To Be Loved Is to Be Seen: Ash, the Fox Who Wasn’t “Fantastic” Yet—And the Importance of Parental Recognition in Child Development

An adaptation of a book with the same title written by Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox, a film by the well-known director Wes Anderson, who is celebrated for his symmetrical and distinct visual style, has a uniquely compelling character that quietly steals the spotlight of the movie. He is Ash, child of Mr. Fox, the star of the movie, as the title already suggested. 

While the major plot revolves around Mr. Fox's audacious heists, Ash is in the corner coping with something far more personal as he is trying to be loved and respected by his parents, especially his father. To better comprehend Ash's behaviors and issues, the watcher could refer to Erik Erikson's psychosocial development theory, specifically the stage known as Industry vs. Inferiority. 

According to Cherry (2024), Erik explained that the industry vs. inferiority stage, which occurs between the ages of 5 and 12, is the fourth stage in his theory of psychosocial development, in which the child becomes progressively involved in situations requiring long, patient work. In addition, a child learns many different kinds of emotional and social abilities throughout the fourth stage. It is critical that their parents or caregivers assist them as they face unfamiliar challenges and attempt to handle them on their own.

Erik (1950) as reported by Boise (2019) also explained that in this stage, children gain a sense of industry by working hard, learning new skills, and effectively completing chores such as homework, sports, and social activities. Receiving encouragement from parents, teachers, and peers helps kids gain confidence and competence. On the other hand, repeated failures or a lack of support can result in low self-esteem, feelings of being separated, and feelings of inferiority. These factors can negatively impact motivation and social development and may cause long-lasting issues throughout adulthood.

In the movie, Ash is described as being 12 years fox-old and portrayed as the polar opposite of his father. Mr. Fox is more cunning, charming, outspoken, and quick-thinking and has a strategic mind. While even though Ash is his biological child, he does not seem to inherit all of those qualities that his father has. He is a little awkward, often angry, and trying hard to figure out where he fits in. What he does do is yearn, often in an embarrassing way, for acceptance, for acknowledgment. For something as simple and as enormous as being enough. And that becomes even more obvious when Ash’s cousin