Aesop's Fables, The Prophet summary
The Prophet of 284 · 1 min to read the chapter
In The Prophet, a man sells predictions in the marketplace until someone reports that thieves have robbed his house, sending him rushing away in distress. The bystanders laugh at the gap between his claim to predict other people's futures and his failure to foresee his own trouble.
What happens
- A Prophet sits in the marketplace and offers paid fortune telling.
- Someone runs up and reports that thieves have entered his house and stolen whatever they can.
- The Prophet jumps up and rushes away, pulling his hair and cursing the thieves.
- The amused bystanders hear one onlooker mock his inability to predict his own trouble.
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What to notice
The onlooker points out the mismatch between the Prophet's advertised ability and his surprise at the robbery. This contrast supplies the fable's central criticism.
Quick check
What makes the Prophet rush away?
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