Bambi · Chapter
XXIII explained
Under a silent, snow-covered forest, Bambi and the old stag witness a fox being hunted by a small hound.
What happens
Under a silent, snow-covered forest, Bambi and the old stag witness a fox being hunted by a small hound. The fox pleads for mercy, calling the dog a traitor for serving Him, but the dog professes devotion to his master. The other forest creatures join in condemning the dog, but the dog attacks and kills the fox. The old stag reflects on the tragedy of the dog's blind loyalty.
Themes in this chapter
Humanity as Destructive Force
The dog's loyalty to 'Him' leads to the fox's death, illustrating how human influence corrupts natural bonds.
Fear and Danger
The fox's terror and the dog's relentless pursuit create a palpable atmosphere of danger and violence.
Community and Isolation
The forest creatures unite in condemning the dog, yet the fox dies alone, highlighting the tension between collective outrage and individual fate.
Characters to notice
- Bambi
Observes the fox's death from the hollow, calls it 'dreadful'.
- the old Prince
Lies beside Bambi, explains the dog's devotion and the tragedy of blind loyalty.
- the Hare
Not directly present, but the chapter's animal chorus includes voices like the squirrel, magpie, jay, weasel, ferret, and crows.
Key passages
“The most dreadful part of all is that the dogs believe what the hound just said. They believe it, they pass their lives in fear, they hate Him and themselves and yet they'd die for His sake.”
The old stag tells Bambi that the true horror is the dog's sincere devotion to a master it fears and hates, yet for whom it would sacrifice everything.
This encapsulates the chapter's critique of blind loyalty and the destructive influence of humanity.