Edward Albee’s, “The Zoo Story” is about the innate animal instinct that resides in each human being. Regardless of things like social class, education, profession we are born with a primal animal instinct to either fight or flight when it comes protecting our territories much like wild animals. However, the animals at the zoo in this play are enclosed and isolated from each other just like the characters Jerry and Peter who struggle to break free from their own barred cages.
In the poem the character Jerry is lonely, antisocial and a rather socially awkward man who through befriending animals believes he will be able to better communicate with his own species. He firsts attempt to build a relationship with the landlady’s dog because, he says, “Man is dog’s best friend, remember” (Albee, Edward). Jerry explains, “It’s just that if you can’t deal with people, have to make a start somewhere. WITH ANIMALS” (Albee, Edward). Jerry realizes one day at the zoo that in order for him to better understand human interaction he must better understand the things that drive their animal like instincts. He states, “I went to the zoo to find out more about the way people exist with animals, and the way animals exist with each other, and with people too.” (Albee, Edward). He uses animals to comprehend his own social isolation because he has a difficulty developing relationships with people. The character Peter he engages on his way back from the zoo says, “You don’t really carry on a conversation; you just ask questions” and Jerry says, “It always happens, when I try to simplify things”(Albee, Edward). Jerry longs for companionship, but lacks an inability to connect with people and is unable to effectively communicate with those around him.
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...tween “Lexington and Third Avenue” (Albee, Edward). Peter’s second cage is his bench in the park. He becomes an animal when forced by Jerry to defend his honor and fight him for his “territory”. Jerry says, “You have everything, and now you want this bench. Are these the things men fight for? Tell me, Peter, is this bench, this iron and this wood, is this your honour? Is this the thing you’d fight for?” and “Fight for it, then. Defend yourself; defend your bench.” (Albee, Edward).
Human beings are very similar to both animals in the wild and those in captivity much like the characters portrayed in “The Zoo Story” by Edward Albee. Born with a primal instinct like wild animals they will both defend their territory, their honor and their pride. However, we also relate to those in captivity and at times caged by things like our fears, insecurities, and selfishness.
Jeremy Rifkin in the article " A Change of Heart about Animals" argues on the fact that as incredible as it sounds, many of our fellow creatures as like us in so many ways. For example, in a movie named Paulie a young girl that suffers autism gets attached to a parrot. The girl struggles to talk but she just can't. Time passes by and then the girl starts talking because the parrot helped her. An incident happened so the little girl's parents decide to let the parrot go. The parrot ends up in an animal testing lab but somehow he managed to escape. The parrot begins to miss his owner because he formed a bond with a human being. Obviously, this proves Rifkin is right when he states that animals experience feelings like human beings.
In Diane Ackerman’s book The Zookeeper’s Wife, the main characters, Jan and Antonina Żabiński, were zookeepers in Warsaw, Poland. Jan and Antonina Żabiński met at the College of Agriculture, where they bonded over their love for animals. A year later they are married and have a son named Ryszard which means lynx in Polish. After about eight years, the Żabiński’s dream of creating a natural habitat zoo has almost been accomplished. Antonina has a sixth sense for animals’ health, and uses it to cure sick animals until eventually they become healthy enough that they can live at the zoo. Although Jan and Antonina’s dreams seem to be coming true, Germany and the rest of Europe begin to have tumult. Antonina, trying to keep her son away from the
The affection the narrator displays for the mouse in Burns’ poem mirrors the affection George displays for his friend Lennie in Of Mice and Men. The narrator starts by convincing the mouse that he is not an enemy, and that he will do the mouse no harm. “Wee, sleekit, cow'rin', tim'rous beastie, O what a panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty…I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee” (lines 1-5). In this portion of the poem, the narrator attempts to establish a rapport between himself and the mouse. By the same token, in Of Mice and Men, G...
In the article “A change of heart about animals” author Jeremy Rifkin uses rhetorical appeals such as ethos, logos, and pathos to persuade humanity in a desperate attempt to at the very least have empathy for “our fellow creatures” on account of the numerous research done in pursuit of animal rights. Rifkin explains here that animals are more like us than we imagined, that we are not the only creatures that experience complex emotions, and that we are not the only ones who deserve empathy.
As Mark Twain once stated, “The more I know about people, the better I like my dog.” This sentiment is often echoed by general society; people seem to have lost faith in humanity. However, John Steinbeck illustrates his more optimistic opinion about “the perfectibility of man” by suggesting how man can improve. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, two tenants called George and Lennie go through many hardships all while chasing their dream of possessing their own farm. While they work at a farm, they meet an old swamper called Candy who offers to help them achieve their dream; he does so to ensure that he will have a future after he is fired for being too old. On page 60, Candy discusses the recent death of his dog and asks to join in on George and Lennie’s dream. Through this passage, Steinbeck proves that humans have an animalistic tendency of eliminating those who are weaker than them. This is depicted through the details connecting Candy to his dog as well as Candy’s diction when describing his potential future life. Steinbeck’s negative attitude towards man’s predatory nature implies that society needs to improve and prevent such oppressive behavior from occurring.
