Fox

• Played By: Rupert Everett (Walden Media’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

Background

In the world of Narnia, foxes are among the Talking Beasts—animals given the gift of speech and reason by the great lion Aslan himself. They are depicted as intelligent and wily creatures, known for their cunning, and they generally fight on the side of good. Most Narnian foxes are also described as noble and immensely loyal to Aslan and the rightful rulers of Narnia. The particular Fox in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe lived during the end of the White Witch’s oppressive Hundred-Year Winter, a time when it was “always winter and never Christmas.” He became one of the first Narnians to witness the return of hope when Father Christmas finally arrived in Narnia with gifts—a sign that the Witch’s power was weakening. Indeed, this Fox and a group of fellow creatures received a bountiful Christmas feast from Father Christmas as a present, an act that carries great significance in the story’s context.

Personality

The Fox in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is portrayed as a good-natured and courteous character, albeit one who is understandably timid under threat. He is part of a joyous gathering and seems to be a convivial, kindly leader among his friends (being the eldest of the group). When confronted by the White Witch, the Fox remains polite and diplomatic, addressing her as “Your Majesty” and even attempting to toast to her good health in an effort to appease her wrath. This shows a degree of clever tact and courage, as he steps forward to speak when others are too afraid. At the same time, he cannot hide his fear of the Witch’s anger – he stammers when pressed and quickly confesses the truth rather than concoct a lie, reflecting an honest and honorable nature despite the danger. Overall, the Fox comes across as loyal to Narnia (he was joyously celebrating the return of Aslan’s influence) and as a creature with gentle manners and a hopeful spirit.

Role in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Introduction in the Story: The Fox’s sole appearance in the book occurs during a pivotal scene as the Witch’s reign begins to crumble. As the land starts to thaw, the White Witch Jadis drives her sledge through the forest with the unwilling Edmund Pevensie in tow. They come upon a “merry party” of Narnians feasting together at the foot of a tree. Gathered around a table are a family of squirrels, two satyrs, a dwarf, and “an old dog-fox,” all enjoying a celebratory meal with holly decorations and plum pudding – gifts from Father Christmas. The Fox, clearly the eldest of the group, has just risen to his feet with a raised glass as if to give a speech or toast when the Witch’s sleigh suddenly stops in front of them. The sight of the Witch immediately drains the joy from the party: forks pause in mid-air, and the younger animals squeak in terror at her arrival.

Confrontation with the White Witch: Jadis demands an explanation: “What is the meaning of all this gluttony… Where did you get all these things?” Initially, none of the frightened animals dare to answer. The Fox, mustering his courage, steps forward as the spokesperson. He addresses the Witch with great respect: “Please, your Majesty, we were given them. And if I might make so bold as to drink your Majesty’s very good health–.”  This polite but brave response shows the Fox attempting to pacify Jadis (he even proposes a toast in her honor) while truthfully indicating the feast was a gift. The Witch interrupts coldly, snarling, “Who gave them to you?” Pressed for an answer, the Fox confesses the truth despite his fear: “F-F-F-Father Christmas,” he stammers. Admitting that Father Christmas has been in Narnia — something the Witch had forbidden for a century — is dangerous, but the honest Fox cannot bring himself to lie.

Turned to Stone: This revelation enrages the White Witch. She refuses to believe that Father Christmas could have come (“He has not been here! He cannot have been here!”) and offers the Fox a last chance to say he lied. At that moment, a young squirrel in the group nervously pipes up to confirm, “He has! He has! He has!” – removing all doubt that the Witch’s power is indeed waning. Jadis’s fury explodes; before Edmund (who is watching in horror) can stop her, she raises her wand. Edmund even cries out, “Oh, don’t, don’t, please don’t!” in a plea for mercy. But the Witch is merciless: with a flash of her wand, she turns the entire supper party to stone, silencing the Fox and his friends in an instant. In that chilling moment, the cheerful scene is frozen into a tableau of statues – creatures turned into gray stone mid-feast (one unfortunate guest is petrified with its fork half-raised to its mouth). The Fox himself becomes a stone statue, still standing with his glass lifted, a victim of the Witch’s wrath.

Aftermath: The fate of the Fox profoundly affects Edmund. Seeing the kind Fox and the others cruelly punished strikes a chord in Edmund’s heart. It is noted that this is the first time Edmund “felt sorry for someone besides himself” in the story. The Fox’s plight thus contributes to Edmund’s realization of the Witch’s true evil and begins to awaken his remorse and compassion. Later in the narrative, after Aslan sacrifices himself and returns to life, the great lion redeems all those whom the Witch turned into stone. Aslan breaches the Witch’s castle and breathes upon the stone statues, restoring them to life. Although the book focuses on the statues in the Witch’s courtyard, C.S. Lewis confirmed in a letter that the Fox and his company (who were petrified at the feast) were also brought back to life by Aslan once the Witch was defeated. We can imagine the Fox rejoining the living Narnian ranks in celebration of the Witch’s fall. He likely witnesses the final Battle of Beruna and the crowning of the Pevensie siblings as the new Kings and Queens of Narnia, his loyalty and courage vindicated by the ultimate victory of Aslan.

