Library / Aesop’s Fables

The One-Eyed Doe

A fable attributed to Aesop

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The One-Eyed Doe

A doe had the misfortune of losing one of her eyes, which left her unable to see anyone approaching from that side. To avoid danger, she always fed on a high cliff near the sea, keeping her good eye directed towards the land. This strategy allowed her to see whenever hunters approached from the shore, and she often managed to escape as a result.

However, the hunters soon discovered that she was blind in one eye. They hired a boat and rowed beneath the cliff where she typically fed, ultimately shooting her from the sea. As she lay dying, she cried out, "Ah, you cannot escape your fate."

The moral
One cannot evade their fate, no matter how carefully they try to protect themselves.

Discussion questions

  1. What do you think the one-eyed doe symbolizes in our own lives?
  2. How do we often try to avoid facing our fate, and what are the consequences?
  3. Can you think of a real-life story that reflects the moral of this tale?

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Good night.

Tomorrow night: The Fox and the Crane