Sheep

The shepherd keeps the flock together. He watches for the sheep that go astray and quickly brings them back into the fold. When the wool gets too long, the shepherd will shear it. The sheep cannot choose the length of their wool. The sheep will go along with anything the shepherd demands, and do not question the shepherd. The shepherd brings them security. They know if they follow him, they will be taken care of. The sheep will continue follow the herd even when the shepherd is away.

There are many different folds of sheep and each has its own shepherd. A single shepherd may have several folds or "sheep who are not of this fold". The same shepherd can guide different folds of sheep in a different way, depending on the landscape. Likewise, a sheep may be in a different fold with a different shepherd who's way is also different.

Regardless of the shepherd or fold to which they belong, a sheep is not free to choose his own path within the fold. A sheep that looks or thinks differently from the other sheep is called a "black sheep". If a sheep questions the shepherd, he is considered divisive, weird or a trouble maker. The black sheep is not accepted by the rest of the flock. A sheep has no free will. If he senses his shepherd is leading him astray, he cannot tell the other sheep, or he will be ostracized or ignored.

Sheep will follow their shepherd knowing they are secure and provided for. They will sacrifice free will and freedom of thought for the sake of security. They trust their shepherd implicitly. Their world view is limited to within the borders the shepherd has set for them. Unlike other animals who roam the countryside or hunt prey, the world of the sheep is very small.

Since sheep are unable to see beyond the borders of the fold, they don't realize they are in prison. They are so blind to the outside world. They fail to notice the fattest sheep which disappear from the fold, never to return. The don't recognize that the goal of the shepherd is their destruction.