A Dark Brown Dog Analysis

Animals, like people, want attention and affection from those around them. It can be positive attention, or it can be negative, so long as it is your attention. We seek it, we crave it, and we need it, and will do anything to have it, even if it brings tears and bruises to your body and soul. We are all products from our environment, and even if the attention is in an abusive way, the cycle can either be continued or broken.

In the short story “A Dark Brown Dog”, Stephen Crane, in his “true to life” writing, used a boy and a stray dog to show readers how we all seek attention from another even though it is negative attention. When the dog first approaches the child they inspect each other, and when the dog decides that the child seems safe, he attempts to jump up on him in a playful manner. The child immediately hits the dog on the head, and the dog shrinks/cowards back down. At this point the child has now learned

In the case of the “A Dark Brown Dog”, the boy is found seated by the body of his friend. The one friend, who even if he hit or was mean to him, would still forgive him of the abuse. The dog is a classic poster child for victims from the hands of an abuser. The abuse becomes a sick, twisted game to the abuser. The abuser lands his blows, and the victim quick to apologize for their wrong doing, and beg for fogginess. Thus, becoming a never ending vicious cycle.

In the end of this story one hopes that the boy becomes aware of the abusive cycle, and makes a promise to his “friend” that he will break the cycle of abuse. That he will not become his father, and that he will be better than him. If for no one else, but his one true friend, the dark brown dog. The impact that physical abuse brings into people’s lives leaves scars deep within, but with a little love here, and there, the cycle begins to