'The Fox Cub', analyse af Jackie Brewsters novelle

Summary:Marie is a new member of the city who has nobody to talk to. She is very mature and usually sits by herself waiting for someone to come over and talk to her. She meets Rachel who is the story teller, and they become close friends. Rachel knows she can’t bring Marie home because she is the kind of type her mother would not like. Marie tells Rachel she has a fox, and they ride their bikes together to Marie’s place. Marie lives in a very old and ugly place. Marie’s cousin who she lives with is very rude to Rachel and she feels uncomfortable around her. Rachel sees the fox, which is very ill and in a poor state because it hasn’t been eaten. The cousin threats the girls and says he will lock them up in a chicken cage. Rachel gets scared and rushes back home. The following weeks she doesn’t see Marie and she never went back calling for her.Inner and outer characterization of MarieMarie is a 13-year-old girl who recently moved to the city. At first she doesn't have a lot of friends but then she meets Rachel.Rachel and Marie are very different types of girls. Marie is described as a 13-year-old girl in an adult body. She has big boobs, a lot of confidence and likes to talk about sex, which Rachel does not. She lives with her cousin and another man on a little muddy farm with dusty windows and squat buildings far away. The farm hasn’t got any garden or flowers in the playing field only a very old dog which barks all day. Contrary to Rachel, Marie has a very “Dirty” language and so does the Cousin and the other man she lives with. Marie is very mature of her age, and has already had sex with a 16 year old boy. Differences between Marie and RachelMarie is very mature of her age, she has already had sex in an age of 13. She is totally opposite to Rachel who is a good girl. Rachel likes to make garlands and hasn’t had sex and doesn't not want to talk about it. This is made clear when Marie asks Rachel if she is still a virgin and Rachel gets very embarrassed. Afterwards Marie says “You know why I asked you if you'd done it? Well I have” Rachel tries to get Marie to fit in, if she wants to survive. Rachel knows that this city is very different from where Marie came from. Marie lives in a muddy farm with two men and Rachel lives with her family in the city. Marie easily attracts boys because she seems older than the other girls her age. She doesn't really care about what other people think about her, and that is what makes her very interesting to Rachel and the other kids. Rachel always tries to fit in and gets easily embarrassed. While Rachel is controlled by her superego Marie is more controlled by her id and gives in to her instincts. Maybe deep down the two girls know they have something to learn from each other and that is what fascinates them.