The Midnight Fox

The motif of control manifests in different ways throughout the story. At the beginning, Tom, who enjoys routine and familiarity, does not want to go to the farm and is nervous about trying new things that are out of his control. He likes the familiar structure of building models and spending time with Petie. Similarly, Tom states that his father is “always talking about control” (20) and tells Tom that he should have more emotional control. In the more peaceful moments that Tom learns to cherish on the farm, he appreciates the fluidity and unpredictability of nature, thereby relinquishing control. In the early days of his acquaintance with the fox, Tom needs patience to see her because he has no control over when or where she will appear, and this unpredictability adds to his fascination with the fox. Control is also used in a more practical sense. Fred and Millie need to control predatory wildlife on their farm to protect their livestock, a necessity that Tom finds jarring but comes to understand. As Tom reluctantly accompanies Fred on the fox hunt, he manages to take his father’s earlier advice and control his emotions so forcefully that he never allows himself to express his objections to the idea of killing the fox. Finally, he learns to control his own fears when he builds up the courage to climb down the tree, brave the storm, and free the fox cub from its confinement in the hutch.