Fantastic Mr Fox

The hyperbolic fatness of Boggis and Bunce symbolizes their greed and gluttony. They gorge themselves on produce from their farms, and as a result, Boggis is “enormously fat,” and Bunce is a “pot-bellied dwarf” (2-3). Their grotesque diets and appearances are characterization tools designed to repulse readers.

It is telling that the two men have thousands of chickens, ducks, and geese—yet still despise Mr. Fox for his minor thefts. Their gluttony in the face of Mr. Fox’s humble goal of keeping his family alive helps characterize the farmers as archetypal “bad guys.”

The tunnel network symbolizes Mr. Fox’s determination and guile. In the face of the farmers’ schemes, Mr. Fox concocts a daring plan: His tunnel network both saves the animals from starvation and establishes a new, safe way of life—with access to “three of the finest stores in the world” (78). Ironically, the farmers’ aggression towards the animals pushes Mr. Fox to devise this plan.

This symbol also speaks to Mr. Fox’s bonds with his children and his friend Badger, as it is their combined efforts that lead to success.