The Mouse and His Child, by Russell Hoban, is a melancholy fable about a wind-up pair of tin mice that explore various themes such as hope and perseverance. However, the prevailing lesson taken from this book can be found in the way that Hoban employs his cast of wind-up toys to advocate the importance of the family unit. The story begins with the family together, but it is divided and they go out in separate directions.
The father mouse and his child have different views on what to do after the break up of the family. The father's goal of self-winding is a wish for independence, while his child only wishes to bring the family back together. In fact, when the child tells Frog, "I want to find the elephant, I want her to be my mama, and I want the seal to be my sister..." (35), the father is flabbergasted since he was not aware of his child's desire. However, since they are bound together with the father mouse pushing the child along, the father's dream of self-winding/independence takes priority.
Hoban cleverly uses the dialogue of the father mouse to show that the family broke up because of differences between the father and mother. In reply to his child's desire to go look for the elephant/mama and the seal/sister, the father says, "I cannot imagine myself being cozy with that elephant." (46) Yet the father humors his child and goes in the direction that they believe may lead them to the seal/sister and elephant/mama saying, "Finding the elephant would be as pointless as looking for her, but since I cannot convince you of that, ... we shall (at least) see something of the world" (47).
While the elephant/mama had grown accustom to her royal lifestyle at the dollhouse in the store, she began to be snooty to her family. In replying to why she had been at the store so long she stated, "I'm part of the establishment...and this is my house." (5). It is not until she has been separated from her possessions and the family that she realizes how well off she was when the family was together. When she sees the father and child cutting the tree, she is "completely overwhelmed" (127). Until then she had only thought of herself. She realizes the error of their split as "a world of love and pain was printed on her vision" (128).
Morell’s purpose of writing is to inform the reader of the elephants behavior during the testing, their intelligence, and their compassion. In “Elephants Can Lend a Helping Trunk” It says, “...the pachyderms understand that they will fail at a task without a partner’s assistance. The ability to understand when you need help Is present in both humans and elephants. Just like when a human asks for help elephants know when they need help in doing a task. Morell also says in her other article, “Elephants Console Each Other” that elephants who are angry erect their tail and make their ears flare.
...ve with her powers. In general no matter the conflict that arises the elephants always stick together and never become mad at one another. This collectiveness/family unity is a great message to any reader searching for life answers.
Written in 1937, Of Mice and Men, by John Adolf Steinbeck Jr., American author and Pulitzer Prize winner, follows the lives of downtrodden farmhands, George and Lennie. As with many of Steinbeck's books, the themes in Of Mice and Men include his favored themes of class warfare and oppression of the working class. Steinbeck also focuses his literature on the power of friendship and the corrupt nature of mankind. In 1993, Professor Thomas Scarseth wrote a critical analysis of the novella analyzing many aspects of Steinbeck’s work including the presentation, themes, and writing style. In his essay, Scarseth explains the key themes of the Novella. He noted that the corrupted nature of man, the injustice of life, and the power of friendship were three important themes of the book. Much of Scarseth’s analysis contained numerous thoughtful insights. Were his insights and opinions valid, or were his, and Steinbeck’s, perspectives on these issues flawed?
Warren French writes, “The world just hasn’t been made right, so that dreams are the only things that can keep men going.” Agree or disagree with this statement.
“Of Mice and Men”, by John Steinbeck is a novel about the hardships of life and the importance of having other people around. The story is of two men trying to survive with one another in a world full of loneliness; their relationship is quite rare and strange. Lennie, a large bear, has a mental disability which causes him to be in a childlike state. George, a much smaller and more competent man takes care of both of them. Although they work for others on ranches, their dream is to get by on their own and live off the land. However, Lennie’s state causes conflict as they travel from job to job. Steinbeck uses clever ways in his novel to develop his theme and characters as the story progresses; both of these elements also help create a large
Steinbeck first introduces the power of fate in the underlying motif of impending disaster exhibited in the title and opening chapter. The title may be seen as a potent warning of the tragedy that will follow, ‘the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry’ is an excerpt from Robbie Burn’s poem ‘To A Mouse’. Steinbeck uses this title to reveal a harsh reality to the reader, of the grim nature of human existence at the time of The Great Depression; the characters seek power over their destinies yet rarely obtain it, due to external forces beyond their control. The dead mouse in Lennie’s pocket, serves as an ominous reiteration of the end that awaits the weak and unsuspecting creatures at the hand of fate, after all despite Lennie’s great size and strength his mental incapability’s render him as helpless as a mouse. Steinbeck further develops the power of fate in his repeated use of animal imagery which sees Lennie comparable with a bear, horse and terrier. Animals in the novell...
