox encounters the Lion three times, progressing from terror to familiarity. ### [The Eagle and His Captor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-and-his-captor) Observes the eagle's gift and advises him to appease the original captor. ### [The Bear and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-bear-and-the-fox) Wryly exposes the Bear's hypocrisy by pointing out that the Bear's true nature is revealed when he is hungry. ### [The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-the-bear-and-the-fox) Prowls around, watches the fight, and steals the kid when the combatants are too weak to move. ### [The Lioness and the Vixen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lioness-and-the-vixen) Boastful mother who taunts the Lioness about having only one cub. ### [The Hare and the Tortoise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-hare-and-the-tortoise) Sets the course and acts as judge for the race. ### [The Lion, the Mouse, and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-the-mouse-and-the-fox) The Fox attempts to mock the Lion for appearing afraid of the Mouse. ### [The Wolf, the Fox, and the Ape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-wolf-the-fox-and-the-ape) Denies the theft, but is still found guilty by the Ape due to his dishonest reputation. ### [The Farmer and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-farmer-and-the-fox) Caught by the farmer, has its tail set on fire, and inadvertently burns the farmer's cornfield. ### [The Archer and the Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-archer-and-the-lion) Observes the encounter and taunts the Lion for cowardice, but is rebuffed. ### [The Hound and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-hound-and-the-fox) Jeers at the Hound for his cowardice after chasing the Lion. ### [The Crab and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-crab-and-the-fox) Spies and catches the Crab, acting as the agent of consequence. ### [The Fox and the Grasshopper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-grasshopper) Attempts to deceive the Grasshopper with flattery to catch and eat her. ### [The Dogs and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-dogs-and-the-fox) The Fox observes the Dogs and offers a sharp critique of their misplaced bravado. ### [The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-the-fox-and-the-ass) Learns from the Ass's mistake and gives the Lion almost all the booty, keeping only a small morsel for himself. ### [The Eagle and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-eagle-and-the-fox) Becomes friends with the Eagle but is betrayed; she curses the Eagle and eventually gets revenge when the Eagle's fledglings fall. ### [The Fox Who Served a Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-who-served-a-lion) Serves the Lion but becomes dissatisfied with his small share; attempts independence and is killed. ### [The Lion, the Wolf, and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-the-wolf-and-the-fox) Absent from the initial gathering; cleverly defends himself by claiming to seek a cure, then manipulates the Lion into killing the Wolf. ### [The Fox and the Leopard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-leopard) Argues that inner wit surpasses outer beauty. ### [The Fox and the Hedgehog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-hedgehog) The Fox is swept away by a river, bruised and exhausted, and lies helpless as horseflies feed on him. He wisely refuses the Hedgehog's offer to remove the flies. ### [The Foxes and the River](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-foxes-and-the-river) The boastful fox who steps into the river and is swept away, then feigns a planned journey to the sea. ### [The Fox and the Bramble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-bramble) The Fox, attempting to save himself from a fall, grabs a Bramble and is scratched, then complains about the injury. ### [The Fox and the Snake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-fox-and-the-snake) Observes the Snake and makes a witty remark. ### [The Lion, the Fox, and the Stag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-the-fox-and-the-stag) Acts as the Lion's cunning agent, twice deceiving the Stag with flattery and false promises, and ultimately steals the Stag's brains. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_fox - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters