Poppy

Mr. Ocax is the antagonist of the novel. A great horned owl, he dominates the Dimwood Forest and controls its creatures through fear. The novel opens from his perspective, and Avi intersperses his perspective throughout the novel to establish a sinister mood and to provide insight into his character. Although from the outside Mr. Ocax appears to be a vicious, domineering ruler, on the inside he is as plagued by fear as the mice are. Mr. Ocax’s arc in the novel demonstrates that fear is something inherent in all creatures, and one’s choices in the face of it determine one’s role as either hero or villain. His arc supports the theme on The Nature of Tyranny and Heroism.

Mr. Ocax faces several conflicts throughout the novel. Externally, he is pitted against Poppy, who wants to move the mouse clan to New House, an action which undermines Mr. Ocax’s rule. He also thinks he faces a (perceived) threat from the fake owl at New House, which challenges his food source. As Avi provides details from Mr. Ocax’s perspective, however, his external conflicts transform into mere exponents of his internal one: that against himself. Just like the mice, Mr. Ocax is ruled by fear—he is afraid of losing control over his food source if the mice see through his lies. 

Mr. Ocax’s paranoia becomes clear in Chapters 9 and 10, when he wonders what the mice are plotting and whether they have discovered his secret at New House. He feels pressed to keep his fear secret at all costs; “no matter what, his fearfulness must never be known!” (78). This reveals the value Mr. Ocax places on his power, and how much he prioritizes his own image. When Mr. Ocax’s hopes “evaporate” (74) when he sees what he thinks is a real owl at New House, it demonstrates how fragile his sense of self truly is—anything that threatens his power motivates him to react aggressively out of fear. 

Mr. Ocax meets his end at the climax in Chapter 18, when he dies after running headfirst into the salt lick during his confrontation with Poppy. His final words, “sometimes I wonder why I bother to protect you” (138) reveal that he has undergone no significant transformation by the novel’s conclusion. Even as he lies dying, he still attempts to impose his self-aggrandizing view upon Poppy. As such, he remains a complex but static character throughout the narrative.

Ereth is a porcupine Poppy meets in Chapter 11. Ereth appears in the rest of the Dimwood Forest series and remains a dear friend to Poppy. His role in the series overall reflects the importance of friends and family, as he ultimately learns the importance of loving others. Ereth is “prickly” in more than just appearance: He appears to scorn close relationships with others and often comes across as crotchety or grumpy. However, beneath his quills Ereth proves himself to be a good friend to Poppy as he accompanies her on her travels, offering her protection from Mr. Ocax.

Ereth’s role in the narrative contributes to both The Nature of Tyranny and Heroism and The Importance of Challenging Assumptions themes, as he shows Poppy how fear can be a tool of control. It is through meeting him that Poppy first realizes the extent of Mr. Ocax’s lies, when she learns from Ereth in Chapter 12 that porcupines do not eat mice; in fact, Mr. Ocax is afraid of porcupines himself. As Ereth accompanies Poppy on her travels, he reinforces to her that fear isn’t a reason for total obedience, telling her in Chapter 13 that “just because you’re scared of someone doesn’t mean you have to believe him” (101). It is through Ereth that Poppy first begins to see fear for the tool that it is, rather than something insurmountable. Ereth’s role in the novel is to bring Poppy closer to these revelations, providing a balanced perspective external to the insular world of fear-oppression cycles the mice are trapped in with Mr. Ocax.

Ragweed is Poppy’s boyfriend and is killed at the beginning of the novel by Mr. Ocax, catalyzing the events of the plot. He is a major character in the Dimwood Forest series, having been the titular protagonist of the previous chronological installment Ragweed. Ragweed is a deer mouse, a different species from the golden mice that make up Poppy’s clan; as such, he is an outsider and is often treated with disdain by characters like Lungwort and Sweet Cicely. Although Ragweed is not alive for most of the novel, he plays an important role in driving Poppy towards character growth and reinforces important themes in the novel. 

Ragweed is distinct from the other mice of Gray House, both in demeanor and attitude. His style of speech reflects this: He speaks in a more casual, relaxed tone, often utilizing 1960s slang. The diction in Ragweed’s dialogue in Chapters 1 and 2 compared to the diction of characters like Poppy and Lungwort emphasizes his dissimilarity. However, Ragweed’s unique perspective is central to the theme of The Importance of Challenging Assumptions: His questioning nature is one of his most prominent character traits, which he uses to question Mr. Ocax’s rule, ultimately leading Poppy to question it herself in Chapter 7: “How would Ragweed have turned that around? Poppy could almost hear it: Ragweed would have said, ‘What did refusing permission allow Mr. Ocax to do?’” (57). Ragweed’s memory and his unconventional thinking guide Poppy to think outside the lines and make important discoveries, rather than accepting the status quo and continuing to live in oppression. 

Ragweed also supports The Power of Love theme. Poppy’s love for Ragweed despite his distinctness from the other members of her family is a source of strength for her throughout the novel. His earring remains with Poppy as a symbol of courage that drives her forward in moments of doubt, such as when she momentarily falters at the river crossing in Chapter 9. In the final chapter, the tree that sprouted from the hazelnut dropped by Ragweed symbolizes freedom, reflecting the role Ragweed plays in Poppy’s story: He is a beacon of, and motivator towards, freedom and the importance of challenging unjust systems.