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

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