Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes exposes the corrosive power of unchecked familial greed
In short: Set in 1900 Alabama, this 1939 drama follows Regina Hubbard Giddens, a woman trapped by a society that denies women inheritance. Her ruthless pursuit of wealth through the manipulation of her husband and brothers ultimately leaves her with a fortune, but destroys every meaningful human connection she possesses.
Lillian Hellman drew inspiration for the Hubbard family from her own relatives, specifically the Marx family of Demopolis, Alabama. Her grandmother, Sophie Marx Newhouse, frequently belittled her husband for his perceived lack of business acumen, a dynamic that Hellman translated into the play's central conflict. The title, suggested by Dorothy Parker, is derived from the Song of Solomon, referencing the small foxes that spoil the vines.
The narrative centers on the struggle for control over a proposed cotton mill. Because early 20th-century legal structures favored sons, Regina is forced to rely on her husband, Horace, to fund her ambitions. When he refuses to participate in her brothers' scheme, the family's morality collapses. The plot culminates in Horace's death, which Regina facilitates by withholding aid during his heart attack, effectively securing her financial leverage through blackmail.
Beyond its initial 1939 Broadway success, where Tallulah Bankhead starred as Regina, the play has seen numerous high-profile revivals. From Elizabeth Taylor's 1981 performance to the 2017 Broadway production featuring Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon, the work remains a staple of American theater. It has been adapted into a 1941 film, an opera, and multiple television productions, consistently highlighting the devastating cost of greed.
The play serves as a stark moral warning. By the final act, Regina achieves her financial goals but is abandoned by her daughter, Alexandra, who refuses to watch her mother continue to eat the earth. This isolation underscores the play's enduring relevance: the pursuit of power at the expense of human integrity results in a hollow victory.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Little Foxes
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