The Little Foxes – Lillian Hellman

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Notes de leçon

The play and its context

×The Little Foxes×(1939) is a three-act play by American dramatist Lillian Hellman (1905–1984), first staged on Broadway with Tallulah Bankhead as Regina.
It is set in 1900 in a small town in Alabama, in the American South, as the old plantation economy gives way to industrial capitalism.
The title comes from the Song of Solomon:×"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes."×— small, greedy creatures destroying what is fragile.
Hellman drew on her own mother's wealthy, quarrelsome Alabama family.
Set for 2027 only (not 2026).

The Hubbards and their deal

Brothers Ben and Oscar Hubbard inherited their father's wealth; their sister Regina did not — the law and custom favoured sons — so her fortune depends on her husband, Horace Giddens.
A Chicago businessman, William Marshall, agrees to build a cotton mill with the Hubbards, near the cotton fields and cheap labour.
Each partner must find a third of the money; Regina needs $75,000 from Horace, who is in a Baltimore hospital with a serious heart condition.
Oscar married Birdie for her family's plantation, Lionnet; he now suggests marrying his son Leo to Regina's daughter Alexandra (cousins) to keep the money in the family.
Regina sends Alexandra to bring Horace home.

Act 2: the theft

Horace returns, weak and exhausted, and refuses to invest — he sees the Hubbards' greed and wants no part of grinding down poor workers.
Leo, a bank clerk, has seen railroad bonds (Union Pacific, worth $88,000) in Horace's safe-deposit box. Ben and Oscar have Leo "borrow" them to fund the mill — cutting Regina out.
When Regina learns she has been squeezed out, her quarrel with Horace turns vicious: she tells him she hopes he dies.
Oscar slaps Birdie when she warns Alexandra not to marry Leo.

Act 3: Horace's death and Regina's victory

Horace discovers the theft. He tells Regina he will call it a loan to Leo — so she cannot use it — and will change his will, leaving her only the value of the bonds.
During their argument Horace has a heart attack; his medicine bottle breaks. He asks Regina to fetch the other bottle upstairs. She does not move. He struggles to the stairs and collapses.
With Horace dying and his plan unknown, Regina blackmails her brothers: she will reveal the theft unless they give her 75% of the mill.
Ben concedes, but warns he will keep watching for his chance.
Alexandra, who suspects what happened, rejects her mother and leaves. Regina has won — and is alone.

Key characters

Regina Giddens — intelligent, charming, ruthless; trapped by a society that denied daughters inheritance, she frees herself by becoming as cold as her brothers.
Ben Hubbard — the eldest; smooth, clever, patient; he sees the new century as "open" for people like them.
Oscar Hubbard — cruder and bullying; abuses Birdie. Leo — his lazy, dishonest son.
Horace Giddens — dying, decent, clear-sighted about the family's greed.
Birdie — gentle, cultured, broken; drinks to escape an unhappy marriage.
Alexandra — Regina's daughter; grows from innocence to moral courage. Addie and Cal — the Black servants; Addie loves Alexandra and sees the truth.

Themes

Greed and capitalism: the Hubbards will exploit anyone — workers, family, the dying — for profit.
Women, money and power: Regina's ruthlessness is shaped by a system that gave her nothing in her own right; Birdie shows the victim's side.
Complicity: Addie's image of people who "eat the earth" and those who stand around and watch them — Alexandra finally refuses to watch.
The old South and the new: aristocratic plantation families (Birdie's) are replaced by predatory businessmen.
Race and exploitation: the mill depends on cheap labour; the Black servants see everything but hold no power.

Dramatic methods

Well-made play structure: exposition, rising tension, a secret (the bonds), a reversal, and a climax — Regina's inaction on the stairs.
The staircase is the key stage image: Horace's struggle up it while Regina stays still is one of modern drama's most chilling moments.
Dramatic irony: the audience knows about the bonds before Regina does, and knows Horace's plan dies with him.
Dialogue: polite Southern manners over savage bargaining; Ben's wit; Regina's icy control.
The ending — Alexandra asks her mother, "Are you afraid, Mama?" — leaves Regina's victory hollow.

