The Fox is a tale of two women who owned a small business. The entry of a man disrupted their healthy relationship. Common themes are friendship, betrayal, and emotional impacts.
This article explains the following:
- Author
- Characters
- Summary
- Analysis
- Themes
- Symbols
- Review
- Moral Lessons
- Conclusion
Author
The Fox is a novella. It was written by D.H. Lawrence back in 1923. You will find themes of love, emotions, and social norms in D.H. Lawrence’s works. Some famous works are:
Characters
The story involves two women and one man.
Nelle March
She owned a farm in partnership with Jill. She was emotionally weak.
Jill Banford
She was Nelle partner.
Henry Grenfell
A soldier who married Nelle. The author metaphorically resembles him to the fox.
D.H.Lawrence The Fox Summary
The setting of the story takes place during the WWI era. The author mentioned two women. One of them was Nelle, who appeared healthy, while the other was Jill, who was skinny. They both were near their thirties and owned a farm in Berkshire.
They both live away from men. They were economically independent. They had a healthy relationship. Whatever they earned, they shared it equally. Both women were frustrated over a male fox who attacked their farm. He even killed many chickens.
Nelle tried to kill him but fell in love with Fox. She never saw a male for a long time. She thought that the fox was radiating some masculine powers that were attracting her. It was an emotional dilemma for her. Soon, she developed a deep connection with the fox.
Henry Entry
The story involves the entry of a man named Henry. He was on vacation and was serving in the military. Jill knew him and treated him as a friend. Nelle assumed the same vibes from Henry, she was getting from Fox. Henry proposed to Nelle and she agreed first. Later, she rejected it because she understood her duties. She knew she had to run a business.
Henry tried to approach Nelle many times and finally succeeded. They both married together. This news shattered Jill’s heart. She felt betrayed. She tried negotiating with Nelle but failed.
The Twist
The story has a strange ending. Henry killed the fox who ruined peace at the farm. Further, he killed Jill as he feared she was a threat to his relationship. Nelle wanted to live freely like she was before. She separates from Henry and the story ends.
Analysis
The author highlighted the impact of emotions on the mind. Nelle was dominated by her feminine desire. This event destroyed her relationship with Jill. She even lost her best friend.
We can call this a war against hurdles. The masculine attraction was a hurdle in Nelle’s struggle. She was stuck by it. She escaped the hurdle but it was very late for her.
- Secondly, one should prefer life over emotions. Nelle missed her independence after she tied the knot.
Themes
After reading this book, I have found several theories that I would like to share.
Friendship
D.H. Lawrence started this story by introducing readers to two women and their friendship.
Emotions
We mostly make decisions on the basis of emotions. Nelle did the same thing and saw the outcomes.
Love
Love can result in actions. Henry killed Jill because he was worried about love.
Isolation
Lawrence delivered a message that resonates with the impact of loneliness or isolation on humans through this novella.
Symbols
The Fox
The author compared Fox to a strong external force that seems a threat to relations. Henry was metaphorically declared as a fox because his entry weakened Nelle and Jill’s relationship.
The Farm
The Farm is a symbol of economic stability.
Review
Overall, this book was fascinating. The themes were outstanding. Readers can learn the importance of freedom in life from it.
- Further, one must prioritize old friends over new ones.
Moral Lessons
This reading has the following lessons:
- Always live freely.
- Never be a captive of illusions.
- Trust your best friends.
Conclusion: The Fox Summary And Analysis
In a nutshell, The Fox by D.H. Lawrence involves the friendship of two women who run a farm in England. Their friendship is disrupted by the entry of a man who is metaphorically called the fox in the book. This book tells the influence of emotions on us.
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