The Frozen River

The silver fox who lives outside of the Ballard Mill, named Tempest by Martha, serves as a symbol of Martha’s feminine strength and individuality. Tempest’s gender is first revealed by trappers, who liken her to a virgin in a brothel (26). The sexual objectification of the fox aligns her with the local women of Hallowell, who are constantly subject to the objectifying gazes of the men around them. Martha feels this camaraderie fiercely and takes a particular interest in protecting Tempest from the trappers. For most of the novel, she refers to Tempest as “my fox,” and enjoys a pseudo-telepathic communication with her, reinforcing their affinity.

In the prologue and epilogue chapters (“What’s Past is Prologue” and “Now Our Revels are Ended”), the book deviates from its usual first-person perspective to a third-person omniscient perspective with the intended effect of centering Tempest as an active character in the story. “She sets one paw onto the ice,” the narrator observes, “Then another. She hesitates, for she knows how fickle the river can be” (4). This description mirrors descriptions of Martha’s cautious method of crossing the river. Just as the fox navigates the dangers of her wild world, Martha must navigate the dangers of her human one.