42 pages • 1 hour read
Betsy ByarsThe Midnight Fox
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1968A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Embracing Growth Through New Experiences
Before going to the farm, Tom has no interest in building “new experiences,” and he bluntly tells his father, “I like myself the way I am” (7). Tom is comfortable spending his free time talking with Petie or making models in his room, and his reluctance to step outside his comfort zone is highlighted by his short-sighted insistence that he “knows” he will hate being on the farm. This belief is based on a brief, uncomfortable, experience at a summer camp, and the more Tom voices his objections to the farm, the more he reaffirms his dislike to himself, and his anxiety about the “unknown” fuels his reluctance to embrace this new adventure.
Tom admits that he is “not an enormously adaptable person” (29) and he clings to this definition of himself during the first few days on the farm. Eventually, however, the subconscious benefit of doing “nothing” while surrounded by nature triggers Tom’s journey of personal growth. Far from “hating” the farm, Tom opens himself up to a range of new experiences and even goes to bed smiling after he sees the fox cub and spends a joyful afternoon in the river with Hazeline and Mikey. With this experience, he develops a new interest in wildlife and overcomes his fear of going in the river. In bed that night, Tom muses, “For no reason I was lying there smiling” (77), but the real “reason” for his mood can be found in the exhilaration and joy of a new experience. The deep dread that Tom feels once the hunt for the black fox begins is also a new experience. In this moment, his anxieties are no longer simply about his own safety or enjoyment; instead, they are focused on the safety of the fox and her cub. The “utter hopelessness” he feels is compounded by his fear of disappointing Fred and Millie. However, seeing the black fox desperately trying to draw Fred away from her den and hearing the sound of the tiny cub crying give Tom the courage he needs to save the animals’ lives. He finds himself unable to meekly accept the death of the black fox who trusted him and “spoke” to him in such a profound way. The cumulation of Tom’s physical and personal growth in this summer of “new experiences” is highlighted by his brave decision to climb down the tree and free the cub in the middle of a storm, for these are actions that he would not have dreamed possible a few months ago. Tom knows he made the right decision as he hears the “midnight fox” and her cub run away, but his joy is tinged with sadness at the thought that he has let Fred and Millie down. These mature, selfless considerations contrast with Tom’s more self-centered attitude at the beginning of the story, further emphasizing the extent of his emotional growth. Ultimately, Tom returns to the city as a self-confident boy who is physically and emotionally stronger than when he left.
Connecting With Nature
After a few days on the farm, Tom starts to appreciate the peace and beauty of doing “nothing” except watching nature. Even at the beginning of this trend, Tom notices the butterflies and comments that the field he is sitting in is “a very nice place” (32). However, it is not until Tom sees the black fox that the exhilaration of being at one with nature finally hits him. The black fox unlocks something inside of Tom, freeing him from the feelings of caution and apprehension that urban life have instilled in him, and as he watches the fox’s graceful movements, he beholds a natural beauty powerful enough to challenge the beauty to be found in city museums and art galleries. Tom’s reaction is so strong that he is unable to tell Petie about the fox in a letter because he knows that no words can do the fox or the experience justice. From this day forward, Tom begins to live in the moment rather than dwelling on what he is missing back in the city. He marvels at how golden-green the grass in the meadow is and learns that patience brings unexpected rewards, as when the black fox comes close and seems to accept him. Tom realizes that he is not “bored” while sitting in the field. He reads, writes to Petie, or simply daydreams, incorporating the beauty of the natural world into his imaginative fantasies. For example, he imagines becoming famous for inventing a new color after noticing how beautiful the colors of the field are.
