Reading Vixen in Adam Bede

The article offers an interpretation of the dog Vixen in George Eliot’s Adam Bede by discussing the copresence of both the canine and the vulpine traits in her character. It argues that this fox-like dog is endowed with sagacity and demonstrates a pragmatic loyalty to her master: her apparent obedience is a way to secure benefits for both herself and her puppies. By means of such strategic submission, this canine figure departs from the conventional loyal-dog archetype.