The fable critiques tyranny and the abuse of authority, illustrating how the powerful manipulate systems to monopolize resources. It warns against naive alliances with those who wield unchecked dominance, revealing the futility of expecting fairness under hierarchical oppression. The lion's rhetorical justification satirizes legalistic exploitation, while the prey's silence underscores the complicity of fear. Historically, this mirrors societal structures where the weak are systematically disenfranchised.