The Old Woman and the Doctor from Aesop with a podcast and list of new vocabulary taught in real context for ESL students The Old Woman and the Doctor is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project Podcast of the Old Woman and the Doctor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoFereKYT2I The Old Woman and the Doctor An old woman became almost totally blind from a disease of the eyes, and, after consulting a doctor, made an agreement with him in the presence of witnesses that she should pay him a high fee if he cured her, while if he failed, he was ...
The Old Woman and the Doctor from Aesop with New Words
About the Author
Related Posts
What I find interesting about this story is its irony. The doctor is supposed to help the old woman regain her sight, but instead, he takes advantage of her blindness and steals from her. In the end, when she can see again, she uses the situation against him. The story shows that trust can easily be abused, especially when someone has power over another person.
Thank you for your thoughtful observation! The irony is indeed what makes this fable so powerful. It reminds us that trust should never be exploited, especially when one person is in a position of power over another.
There is a strong contrast between healing and stealing: the person who is trusted to restore someone’s sight is the person who takes advantage of her blindness. The story makes us question who is actually guilty and who is telling the truth.
I think the doctor is more dishonest because he deliberately abuses the woman’s trust and her poor eyesight to steal from her. The old woman is also dishonest if she refuses to pay after receiving the treatment, but her dishonesty comes after the doctor’s wrongdoing.
So, in my opinion, the doctor is more guilty because he starts the deception and takes advantage of a vulnerable person.
I agree with your point. The doctor’s dishonesty is more serious because he deliberately takes advantage of the woman’s vulnerability and breaks the trust placed in him. It’s interesting how Aesop shows that one dishonest act can lead to another.
Exactly! That contrast between healing and stealing is what makes the fable so thought-provoking. Aesop cleverly makes us question both characters and reminds us that trust becomes especially important when one person is vulnerable.