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44 pages 1 hour read

The Little Foxes

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1939

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Essay Topics

1.

Compare and contrast Alexandra, Regina, and Birdie. In what ways are they similar or different? How do they navigate expectations surrounding femininity and female agency (or the lack thereof) in their society?

2.

In the lockbox, Leo finds a piece of a violin. What does this symbolize, and what is the significance of it being a piece of a violin as opposed to a whole instrument? What does it contribute to Horace’s characterization?

3.

Ben and Oscar work in tandem to secure the cotton mill deal, but their strategies in doing so are sometimes different. What differentiates the brothers from one another? How do their characterization and character arcs illuminate some of the play’s key themes and ideas?

4.

Consider the historical context of when The Little Foxes was written. In regard to female agency and the status of women, what might Lillian Hellman have been critiquing of her modern society (during the mid-20th century) by revealing the flaws of society in 1900? Are her critiques still relevant today? Why or why not?

5.

Analyze the role of nostalgia in the play, such as Birdie’s longing for her childhood home and/or the sentimental trinkets found in Horace’s lockbox. What is the significance of nostalgia in the play? What values and ideals does it represent?

6.

Explore the marital dynamics in the play. How are the relationships between husbands and wives depicted? How do these dynamics mirror wider social, economic, and/or political dynamics in the play?

7.

What is the significance of Addie in the play? How do her characterization, behavior, and stated values reveal various aspects of the family dynamic and the societal issues surrounding them?

8.

The opening scene relies heavily on dramatic irony to foreshadow the unraveling of the Hubbard/Giddens family. What are Marshall’s preconceived ideas about the family, and the South in general? How are these preconceptions proven false as the play unfolds? How does the play explore the idea of appearances versus reality more generally?

9.

One of the main themes of the play is passive versus active wrong-doing. How are these two forms of immorality and violence related in The Little Foxes?

10.

What is the significance of the final image of the play, where Regina ends up alone on the stairs? How does it speak to the play’s wider exploration of isolation, loneliness, and/or familial dynamics?

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