Today, zoos can be a controversial subject. Many believe that animals belong in the wild, where they can roam free, and not be subjected to the hordes of people that surround them in captivity. But this was not always the case. In the beginning, zoos were created with the goal to conserve wildlife. Nazis, believe it or not, were strong proponents of animal rights and conservation. They actively passed laws to ensure the safety and well-being of animals native to Germany. Top ranking members of the Nazi Party, such as Heinrich Himmler, made the conscience effort to ban the hunting of animals. Set in the late-1930s and early-1940s, Diane Ackerman’s, The Zookeeper’s Wife, tells the captivating and true story of Jan and Antonia Zabinski, two zookeepers that risked their lives to save over three hundred people from
This poem, Sarajevo Bear written by Walter Pavlich, addresses one of the most important themes, the struggle to keep humanity strong and stable. To begin with, this poem is discussing the sniping campaign that took place in Sarajevo in 1993 and how civilians were the targets of these attacks. During this time people faced a dilemma: they could either stay in hiding forever or until the war ended, or they could do something that would get their mind off the war and relieve some of their stress. People knew though the risk of leaving the security and safety of their home as they could be shot and killed at any time without warning. But still this did not stop the people working at the zoo and feeding the bear to stop their job. Furthermore, the first verse of this poem states that this is the last animal at the zoo. This illustrates that just as many people were dying, many animals were dying as well illustrating that our actions not only affect us but they also affect things around us, and in this poem it was the zoo animals. In a zoo the animals are contained within a certain area an...
Many great authors that study human nature stood out the most during the period of time between the Imperialism and World War II. Among these authors were George Orwell and Virginia Woolf. Their study of the human nature is especially visible in certain short stories that each author respectively did. Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” and Woolf’s “The Death of the Moth.” In either of these stories the respective author uses animals to depict their complex ideas about the nature of life, men, and the whole world.
What comes to mind when one thinks of the word ‘puppy’? It is probable describe a puppy as a lovable, adorable, and cuddly companion. However, one might also identify the animal as a menace and a liability or even as a delicious source of food. Why does this single word hold so many meanings? One’s past experiences and biases influences these conflicting views and attitudes. For instance, an individual’s fond view of puppies may exist because they were raised with puppies and consequently grew affectionate toward the animals. On the contrary, if another individual has not bonded with puppies as pets, then they will share the latter point of view. In the short story “Puppy” by George Saunders, the multiple characters view single events and objects with contrasting perceptions. Therefore, instead of painting a precise picture of the characters and the plot, the story expresses several views regarding the morals of the characters, the motivations of their actions, and the meaning of the events that take place. In “Puppy”, George Saunders explores the theory that perception is not an elementary, universal definition of an object or idea, but a complex interpretation that is influenced by one’s unique and varying past experiences and opinions. The complexity of perception is evident in one the story’s narrator’s, Marie’s, vantage point.
George Owell’s Animal Farm and Peter Weirs Truman Show both have similar but different themes. This essay will explain that power of the stronger characters is fuled by the ignorance of the weaker characters. That you can only have happiness or freedom never both, that the idea of utopia is different in both texts.
This paper reviews and analyzes three main issues with the first one being leadership. Other sub-issues involve lack of vision, coercive leadership style, using taxpayer’s money for personal benefit and irresponsible top management. The organizational structure, mixed communication, and no clear indication to who to report to is the second. The third being communication, this paper tackles lack of the ability to speak about the actual problems in fear of being ostracized; if you’re not with us; you’re against us. We suggest a solution based on our SWOT analysis, star bursting, brainstorm, mind map, and rational decision making tool. With the use of these five tools we hope to help solve the problem at hand by making the city zoo a more engaging and dynamic experience for both employees and the public.
Gorman, James. “Smart, Social and Erratic in Captivity.” New York Times. New York Times, 29 July 2013. Web. 7 November 2013.
Michelle Carr uses the rhetorical mode of argumentation for the purpose of persuasion in her article, “The Reality of Zoos.” Carr focuses on the issue of the imprisonment and maltreatment of zoo animals in her article. She effectively presents her points by using the persuasive methods of pathos and logos. Carr establishes an emotional connection with the reader by recalling an occasion she noticed how unhappy zoo animals were during a childhood memory. Carr also uses logic and reasoning; she appeals to the reader by using facts and figures about the suffering zoo animals experience, for instance, the animals developing “zoochosis” and the animals being forcibly inseminated for money-making purposes. By establishing an emotional connection
...fascination with the animal world. Children, they are permitted to love things they do not understand. But coming to these books as an adult, and loaded down with knowledge of their author’s life, with its longings and fears, one cannot avoid reading them as fables about E.B White’s own life” (Epstein 380). Reading about the tales and adventures of animals is different to a child compared to an adult. Children are fascinated with animals, but do not understand the hidden meanings, whereas the adults do. After knowing about White’s life it is easy to understand that these three books are pieces of his life that he is telling from a different point of view, the view of animals. White’s writing is an expression of himself (Sampson 530). “Hardly any literate American has not benefitted from his humor, his nonsense, his creativity, and his engaging wisdom” (Hasley 526).
People all around the world love visiting the zoo - especially the kids! To be able to see their favorite animals playing around or just admiring the beauty of these creatures makes their eyes sparkle. Although seeing the animals is truly amazing, a question that is frequently asked is: “How do they manage in captivity? Are they happy living in here?” Merely looking at the animals may not reveal much about how they feel or manage in captivity, unless someone could speak to the animals but that’s not likely. Therefore, this topic requires some research. So let’s grab some thinking helmets. First, we will explore the history of zoological gardens or zoos in general.