Water For Elephants Chapter Summary

Section 1: Chapters 1-8
Water for Elephants is set in two different worlds; the first being present day times in a modern nursing home, and the second being in the early 1930s on the moving cars of a travelling circus train. The story alternates between the perspectives of 93-year-old Jacob Jankowski and his younger, less experienced, 23-year-old self. The book lets the reader experience the brash and unforgiving atmosphere inside the big top of an American circus during the Great Depression. It also illustrates the joys of belonging to the “Greatest Show on Earth.” For the characters, life is not usually easy. Everyday brings a distinctive threat, whether it is the constant fear of being ‘red-lighted,’ the inevitable panic caused by a Prohibition raid, or the anger caused by frequently being shortchanged of a month’s pay.
Jacob, a veterinarian, just out of Cornell University, discovers early on to stay alert in this rough environment, especially when it comes to August Rosenbluth, the equestrian director

with an erratic temper. Although August shows a gentler nature when dancing with Marlena, he is not always that way. A sudden change will fall over him, and August becomes a different man: one who is cruel, irrational, and untrustworthy. It is shown in the red marks left on Marlena’s chin. Nevertheless, Jacob has hopelessly fallen in love with Marlena from the second he set eyes on her, the show’s star and August’s wife. Lucky for Jacob, he and Marlena get to know each other better since they spend so much time together caring for Silver Star, the permanently injured lead show horse. Silver Star is Marlena’s baby, and by helping him, Jacob is quickly reaching Marlena. I predict that it will not be long until Marlena falls for Jacob. When that happens, August’s unpredictable temper will turn on him.

Section 2: Chapters 9-16
Marlena shows her caring nature while at dinner with August and Jacob. Outside, a man who hasn’t eaten in two days begs for food. Marlena ignores August’s shouts of protest and hands the man her meal. She storms off and August, in one of his tempers, stomps after her. While Marlena warms up to Jacob, August continually becomes more volatile. As the story endures, Jacob and Marlena get increasing closer. By now, August has caught on to their relationship, and he professes his love of Marlena in public, by openly kissing, touching, and dancing with her, in expectation that this will ward off Jacob.
I understand some of August’s anger, since he has to watch his wife fall in love with a stranger, but it doesn’t give him the right to act irrationally.

He takes his anger out on Rosie, the new, useless elephant bought by Uncle Al, the selfish ringmaster, by repeatedly beating her with his bull hook. This demonstrates August’s true brutal self, and forces the reader to despise him even more. I predict that Marlena and Jacob will persist, causing August to, in his uncontrollable anger, do the unthinkable. Jacob is fitting in better with the circus workers, and has now gotten on the good side of his angry roommate, Kinko. When Kinko’s terrier, Queenie, gets the trots, Jacob cures her quickly, and from then on, Kinko gives Jacob the privilege of calling him Walter, which only his friends get to do. Earlier in the story, I disliked Walter for being so unpleasant, but now that he and Jacob are friends, he turns out to be a sweet, misunderstood, and loveable

man.

Section 3: 17-25
The central theme of Water for Elephants is courage, since you need it everyday. By helping Marlena stay away from August against Uncle Al’s orders, hiding a paralyzed Camel in his car, supporting Marlena, and joining a circus at age 93, Jacob shows courage. Even though he endangered himself, he did it to protect others and himself, and in the end, it served him well. I have learned from Jacob that being courageous is more than hurling yourself in front of a train; it is standing up for what you believe in, doing the right thing, and being able to take action. Jacob showed this when he stood up and told the Beninzi Brothers Circus how amazing Ringling Brothers Circus was, and how they paled in comparison. This took fortitude, and Jacob made an honorable choice. Nonetheless, Jacob didn’t always demonstrate courage. When Rosie kills August, Jacob never asks Marlena what she saw that day in fear of changing her feelings for him. By not having the courage to ask, he may have hurt their relationship, since the conflict was never resolved. In this case, Jacob didn’t act with his usual strength.
I believe that every book challenges you to think differently, and Water for Elephants is no exception. I was forced to think about many elaborate themes, including complexity of relationships, affliction, old age, acceptance, and of course, courage. The story compels you to learn more about each of the characters and their unique situations, as well as the story plot as a whole.