60 pages 2 hours read

Naomi Alderman

The Future

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Part 5Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5: “Nothing Is Ever Really Over”

Part 5, Interlude 1 Summary: “Extract From Name The Day Survivalist Forum”

Another Name The Day contributor, who goes by the handle FoxInTheHenHouse, posts about the specific lessons of Enoch, in particular his parable of Rabbit and Fox. Rabbit does not like uncertainty, and he fears the future, whereas Fox lives in the moment. Rabbit creates civilization, while Fox remains a hunter-gatherer, and Rabbit’s gods embody traits that he admires. Fox worships nature. FoxInTheHenHouse suggests that this dichotomy reverberates throughout Western literature, in stories like Odysseus the wanderer against Hector of Troy.

Going against conventional wisdom, FoxInTheHenHouse argues that Rabbit’s decision to settle in one place leaves much to be desired. Crops fail and starvation ensues. Meanwhile, Fox continues to thrive with his hunting and gathering. Ultimately, the contributor claims, the problem is that Rabbit convinced himself that he could predict the future. Thus, he lives in an illusion, and he continues to fail. FoxInTheHenHouse wants those following the posts to try to live more like Fox.

OneCorn/Martha comments on the posts, suggesting that Enoch was mired in self-hatred, and he wanted others to hate themselves, as well. She also strongly disagrees with the post’s suggestion that the world will end, should Rabbit’s ways be followed.

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By Naomi Alderman