One-Eyed Cat by Paula Fox
**Concept Overview of "One-Eyed Cat" by Paula Fox**
One-Eyed Cat is a poignant novel by Paula Fox that explores the moral complexities faced by an eleven-year-old boy named Ned Wallis. When Ned receives an air rifle from his uncle, his excitement quickly turns to horror when he accidentally injures a one-eyed wild cat during a late-night escapade. This incident triggers a deep sense of guilt in Ned, affecting his relationships with his father, a steadfast Congregational minister, his invalid mother, and his friends. Throughout the story, Ned grapples with the consequences of his actions and the weight of his conscience, leading him to lie to those he loves in an attempt to hide his guilt.
As the narrative unfolds, readers witness Ned's journey towards self-discovery and redemption, ultimately culminating in a heartfelt confession to his mother. The dynamics within his family, particularly the contrasting characters of his saintly father and his struggling mother, provide rich insight into human nature and the challenges of moral growth. Fox’s writing is celebrated for its emotional depth and graceful prose, making One-Eyed Cat not only a compelling story for young readers but also a profound exploration of the complexities of growing up.
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Subject Terms
One-Eyed Cat by Paula Fox
First published: 1984
Type of work: Moral tale
Themes: Emotions, family, religion, death, friendship, and coming-of-age
Time of work: 1935
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: Tyler, New York
Principal Characters:
Ned Wallis , the sensitive, dutiful only child of a ministerThe Reverend Wallis , his father, a strict but loving parent and dedicated Congregational ministerMrs. Wallis , his mother, a loving parent who suffers from crippling arthritisMr. Scully , an elderly man for whom Ned does choresMrs. Scallop , the family’s sharp-tongued, self-righteous housekeeper
The Story
When Ned is given an air rifle by his favorite uncle for his eleventh birthday, he is stunned that his father, a Congregational minister, declares that he is too young for such a toy and places the gun in the attic. That night, after everyone is in bed, Ned sneaks to the attic, takes the gun outside, and fires it only once. To his horror, Ned has the impression that he has hit something that is alive. A few days later, a one-eyed wild cat appears, its missing eye the result of a fresh wound. Ned feels certain that his one shot is the cause. He spins a web of lies to cover his act, feeling guiltier and guiltier as he does. All his key relationships are affected: his relationship with himself; his relationship with his minister-father; his relationship with his mother, who is an invalid as a result of crippling arthritis; his relationship with old Mr. Scully, for whom Ned does chores; and even his relationships with his school friends. Finally he is able to shed his guilt by confessing it to his mother, after seeing the cat alive with a family of kittens of which it is clearly the father.
Prior to the firing of the air rifle, Ned had excellent relationships with both of his parents. His father is portrayed as almost saintly in his concern for his congregation, his care for his invalid wife, and his fatherly love for young Ned. Ned admires his father and accompanies him during his performance of ministerial activities. Ned’s father has a high regard for his son’s character; at one point he praises Ned for exhibiting behavior consistent with New Testament standards. The only negative aspect of Ned’s father is that in recent years he has come to sound unreal, not like himself, when he preaches or converses with the people of his congregation. Ned realizes that this characteristic has developed since his mother was incapacitated by arthritis.
His father’s goodness, however, causes Ned to feel closer to his not-so-perfect mother; no doubt he shares a feeling his mother once had toward his father. At one point, she tells Ned, “I was afraid of your father’s goodness. I’m not so very good.” While Ned’s mother clearly loves her husband, she does not share his orthodox faith, as Ned learns. When her arthritis first disabled her, Ned hears her say, she felt suffocated by the “goodness” of the solicitous care of the congregation.
At the book’s climax, when Ned is able to shed his guilt through confessing it, he turns to his mother, not his father. Unable to sleep, Ned goes for a walk, and his mother follows him. After hearing his story of the accidental shooting, she confesses to him how she had run away from the family when Ned was only three.
When they return home after their conversation, Ned’s father, who has awakened and searched for them, is waiting. He gives them a loving and unquestioning welcome, his words—“I’m so glad you’ve come home”—forming the last line of the book.
Context
Paula Fox is widely regarded as one of the United States’ most outstanding writers for young people. She writes honestly and intensely of the deep emotions, moral questions, and serious, even tragic events often encountered by youth. Her style is graceful, at times even poetic. Her settings, vividly described, enhance the conflicts faced by her characters, and her profound, realistic depictions of character offer sensitive insights into human nature. In contrast to Fox’s well-known The Slave Dancer (1973) and The Moonlight Man (1986), One-Eyed Cat, also one of her most highly regarded works, places the conflict with evil squarely within the character of the protagonist. In working through his moral dilemma, young Ned Wallis grows in his understanding of the shortcomings of human nature and the value of human relationships.