Synthesis Page: Fox

     The story Fox is what we could call an XYZ picture book. Despite its deceptively simple story, the book contains many hidden messages and themes.
     One of these themes is loss. In the beginning of the book, Magpie burned her wings and will never be able to fly again. Dog also is missing an eye. These two are the most obvious examples of how loss plays into the story. When Fox appears, he tempts Magpie to come with him. Magpie then refuses, thinking of the loss that Dog would suffer if she left. This is a more subtle mention of loss in the book.
     Another theme in Fox is friendship. There is, of course, Magpie and Dog's friendship, which is a vital component of the story. When Magpie is injured and in a state of depression because of her wings, Dog offers to fly for her. Their trust and dependency on one another unites them into one creature, the new creature that Magpie sees in the water. There is also Fox's lack of friendship, which drives him to sever Magpie and Dog's relationship. This shows how strong a friendship can be, and how not having anyone to have one with can lead to the destruction of others' because of the envy.
     This brings me to a third theme: envy. While nowhere in the book does it say outright that Fox is envious of Dog and Magpie and their unison, his actions betray his feelings. By luring Magpie away from Fox with the offer of flight, he shows his interest in killing their friendship. And when he leaves her in the middle of the desert, telling her that now she and Dog will know what it is like to be truly alone, his envy breaks through and reveals itself in a not completely obvious, but still noticeable way. His motives for doing such a thing are directly linked to his envy. Because he himself has no friendship and is completely alone, he cannot stand to see anyone have what he does not.