images he leaves the reader with is George and Slim walking off as Curly says “ Now
We learned that she was crippled and that she couldn’t travel as fast as the rest of the herd. However, we saw that the elephants in Babyl’s group didn’t leave her behind; they waited for her.” The guide had explaoined that the elephants always waited for the elephant name Babyl, and they had been doing it for years. The guide explained how the group would walk for a while, then stop and look around to see where Babyl was. If Babyl was too far back, they would stop and wait. (Bekoff, 2007, p. 3). This shows the value of emotions that enhanced Babyl 's chance at survival. The group must of cared for Babyl, or they wouldn 't do what they were doing to halp take care of the elephant, if they had not, the elphant would have more than likely parished a long time ago, becoming prey and a food source for another animal.
Firstly, in “The Elephant,” the zoo director’s self-centered plan to obtain an elephant for his zoo in attempt for a raise results in a very negative outcome. Upon the project’s completion, a group of school children visiting the zoo look at the fabricated elephant on display with admiration, believing it is real. However, a gust of wind soon blows over, taking control of the elephant. The elephant floats into the sky, casting a shadow as it flies across the sky, later found deflated after landing on a cactus. As a result, the school children “started neglecting their studies and turned into hooligans. It is reported that they drink liquor and break windows. And they no longer believe in elephants.” () The zoo director’s pursuit for a career advancement through selfish means negatively impacts the children that witnessed this incidence. As these children no longer take responsibility for their education, their future will be consequently unproductive. Next, in “Bluffing,” the grizzly bear ironically chases after Liam as he selfishly attempts to run away, abandoning his girlfriend. Not only left critically injured, Liam’s face, once his pride and joy, is now the antithetical of its original. As the bandages peel away, “Liam’s forehead emerges, what is left of his eyebrows, just shadowy lines really, then his cheeks and chin. Beneath the bandages, the skin is all puffed up, mottled, with ridges of shiny, rubbery scar tissue crisscrossing like tributaries on a map.” () Without his former appearance, Liam’s aspiration to have his photo in a high-tech outdoor gear magazine while prestigious companies seek his endorsement is now unachievable. As a result, his self-centered choice did not work in his favour, crushing his dreams in the process. Overall, both character choose to ignore the impact their decision will have on others, resulting in
“Seeing the elephant” is an expression used to describe someone who experiences more than what they desired, at least Wallace Porter did. In a Cathy Day’s book, The Circus in the Winter, she has a compilation of stories from generations of the Great Porter Circus who were all centered in Lima, Indiana. Out of those people, Wallace Porter had a unique story that led him to “see the elephant” after undergoing some tragic events of death from his fellow Union Calvary men, his wife, Irene, and George, the elephant. Clyde Hollenbach offered to sell the circus, Hollenbach’s Menagerie, to Porter after Hollenbach could not afford to maintain the circus anymore due to financial hardships. Porter then knew that he had to buy the circus off of Hollenbach.
Jumping mouse is like many people, always seeking a better way of life. The other mice were quite content with their busy life, because that was the way they have always known. But Jumping Mouse had a taste for what else the world had to offer him. When Jumping Mouse met with the old mouse, he found a perfect place to live, free from harm and lots of food. He was told he should stay but somehow, he knew that he could have better. Even later on his journey to find the mountains he discovered a small “mouse utopia” with an abundant supply of food and shelter, everything a mouse could want.
Elephants'." Studies in Short Fiction. 17.1 (Winter 1980): 75-77. Rpt. in Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 75-77. Literature Resource Center. Gale.
The story begins with a for the most part regular mouse. Like most mice he is “Busy with Mice things”. However just shortly into the story you find that he is anything but normal when he begins to hear a “Roaring” in his ears. Others however ignore this saying “Are you foolish in your head? What sound?”. He tries to convince the other mice, but they are too closed minded to listen to him. These mice, to me represent my peers that are unwilling to take the time to look at the bigger picture around them. I myself am happy and content with my own little world. The story made me think about what I’m missing out on in life by being confined to my little box of thinking, that is my so-called life.
Morally, I think this story clearly states that people would do anything to avoid being embarrassed. From my understanding, I think that this story teaches us that we should be open to hear people?s opinions but we should follow our instincts. We should not allow others to make the decisions for us. The police officers just shoot the elephant because people wanted him to do so. This essay is trying to help us to see that we should look at the pros and cons of an issue rather than making a quick decision that can affect someone. I cannot condemn the author for shooting the elephant, though he knew it was wrong. Nor can I condemn him for giving in to the natives and not sticking to his guns. He does not want to appear foolish to others like all of us do.
Siroone, Tamara. “Melancholy Mad Elephants”: Affect and the Animal Machine in Hard Times. Indiana: University Press.