Diapos

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1.Who wrote The Little Foxes?
Easy
- ALillian Hellman
- BTennessee Williams
- CArthur Miller
- DLorraine Hansberry
2.Where and when is the play set?
Easy
- ANew York, 1939
- BChicago, 1920
- CGeorgia, 1865
- DAlabama, 1900
3.What business do the Hubbards want to start?
Easy
- AA bank
- BA shipping company
- CA cotton mill
- DA railroad
4.Why doesn't Regina have her own fortune like her brothers?
Medium
- AShe gave it to Alexandra
- BTheir father left his wealth to his sons
- CShe spent it in Chicago
- DHorace lost it
5.How much must Regina's share of the investment be?
Medium
- A$75,000
- B$88,000
- C$10,000
- D$1,000,000
6.Why is Horace away at the start of the play?
Medium
- AHe is on business in Chicago
- BHe has left Regina
- CHe is fighting in a war
- DHe is in a Baltimore hospital with a heart condition
7.Why did Oscar marry Birdie?
Medium
- ABecause Ben ordered it
- BTo escape Alabama
- CFor her family's plantation, Lionnet
- DFor love
8.What does Leo steal?
Medium
- ACash from the mill
- BHorace's railroad bonds from his safe-deposit box
- CRegina's jewels
- DBirdie's plantation deeds

Plus de questions

9.What does Horace plan when he discovers the theft?
Medium
- ACall it a loan to Leo and change his will, leaving Regina only the bonds' value
- BHave Leo arrested
- CGive all his money to Ben
- DBuy the mill himself
10.What does Regina do when Horace has his heart attack?
Medium
- ARuns for the doctor
- BFetches his medicine
- CCalls Addie
- DNothing — she lets him struggle up the stairs alone
11.What share of the mill does Regina demand from her brothers?
Medium
- A50%
- B100%
- C75%
- D25%
12.How does the play end for Regina?
Medium
- AReconciled with her brothers
- BRich but alone, rejected by Alexandra
- CPoor and in prison
- DMarried to William Marshall
13.What does the title allude to?
Medium
- AA Bible verse about little foxes that spoil the vines
- BA hunting song
- CThe Hubbard family crest
- DA Southern folk tale about foxes and hounds
14.Who describes people who 'eat the earth' and others who 'stand around and watch them eat it'?
Medium
- ABen
- BBirdie
- CWilliam Marshall
- DAddie
15.What is the main effect of Horace's struggle on the staircase?
Medium
- AIt shows Horace's strength
- BIt reveals the bonds
- CIt stages Regina's cold choice to let him die, horrifying the audience
- DIt provides comic relief
16.How does Oscar treat Birdie?
Medium
- AHe leaves her the plantation
- BHe bullies her and slaps her
- CHe adores and protects her
- DHe ignores her completely
17.How might an audience feel some sympathy for Regina?
Medium
- AShe has been denied inheritance and power because she is a woman
- BShe is kind to Horace
- CShe saves the mill workers
- DShe protects Birdie
18.What does Ben's view of the new century suggest?
Medium
- AThe South will return to plantations
- BWomen will control business
- CGreed is ending
- DThe future belongs to predatory businessmen like the Hubbards
19.What is the final question Alexandra asks her mother?
Medium
- AWhere is Papa?
- BMay I have the mill?
- CAre you afraid, Mama?
- DWhy did you do it?
20.Which characters are Hubbards by birth? (select all that apply)
Medium
- ABirdie
- BBen
- COscar
- DRegina
- EHorace
21.Which characters oppose or resist the Hubbards' greed? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AHorace
- BAlexandra
- CAddie
- DLeo
- EOscar
22.Which are dramatic methods Hellman uses? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AThe staircase as a stage image
- BPolite dialogue masking ruthless bargaining
- CA first-person narrator
- DA Greek chorus
- EDramatic irony about the bonds
23.Horace agrees to invest in the mill as soon as he returns.
Easy
True or false?
24.Oscar wants Leo to marry Alexandra.
Easy
True or false?
25.Birdie drinks to escape her unhappy marriage.
Easy
True or false?
26.Regina reports Leo's theft to the police at the end.
Medium
True or false?
27.Alexandra decides to leave her mother.
Medium
True or false?
28.The play is set in the northern United States.
Medium
True or false?
29.Ben admits defeat completely and gives up watching Regina.
Medium
True or false?
30.Match each character to their description.
Medium
- Regina
- Horace
- Birdie
- Alexandra
- Ruthless sister denied an inheritance
- Dying husband who refuses to invest
- Gentle, unhappy wife of Oscar
- Daughter who finally rejects greed
31.Match each Hubbard man to his description.
Medium
- Ben
- Oscar
- Leo
- Clever, patient eldest brother
- Crude brother who bullies Birdie
- Lazy bank clerk who steals the bonds
32.Match each symbol or image to its meaning.
Medium
- The little foxes
- The staircase
- The bonds
- Eating the earth
- Greedy people who spoil what is tender
- Regina's deadly inaction
- Stolen wealth that fuels the plot
- Exploitation of people and land
33.Put these events in order.
Medium
- Horace dies after his heart attack
- Marshall agrees to the mill deal
- Leo takes the bonds
- Alexandra leaves her mother
34.Order Regina's actions in Act 3.
Medium
- Blackmails her brothers for 75%
- Refuses to fetch Horace's medicine
- Hears Horace's plan to call the theft a loan
- Is left alone by Alexandra
35.Complete the sentence.
Easy
Regina's husband is Horace ____.
36.Complete the sentence.
Medium
The Chicago businessman who partners with the Hubbards is William ____.
37.Complete the sentence.
Medium
Birdie's family plantation is called ____.
38.Who is Regina's daughter?
Easy
39.In what year was The Little Foxes first performed?
Medium
40.Explain how Hellman presents Regina as both a villain and a victim.
Medium
41.Explore how Hellman makes Horace's death such a powerful moment.
Hard
42.Explain the significance of Addie's words about people who 'eat the earth'.
Medium

