The Little Foxes Essay Questions

Why did Oscar marry Birdie?

Oscar Hubbard married Birdie in order to gain control of the Lionnet plantation, a prosperous economic investment. He pretended to be in love with her, and she believed him, even for a number of years after their marriage. However, his true intentions were for his family to increase in wealth and status in the South, and he is abusive and dismissive towards his wife.

How does Horace die?

Horace has been away for medical treatment at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland for a heart condition. He returns knowing that his death is imminent, however, he is also trying to manage his illness. In the moment that Regina is trying to negotiate with Horace, she becomes disparaging and cruel towards him, and he begins having an episode. While he tries to get ahold of his medicine to keep the attack at bay, he cannot get Addie's help and Regina chooses not to help him. Instead, she allows her husband to collapse and die on the stairs.

How does Regina come to gain a 75% stake in the business?

Regina has all but been cut out of the Marshall deal by her brothers. She learns that they stole Horace's bonds from his safety deposit box in order to finalize the deal with Marshall. After Horace has died, she blackmails her brothers into giving her a 75% stake in the business. She tells them that if they don't give her the 75% stake she will turn them in and they will go to prison.

Why does Alexandra abandon her mother?

Alexandra has long known that her mother and uncles are greedy people, but by the end of the play, she sees the extent to which Regina is willing to act only in her own self-interest. Horace has warned his daughter that Regina is not a good woman and that she ought to get away. When Alexandra realizes that her mother played a part in Horace's death, she musters the courage to leave her mother and create her own destiny, in order to avoid the fate of the put-upon Birdie.

What does the title mean?

The title refers to a line from the Bible that goes, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." This line suggests that little foxes will eat greedily if no one stops them, and will "spoil the vine." The Hubbards are the "foxes" of the title, people who are perfectly willing to spoil the vine and ruin the community for their own selfish gain.