After watching Fantastic Mr. Fox in class, I am having trouble picking just one fool. I believe both Ash and Kristofferson are fools in the vein of Valerie Palmer-Mehta’s article “The Wisdom of Folly: Disrupting Masculinity in King of the Hill.”
A Case for Ash
Ash (fox on the far left)
Ash is the same kind of fool and following practically the same line of examples as Bobby in King of the Hill. Palmer-Mehta sets Bobby up as a fool because he challenges the hegemony of the show and challenges traditional expectations. The examples from the article cite athletic ‘weaknesses’ or ‘abnormalities.’
Well, Ash has similar abnormalities as Bobby. He’s not athletic. He isn’t as good as his father at the game they play in gym class and he isn’t invited to steal chickens with his family. He is odd and strange because additionally, he wears a cape and spits when he’s upset.
Another way to think about this is that Ash is voiced by Jason Schwartzman, whom is always abnormal and challenges dominant culture or hegemonic ideology in his roles (especially in Wes Anderson films).
A Case for Kristofferson
Kristofferson in Fantastic Mr. Fox
He, like Ash and Bobby, defies expectations. He is called tall, which makes him weird and strange, when comparing him to the other foxes. Also, unlike Ash, he is athletic and is invited to steal chickens and cider with Mr. Fox.
However, this is where it gets tricky. He is unlike the others because he is actually gifted. Ash is seemingly bad at anything physical in nature; while Mr. Fox is bad because he frequently gets caught in his attempt to steal. This Kristofferson’s ability or natural skill, makes him different than the others and thus strange.
In both cases, Ash and Kristofferson, I believe they are natural fools, in that they “genuinely exhibit some type of deficiency or abnormality” (185). And they both break the dominant characteristics of those around them and challenge normality. Thus, to me, both characters could be considered fools.