Wednesday, June 17, 2009

David's Relations of an Animal to a Human

David relates himself to animals, which is ironic because he never wanted to help Bev Shaw at the animal clinic in the first place. While helping her, David is drawn to the animals and somehow feels obligated to make sure that the dead animals are disposed of correctly. His concern for the animals helps him gain a sense of compassion that he was initially missing from his life. His desires led him to hurt himself and others in the process. David compares his desires to that of an animal, justifying it as being in his nature and you can not force an animal to do something that is not in his nature. As humans we all have instincts and develop behaviors in life because of our environment. I believe that David's environment while with Melanie consisted of relations with romantic objects amongst them. Melanie assisting him to remove her clothes, her young body, her unique mannerisms and her silence. 

The environment of an animal is somewhat different they develop instincts from wild life and or under human care. David becomes connected to animals. Towards the ending of the novel, David is upset to learn that Petrus is depriving two sheep of food and water because he ties them to a nearby stable. Petrus will slaughter the sheep and he believes that it is being immoral considering that the people around will eat them afterwards.  Lurie begins to show a concern for the animals and takes the sheep close to a dam where they can gain nourishment. I believe that this is David way of explaining how he is feeling and why he has not acknowledged the fact that he was wrong in some part and should show remorse for what took place with Melanie. David develops some sort of bond with the two sheep and studies there every move. He does not love the sheep, but I think he considers the sheep part of life and his penance. Ironically earlier in the novel he thinks if he helps Bev Shaw it will make him a better person and he does not want that to happen. In a way his priority for animal care has made him a better person and I am not sure if he is aware of his improvement or if he just denies it . David does not admit his remorse for Melanie but the influence led by the trauma to his daughter and the animals (not being an individual) has touched him in someway that it has created a different David internally.

4 comments:

  1. Tiffany raises a very valid point. David's concern and interaction with animals does help him view life and his relations with others in a different way. This interaction affects David, whether positively or negatively, in all the obvious and previously mentioned ways.

    However, one may also argue that this newly developed respect or "compassion" for animals springs from a place of admiration. Admiration in the sense that animals are able to pursue their basic desires freely without fear of consequences or repercussions. Without the intricate ways of human society and its moral and legal code, animals can attend to their true nature and operate on instict.

    David is a man of passion, of desire, and he glorifies this quality throughout the early part of the novel, so it is arguable that he finally finds a common ground where he can relate to animals.

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  2. agree with Tiffany that David’s relationship with animals humanize him. At the beginning we see that David detest the animals. We only see David’s view animals as food source. The development of his affection occurs when he feels that animals care about him every time the dogs lick him. I believe David learns to love his surroundings especially after Lucy being rape. David refugee is with animals because they can answer back with affection. The fact that David develops a bond with the two sheep emphasize he has adapted to the environment and some how he understand Lucy. In addition the sheep or the lamb might symbolize David’s penance. What I’m trying to say is that the Sheep or the land that represent Jesus makes David becomes more humanistic.

    This causes a problem within David because in a way he wants to punish those who raped Lucy but in the same way he doesn’t acknowledge the crime he committed as a rape. I believe the two sheep represent Melanie and Lucy both are from the same gender and both have suffered sexual abuse. David persona has change because of his daughter’s being rape and due to animals more I believe David doesn’t see women as sexual object anymore. He has become the father he never was for Lucy and more important he is not the “wandering escaping goat.”

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  3. Tiffany makes a good argument and I agree that the two sheep in the story do represent a symbol of repentance. It comes at a time in the story when David has had time to contemplate the extent of his actions with Melanie and the violence that has befallen Lucy. I am not sure who the sheep represent, but Melanie and his daughter seem like two good candidates for the representations. Sheep are not aggressive animals by nature, but they will have to come to a violent end when they get slaughtered. When David does try to ease their suffering by letting them graze for a while; shows that perhaps the sheep are tied up some way with his salvation. Deep down he knows any action he takes to help the animals is futile, but still wants to do something any way. This is another indication of David’s growth as a person and shows that he is not the same individual that we are introduced to at the beginning of the story.

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  4. I agree with Tiffany, Stephen and Jose. David’s attitude towards animals changes drastically throughout the book. In the beginning, when he meets Bev, he is not attracted to her since she smells of the animals she had been working with throughout the day. And also he hates animals, but nevertheless he follows his daughter’s suggestion and starts working for Bev at the animal shelter.

    David’s help with the treatments of animals is what changes his attitude. Towards the end of the book, David is shocked when the two sheep he became close to are butchered for the party Petrus is going to have. And also, it is important for him to dispose the dogs’ bodies with pride and respect. This shows how his attitude changed from hating to liking/loving animals.

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