Mr. Fox

Content Warning: This guide section contains depictions of domestic abuse and violence against women.

Mary Foxe is one of the central characters in Mr. Fox. She occupies the ambiguous space between fiction and reality, a unique role that blends muse, antagonist, and eventually a fully independent character. Created by Mr. Fox as a muse, Mary quickly transcends this role, asserting her autonomy and challenging Mr. Fox’s authority as a writer. From the beginning, Mary acts as a mirror to Mr. Fox’s internal struggles about gender, power, and creativity, pushing him to confront the violent ways in which he portrays women in his stories. Her name, “Foxe,” ties her directly to the titular character, symbolizing their deep connection, though Mary continually fights to carve out her identity separate from the man who created her.

From the start, Mary critiques Mr. Fox’s treatment of female characters, accusing him of being a “serial killer” of women in his writing. She refuses to let him hide behind the excuse that his stories are “just fiction” and forces him to consider The Ethical Responsibility of Writers in Portraying Violence Against Women. Mary’s role as a conscience figure disrupts Mr. Fox’s creative process, leading him to question the consequences of his portrayals of women.