# The Mouse — Aesop's Fables character guide

> The Mouse in Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** a Mouse, the Mouse, The Mouse, The unhappy Mouse

**First appearance:** 0020-the-lion-and-the-mouse

## Snapshot

A small, watchful creature whose hard-won caution and sudden bursts of counsel turn the tables on larger foes.

## Who they are

The Mouse lives at the bottom of the food chain, dodging cats and surviving on the wisdom of narrow escapes. In the council of mice, one proposes belling the cat to a round of applause, until an elder asks the question no one can answer: who will do it? That gap between a brilliant plan and the courage to execute it is the Mouse's gift to the fables—proof that the smallest voice in the room is often the one that names the truth.

## Relationships

### [The Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_lion)

_friendship_

The Lion spares the Mouse, and later the Mouse repays the favor by freeing the Lion from a trap, forming an unlikely bond.

### [The Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_lion)

_friendship_

The Lion spares the Mouse, and later the Mouse repays the favor by freeing the Lion from a trap, forming an unlikely bond.

### [The Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_lion)

_friendship_

The Lion spares the Mouse, and later the Mouse repays the favor by freeing the Lion from a trap, forming an unlikely bond.

## In the story

### [The Lion and the Mouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-and-the-mouse)

Accidentally wakes the Lion, begs for mercy, and later frees the Lion from a net.

### [The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-mouse-the-frog-and-the-hawk)

Forms a friendship with the Frog, is tied to him, and drowns when the Frog jumps into the water.

### [The Mice and the Weasels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-mice-and-the-weasels)

An old Mouse proposes the idea of appointing generals to lead the Mice in battle.

### [The Lion, the Mouse, and the Fox](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-lion-the-mouse-and-the-fox)

The Mouse inadvertently wakes the Lion by running over his back.

### [The Mouse and the Bull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-mouse-and-the-bull)

Bites the Bull and cleverly evades capture, taunting the Bull from safety.

### [The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-town-mouse-and-the-country-mouse)

The Country Mouse, who prefers simple, safe living over luxurious but dangerous feasts.

### [The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-town-mouse-and-the-country-mouse)

The Town Mouse, who enjoys luxury but lives in constant fear of humans.

### [Venus and the Cat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/chapters/venus-and-the-cat)

Released by Venus to test the transformed cat's instincts.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters/the_mouse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/fables_se/characters