# Reddy Tries to Arouse Blacky's Pity explained — Green Meadow Stories

> Chapter companion for Green Meadow Stories by Thornton W. Burgess.

## What happens

Reddy Fox, desperate for food, feigns weakness and starvation to manipulate Blacky the Crow into revealing the location of a farm with fat hens. Blacky, however, sees through Reddy's act and plays along, hinting at the farm while secretly hoping to lure Reddy into a trap involving Bowser the Hound.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Trust

Both Reddy and Blacky engage in mutual deception, each trying to outwit the other for personal gain.

## Character check-ins

### Reddy Fox

Pretends to be weak and starving to gain Blacky's sympathy and trick him into revealing the farm's location.

### Blacky the Crow

Sees through Reddy's act and feigns sympathy, hoping to manipulate Reddy into traveling to the farm where Bowser the Hound is.

### Bowser the Hound

Mentioned as a prisoner of kindness at the farm, central to Blacky's scheme.

## Key lines

> Trust a Fox only as far as you can see him, and lock the chickens up before you do that.

Never trust a fox completely; always secure your chickens first.

_Opening proverb highlighting the theme of distrust toward foxes._

> I am starving. I certainly shall starve to death unless I can find some way of getting at least one good meal soon.

Reddy claims he is dying of hunger and desperately needs a meal.

_Reddy's exaggerated plea for sympathy._

> If you were not so weak, I would be tempted to show you where they are.

Blacky suggests he would reveal the farm's location if Reddy weren't so feeble.

_Blacky's manipulative response, pretending to be helpful while baiting Reddy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters/xxix-reddy-tries-to-arouse-blacky-s-pity
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_meadow_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_meadow_stories_se/chapters