Tom discovers the joy of exploring nature while searching the woods and ravine for the fox. He is excited to reexamine many of the things that he once dismissed as uninteresting when he first saw them collected in Bubba’s room, and he studies the details of the various bird nests, hornet nests, and abandoned eggs. Now Tom understands why Bubba collected them, appreciating their beauty and feeling a sense of exhilaration upon finding them. Tom’s growing maturity and respect for nature is highlighted by his reaction to seeing the fox cub playing outside its den. Tom is overwhelmed with joy at seeing the black fox’s baby, but rather than choosing to satisfy his desire to see the fox cub again, he decides never to return to the den, putting the safety of the fox and cub above himself. The positive effects of Tom’s connection with nature at the farm persist, even when other fond memories of his stay with Millie and Fred have faded. Years later, he still draws comfort and pleasure from his vivid memories of the black fox and the extraordinary experience he had with her.
Contrast Between Urban and Rural Life
Initially, Tom believes that the contrast between rural and urban living is vast and unbridgeable, and he dreads going to the farm because he knows that these new experiences will challenge him in uncomfortable and unexpected ways. For this reason, Tom notices every detail in Bubba’s room that contrasts with his own way of life: the shotgun on a rack, the stuffed squirrel, the various collections of nests and eggs, and the hunting and swimming gear. He compares these details to his own room, which is full of plastic, painted models, and books. Tom notes that he is a picky eater and is afraid of swimming and heights. Likewise, he is certain that he would never dream of climbing out of a window and down a tree rather than using the stairs.
After Tom sees the black fox, his perspective begins to change. Tom likens the fascination he feels for the fox with the fascination that Petie had for Monopoly, and this thought reflects his new willingness to make connections between his urban life and his experiences on the farm. Tom realizes that it is possible to feel the same enthusiasm about nature that he feels for activities and games in the city. This mindset shows when Tom expresses the way he feels about the fox, stating, “It was a new game. The rules I didn’t exactly know yet; all I had so far was a fierce desire to play” (50). Faced with the riddle of the fox’s behavior, Tom is willing to learn the rules of this new “game.” He senses that the fox wants him to follow her, so he does, but after Hazeline explains that she was luring him away from her den, Tom knows that a better move in this game would be to patiently wait and watch.
Regarding wildlife, Hazeline’s responses to Tom’s questions about foxes highlight the different priorities of rural and urban areas. Hazeline’s reaction to hearing about the predatory wildlife around the farm reflects her practical expectation that Tom will want to hunt the fox, since foxes kill chickens. Tom, on the other hand, does not worry about the chickens; he is simply overjoyed by the presence of the fox and wants to keep encountering her. Likewise, he is horrified at the thought of killing her. This moment highlights the contrasting aims of preserving wildlife and protecting the assets of the farm, and Tom grapples with this issue as he struggles to decide how best to save the black fox and preserve his own relationship with the people on the farm, whom he has grown to love.
When the fox kills Millie’s turkey, Tom is painfully aware that Fred, far from appreciating the fox’s beauty and right to live, will want to kill her to protect the farm animals from further harm. Thus, Fred’s approach is the opposite to his own. Fred loves hunting and foxes are predators to be hunted, while Tom sees the fox as a thing of beauty to be appreciated and protected. This contrast becomes clear when Fred explains the differences between black and red foxes, for he adds, “A hunter’ll do anything to get something rare” (60). This statement makes Tom realize that the situation is even worse for the black fox.
The incident also illustrates that the harsh realities of rural life are jarring for a young boy from the city, especially one as sensitive as Tom. Hazeline’s matter-of-fact way of educating Tom about the lives and deaths of wild animals also highlights the different view of wildlife that people who live in the country have. People like Tom would rather not think about the deaths of cute wildlife, while those who live on farms in rural areas have come to understand the harsh realities of life and death in the wild. Hazeline explains that wild animals face daily threats, including being hunted. Although Tom understands this, he does not want to be part of that cycle. With his decision to save the fox and her cub, Tom honors the many new experiences that he has encountered on the farm. Long after he has returned to the city and embraced his usual routine of spending time with Petie, visiting museums, and working on models, he remembers the thrill of the fox’s bark in the midnight storm, and he never forgets his transformative rural experience.
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By Betsy Byars
