The Sick Man and the Doctor by Esopo
The story revolves around a doctor's visit to a sick man. The doctor consistently interprets the patient's worsening symptoms as positive indicators of recovery. Despite the patient's increasing illness, the doctor remains optimistic, stating that each new symptom is a good sign. This narrative serves as a commentary on the dangers of false optimism and the importance of objective evaluation. The doctor's persistent misinterpretation of the patient's condition highlights the potential consequences of ignoring reality in favor of a more pleasant outlook. The story also touches on the theme of language and its relationship to truth. The patient's final statement, "I'm dying of good signs," is a clever play on words that underscores the disconnect between the doctor's optimistic assessment and the patient's actual condition.
By Esopo · First published 1840 · Genre: Fable, Children's literature, Fiction · 184 words
First lines
A Sick Man received a visit from his Doctor, who asked him how he was. "Fairly well, Doctor," said he, "but I find I sweat a great deal. " "Ah," said the Doctor, "that's a good sign. " On his next visit he asked the same question, and his patient replied, "I'm much as usual, but I've taken to having shivering fits, which leave me cold all over. " "Ah," said the Doctor, "that's a good sign too. " When he came the third time and inquired as before about his patient's health, the Sick Man said that he felt very feverish. "A very good sign," said the Doctor; "you are doing very nicely indeed. " Afterwards a friend came to see the invalid, and on asking him how he did, received this reply: "My dear friend, I'm dying of good signs. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Sick Man and the Doctor is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1840 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Esopo
- Date: 1840 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's literature, Fiction, Classic Literature
- Length: 184 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Sick Man and the Doctor by Esopo
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Sick Man and the Doctor?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Old Woman And The Doctor by Esopo
- The Debtor And His Sow by Esopo
- Mercury And The Tradesmen by Esopo
- The Ass And His Driver by Esopo
- The Viper And The File by Esopo
- The Ass And His Masters by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — The works of Esopo are traditionally parables that convey moral lesson, hence categorizing this book as a fable is most accurate.
- Children's literature — Esopo's fables are oftentimes formatted to be easily understandable for younger audiences. They are commonly used as teaching tools for children.
- Fiction — As Esopo's stories are created for the purpose of delivering moral lessons, they are typically fictional.
- Classic Literature — Given Esopo's role in the cannon of traditional literature, his works tend to fall under the genre of classic literature.
Tags
fable · morality · health · doctor · sickness · advice · wisdom · treatment · deception · trust · human nature · critique