Talking animal in The Oz Series
King Dox
Also known as King Dox of Foxville, the Fox-King, your Foxy Majesty, your Royal Foxiness, Potentate of Foxville, King Renard the Fourth, King Renard IV, his Majesty.
The fox-king of Foxville, a wise and courteous ruler who sits on a richly carved golden throne in a gold-decorated hall, receiving strangers with curiosity and hospitality, and eager for word of the wider fairy world including Princess Ozma.
Appears in 4 chapters, first in chapter 92, last in chapter 95.
This encyclopedia covers chapters 1 to 100 of the story and shows the world as it stands at chapter 100, so it contains spoilers up to that point. To read it spoiler free, one chapter at a time, open the interactive codex.
What the story establishes
| Affiliation | Sovereign ruler of Foxville and its fox community. (as of ch. 92) |
| Animal kind | fox |
| Appearance | A fox with a shrewd, knowing expression, large spectacles over his eyes, and a small golden crown with shiny points atop his head, as shown by his carved likeness recognized throughout Foxville. (as of ch. 92) |
| Being nature | A talking, courtly fox who rules as king over a city of fellow talking foxes. |
| Conflict | Resents Aesop's fables, which portray foxes as cruel and wicked, contrary to his self-image of foxes as gentle and kind. (as of ch. 93) |
| Current goal | Hopes to secure an invitation to Princess Ozma's upcoming birthday celebration. (as of ch. 92) |
| Dialogue style | Formal and courteous royal speech; asks pointed questions of visitors and offers gracious hospitality, mixing dignity with warmth. (as of ch. 92) |
| Equipment | A small golden crown with shiny points. (as of ch. 92) |
| Gender identity | man (as of ch. 92) |
| Is alive | yes (as of ch. 92) |
| Maturation stage | Adult |
| Motive | Wishes to learn about and eventually meet Princess Ozma of Oz. (as of ch. 92) |
| Personality | Curious, good-humored, and quick to laugh at surprising notions, while remaining gracious and dignified toward strangers. (as of ch. 92) |
| Quirks | Opens remarks with a musing, doubled exclamation, "So—so," before questioning strangers. (as of ch. 92) |
| Referential profile | masculine (as of ch. 92) |
| Sex profile | male (as of ch. 93) |
| Skills | Wields transformation magic — with a wave of his paw he conferred a fox's head upon Button-Bright; also a shrewd, witty reasoner and ruler. (as of ch. 93) |
| Social status | The reigning monarch of Foxville, addressed with the highest honorifics by his own subjects. (as of ch. 92) |
| Special capabilities | Can magically transform another creature's head with a wave of his paw (as he did to Button-Bright), though he claims he lacks the power to reverse such a transformation. |
| Status | Has hosted Dorothy's party through a feast, a theater performance, and an overnight stay in the palace; now, after breakfast, has bid his guests farewell and asked Dorothy to secure him an invitation to Princess Ozma's birthday celebration on the twenty-first. (as of ch. 93) |
Relationships
- rules → Foxville ch. 92King Dox is the fox-king who rules as sovereign over the city and community of Foxville from his golden throne.
- transforms → Button-Bright (ended) ch. 93King Dox waves his paw and magically transforms Button-Bright's curly-haired, blue-eyed head into a hairy fox's head, over Dorothy's and Button-Bright's protests.
- communicates with ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 93Dorothy pleads with King Dox to undo Button-Bright's transformation, converses with him over dinner and the play, and promises to seek an invitation for him from Ozma.
- communicates with → Dorothy (ended) ch. 92King Dox questions Dorothy in his throne room and converses with her about how she got to Foxville, Ozma's upcoming birthday, and whether this is Kansas.
- negotiates with → Dorothy (ended) ch. 93King Dox asks Dorothy to secure him an invitation to Princess Ozma's birthday celebration in exchange for his hospitality, and Dorothy agrees to try.
- communicates with → Dorothy (ended) ch. 93King Dox addresses Dorothy directly, asking her opinion of the play and explaining Foxville's customs of dress and civilization.
- communicates with → the Shaggy Man (ended) ch. 92King Dox questions the shaggy man about why they came to Foxville and what their business is.
- communicates with → Button-Bright (ended) ch. 93King Dox questions and teases Button-Bright, praising his supposed cleverness, before transforming his head into a fox's head.
- praises → Dorothy (ended) ch. 92King Dox publicly honors Dorothy as a famous and important visitor, saying whatever country she visits becomes famous.
- provides service → road_to_oz_traveling_party (ended) ch. 93King Dox hosts the travelers with dinner, a theater box, overnight lodging, and a packed luncheon for their onward journey, escorted out by his fox-captain.
- communicates with ← the Shaggy Man (ended) ch. 93The shaggy man converses with King Dox, defending Aesop's fables and remarking that he himself may not be civilized.
- expresses love → the Shaggy Man (ended) ch. 92Unaware of the Love Magnet, King Dox instantly and inexplicably comes to love the shaggy man upon meeting him.
- expresses hatred → Aesop (ended) ch. 93King Dox declares his hatred of Aesop for portraying foxes as cruel and wicked in his fables, insisting real foxes are gentle and kind.
- shows respect ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 92Recognizing King Dox as a sovereign from prior experience with kings, Dorothy bows low before his throne.
- gives → the Shaggy Man (ended) ch. 93King Dox has a luncheon packed for the travelers, which the shaggy man takes and pockets for their onward journey.
From the text
Then why do you wonder that an hour or two could bring you to Foxville, which is nearer to Oz than it is to Kansas?Chapter 92
In the corner of the room upon a richly carved golden throne, sat the fox-king, surrounded by a group of other foxes, all of whom wore great spectacles over their eyes, making them look solemn and important.Chapter 92
Don't mention Aesop to me, I beg of you!Chapter 93
So were human beings born without clothes; and until they became civilized they wore only their natural skins. But to become civilized means to dress as elaborately and prettily as possible, and to make a show of your clothes so your neighbors will envy you.Chapter 93