Animal Poetics

Animals play an important part in society and culture, thus such becomes apparent throughout art as outlets of emotion. Animals can be used to symbolize all sorts of things, but in particular, animals may represent the personality of a character. This is because as humans and animals co-exist in the same atmosphere, certain aspects of a character reveal themselves in the compassion or even hatred towards the animal. “Animals [also] stand for human qualities: the lion for courage, the owl for wisdom, and so forth (Coetzee, 95).” Furthermore, since animals are often known to trigger the interests of humans, the attitude of the humans towards the animals contributes much to character revelation. "Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man (Arthur Schopenhauer, German Philosopher).” The simple mention of an animal, a pet, or a farm animal, or an exotic underwater creature, changes the entire depth of, for example, a poem or a painting. Mentioning a puppy instantly brings up thoughts of happiness and love.

Just as Mighty Meg mentioned during her leadership, viewing certain animals evokes a certain range of emotions. Coetzee speaks of “two varieties of animal lovers, hunters who value animals at a very elementary, unreflective level…and people who have little contact with animals yet want all animals to lead a utopian life in which everyone is miraculously fed and no one preys on anyone (110).” It is interesting to define a hunter as a type of animal lover, but it is entirely valid. If hunters “look [the animal] in the eyes before [they] kill him, and thank him afterwards (Coetzee, 95),” they take full advantage of an unfortunate loss of life.

Within the reading, several passages are written from an animals’ point of view, humanizing such experiences. Like zoo animals could be compared to jail prisoners, or pets to servants. Just something general enough to be relatable to both groups instantaneously. For example, zoo animals parallel to those on death row…“[they] [don’t] want freedom. Only a way out—to the right or left or anywhere at all (Kafka, 523).” The animals seem tired, worn down, and powerless. “His tired gaze— from passing endless bars—has turned into a vacant stare which nothing holds (Flemming, 528).” Another caged animal, Jaguar, suffers because “his head is like the worn down stump of another whole jaguar (Hughes, 532).” These shared sufferings, commiserations if you will, are expressed through poetry, through song, through art because such things are driven by pure emotion rather than reason. "His own opinion, which he does not air, is that the origin of speech lie in song, and the origins of song in the need to fill out with sound the overlarge and rather empty human soul. (Coetzee, Disgrace)."