Notable Quotes

• “Please, your Majesty, we were given them. And if I might make so bold as to drink your Majesty’s very good health—.” The Fox politely attempted to explain the feast (and even toast the Witch) before being cut off.
• “F-F-F-Father Christmas.” The Fox stammers as he truthfully reveals who provided the feast.

(These lines are from Chapter 11 of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, during the Fox’s ill-fated encounter with the White Witch.)

Analysis & Symbolism

Though a minor character, the Fox’s role carries significant symbolic weight in the story. His Christmas feast represents hope and defiance in the face of tyranny. In Narnia, simply feasting can be a political act: the Witch considers the Fox’s joyful meal an act of treason because celebrating Christmas means acknowledging the end of her power. The Fox and his companions are essentially sabotaging the Witch’s endless winter by indulging in gifts from Father Christmas, proclaiming that Aslan is on the move again. This small act of merrymaking is a form of resistance – a courageous refusal to let despair rule them. The Witch’s violent reaction (turning them to stone) underscores how threatening such hope and loyalty is to her evil regime. In this way, the Fox embodies the theme of loyalty and rebellion against oppression: he remains faithful to the true king (Aslan) by celebrating the return of Christmas, even though it puts him at mortal risk.

The Fox also highlights the contrast between cunning vs. brute force. Traditionally, foxes symbolize cleverness or trickery; indeed, our Fox tries to use wit and courtesy to handle Jadis (attempting to flatter her to defuse her anger). However, his good-natured cunning is no match for the Witch’s cruelty. Rather than outsmarting her, the Fox’s honesty and honor shine through – virtues that the Witch punishes but which ultimately align with Aslan’s values. Additionally, the Fox’s encounter deeply influences Edmund’s character arc. By pitying the Fox and the others, Edmund experiences empathy and recognizes the Witch’s cruelty, which is a turning point in his journey to redemption. In a symbolic sense, the Fox’s sacrifice (being turned to stone) serves to open Edmund’s eyes to the truth, reinforcing the story’s themes of mercy, betrayal, and forgiveness. The image of Aslan later reviving the stone Fox is also rich in symbolism – it is a moment of resurrection and restoration, echoing the novel’s Christian allegorical themes (new life triumphing over evil). Thus, the Fox may be small and fleeting in the narrative, but he represents the quiet bravery of Narnia’s common folk, the triumph of hope over fear, and the moral that even humble characters can inspire change in others.

Legacy in Narnia

Within the Chronicles of Narnia series, the Fox from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is remembered as one of the many faithful creatures who stood against the White Witch’s tyranny. After the Witch’s defeat, the Fox rejoins the free Narnian society – a living reminder of those dark days and their happy reversal. Although he does not appear as an individual character in later books, his story would have been told as part of Narnian lore: how an old fox bravely spoke up to the Witch and was turned to stone, only to be saved by Aslan. His survival into the new era means he likely enjoyed the peaceful Golden Age of Narnia under the Pevensie monarchs. Fox’s loyalty and suffering were not in vain, as he lived to see Narnia restored from “always winter” to a vibrant spring once more.

More broadly, foxes as a species continue to play roles throughout the Narnian chronicles. During the reign of King Caspian (in Prince Caspian), many foxes join the Old Narnians in the fight against the Telmarine usurpers, fighting bravely alongside other talking beasts. (One rather cheeky fox even nips at the heel of the giant Wimbleweather when the giant accidentally steps on its tail during battle, showing that foxes retain their spirited nature.) By the time of The Last Battle, the integrity of Narnia’s creatures is tested to the utmost; notably, a talking fox named Slinkey (or Slinky) infamously betrays King Tirian and his allies with the Calormene invaders. Slinkey’s fate is grim – he is killed in the Battle of Stable Hill – but his example shows that not all foxes in Narnia remained loyal. Even so, the legacy of the Fox from LWW is overwhelmingly positive. He stands as the archetype of the loyal Narnian fox: clever, courteous, and devoted to Aslan’s cause. His brief act of courage and the image of his stone form being restored by Aslan highlight the ultimate triumph of good over evil. In the grand narrative of Narnia, the Fox’s story underscores how even the smallest characters contribute to the tapestry of loyalty, sacrifice, and hope that defines the history of Narnia.