The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf Summary

Uncle Remus was repairing a shoe when his boss, Miss Sally’s little boy, began to play with his tools. Uncle Remus was an old guy who had a talent for telling stories. This first annoyed Uncle Remus, but things quickly settled down, and the child eagerly listened as Uncle Remus began to tell another tale about Brer Rabbit and Brer Wolf.

Brer Wolf is always meddling in other people’s lives in the beginning of the book, particularly with Brer Rabbit. Instead of being alone, Brer Wolf teamed up with Brer Fox and spent his time annoying Brer Rabbit. Brer Wolf ended himself in a lot of trouble because of his deeds, as Uncle Remus hinted very early in the narrative.

Brer Rabbit never had any peace in his life since Brer Wolf and Brer Fox frequently raided his home and took his children. As a result, Brer Rabbit experimented with building a variety of dwellings. His initial attempt at erecting a straw hut was unsuccessful. Then he tried building a house out of pine tips, but it didn’t work out. His next project, a bark dwelling, was likewise ruined. Every time Brer Rabbit lost his house, he lost one of his children. At last, Brer Rabbit lost his patience, swore, and decided to take action.

A huge board residence, supported by a rock base, was built for him by carpenters. In this new house, Brer Rabbit found peace. In case they were in danger, he also provided his children with a hidden hiding place in the cellar. The front door had a lock that could only be unlocked from the inside to protect them. As a result, Brer Rabbit began to live a more relaxed life and felt safer. He could visit neighbors, smoke his pipe, read newspapers, and sit by the fire like everyone else.

But when Brer Wolf saw that Brer Rabbit was again safe, he remained low-key. Though Brer Rabbit’s children remained cautious, the family eventually started to feel safer. Brer Rabbit no longer shivered with fear as Brer Wolf passed.

One day, while preparing to see Miss Coon, Brer Rabbit heard a commotion on the road. Before he could even process what was happening, Brer Wolf barged into his house. Brer Rabbit pleaded with Brer Wolf for assistance as he was panting and coated in mud. He told Brer Rabbit that a pack of hounds was after him and begged him to hide him somewhere safe.

Brer Rabbit seized the opportunity to help. They told Brer Wolf to jump into a large chest. As soon as Brer Wolf was inside, Brer Rabbit closed the lid, secured it with a hook, and left him inside. Laughing, Brer Rabbit sat down in his rocking recliner beside the fire and surveyed the scene.

Then Brer Rabbit began preparing for the next phase. He lit a kettle of boiling water, then took a gimlet and started making tiny punctures in the chest cover. Still imprisoned, Brer Wolf was curious and asked where Brer Rabbit had gone. The reply from Brer Rabbit was, “I’m drilling holes to help Brer Wolf breathe,”

As water boiled in the kettle, Brer Rabbit added more wood to the fire. When Brer Wolf asked Brer Rabbit about it, he said that he was adding wood to keep himself warm. Brer Rabbit then brought his children out of hiding, told them about Brer Wolf, and ridiculed him by referring to him as a “nice man.” The children had to cover their lips to keep from laughing.

Brer Rabbit finally began to pour the hot water through the holes in the chest. Brer Wolf was startled and asked what the sound was. Brer Rabbit said softly that it was just the wind. Brer Wolf’s chest saturated with hot water, and he complained of flea bites. In jest, Brer Rabbit suggested that he roll over to avoid the bites.

Despite Brer Wolf’s objections, the hot water proved effective, and Brer Wolf ultimately lost. In his last words, he bemoaned the “fleas” that were supposedly hurting him. Brer Rabbit celebrated Brer Wolf’s departure by calling his neighbors. During their joyful gathering, Brer Rabbit proudly displayed Brer Wolf’s hide on his back porch as a warning about the consequences of meddling in other people’s affairs.

At the conclusion of the story, Uncle Remus reveals that Brer Wolf’s death was caused by his persistent interference in other people’s affairs. Brer Wolf paid a heavy price for putting other people through hardship instead of focusing on his own life.