Fox

How reliable is Fox’s depiction of his varying experiences? What techniques does he use to control other people’s view of him and his own view of himself? What techniques does Oates use to create critical or ironic distance between Fox’s self-image and the reader’s image of him?

P. Cady hires Fox after he flatters her and spins a story about loving art and animals as she does. Later, she feels shocked—and guilty—about what Fox did at her school. How does her role in the novel raise questions about the responsibility of leaders to protect their communities?

Zwender is a ruthless interrogator with Martin Pfenning, who is innocent, and yet he takes pity on Demetrius Healy, who is responsible for covering up a murder. What conflicting definitions of justice come into play in his decision to drop the case against Demetrius?