Notes de révision

## Context - Lillian Hellman, **1939**; set in **Alabama, 1900**. Title from the **Song of Solomon** ("the little foxes, that spoil the vines"). Set for **2027**. ## Plot - **Act 1**: Ben and Oscar Hubbard + **William Marshall** plan a **cotton mill**; Regina must raise **$75,000** from **Horace** (in hospital in Baltimore). Oscar proposes **Leo** marry **Alexandra**. - **Act 2**: Horace refuses; **Leo steals Horace's railroad bonds**; Regina cut out; she wishes Horace dead; Oscar slaps **Birdie**. - **Act 3**: Horace plans to call it a **loan** and change his will; heart attack; **Regina doesn't move**; he collapses on the **stairs**. Regina **blackmails** brothers for **75%**. Alexandra leaves: "Are you afraid, Mama?" ## Characters - Regina (ruthless, excluded), Ben (clever), Oscar (bully), Leo (thief), Horace (decent), Birdie (broken), Alexandra (courage), Addie (moral voice). ## Themes and methods - Greed/capitalism; women and power; **complicity** ("eat the earth" / "watch them"); old vs new South; race and labour. Dramatic irony; staircase; polite dialogue over savage bargaining.

Regina Giddens: Ruthless Hubbard sister who lets her husband die to win control of the mill.
Horace Giddens: Regina's dying husband, who refuses to invest.
The bonds: Horace's $88,000 railroad bonds, stolen by Leo.
Blackmail: Demanding something by threatening to reveal a secret.
Complicity: Sharing in wrongdoing, including by standing by and watching.
Well-made play: A tightly plotted drama built on secrets, reversals and a climax.
Dramatic irony: When the audience knows something characters do not.
Song of Solomon: The biblical book that gives the play its title.
Addie: The Black servant whose words about 'eating the earth' form the play's moral centre.
Lionnet: Birdie's family plantation, the reason Oscar married her.

Cartes mémo

Author, date and setting of The Little Foxes?

Lillian Hellman, 1939; Alabama, 1900.

Where does the title come from?

Song of Solomon: 'the little foxes, that spoil the vines'.

What deal drives the plot?

A cotton mill with Chicago businessman William Marshall.

Why must Regina get Horace's money?

Her father's wealth went to her brothers.

What does Leo steal?

Horace's railroad bonds from his safe-deposit box.

Horace's counter-plan?

Call the theft a loan and change his will, cutting Regina out.

What does Regina do during Horace's heart attack?

Nothing — she lets him struggle to the stairs and collapse.

What does Regina win?

75% of the mill, by blackmailing her brothers.

What does Regina lose?

Her daughter Alexandra, who leaves her.

Addie's key image?

People who eat the earth, and people who stand around and watch them.

Final line?

Alexandra: 'Are you afraid, Mama?'

Who is Birdie?

Oscar's gentle, unhappy wife, from the Lionnet plantation.

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