Water for Elephants - 1072 Words

In Water for Elephants, the story is told through Jacob Jankowski at two different parts in his life: twenty-three year old Jacob who is out there exploring the world and, ninety-three year old Jacob who feels like he is wasting away his life in a nursing home. Water for Elephants is Gruen’s third book, it became one of the New York Times best sellers, it’s also available in forty-four different languages and it’s now a motion picture (Sara Gruen). Throughout the novel the reader is brought through both Jacob’s happy memories and ones that he wishes he could forget which shows its impact on the reader, a sense of catharsis and its social significance. I absolutely loved reading Water for Elephants; it is probably one of the best†¦show more content†¦Jacob then realizes that he doesn’t need them be able to go, so he decides for himself that he is going to make a break for it. He shuffled over to his walker and heads towards the door; he w asn’t going to let anything stand in his way of getting to that circus. Water for Elephants contains great social importance because it shows the dark side of capitalism. As said by Elizabeth Judd, â€Å"no matter how miserable or oppressed, the performers love the manufacturing of illusion, sewing a sequined headdress for Rosie† (the elephant performer), â€Å"or feeding the llamas as men die of starvation in devastated American.† Even in the novel, they were running out of meat to feed the large cats, they luckily had an injured horse; that they were able to use for food. The ringmaster Uncle Al would even do anything for a buck, he treats his performers and workers like they are nothing, he feels that the only reason that they are there is to help him flourish and bloom. Uncle Al’s main goal is to take Benzini Brothers circus, better than the Ringling Brother. â€Å"And then the shower of money starts- the sweet, sweet shower of money. Uncle Al is delirious, standing in the center of the hippodrome track with his arms and face raised, basking in the coins that rain down on him. He keeps his face raised even as coins bounce off his cheeks, nose, and forehead. I think he may actually be crying† (Gruen 237). This just shows how ruthless and money thirsty and that all heShow MoreRelatedEssay on Water for Elephants1427 Words   |  6 PagesNovel Study Annotated Bibliography Gruen, Sara. Water for Elephants. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill: Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 2006. The story follows Jacob Jankowski who was an old man living in a nursing home, as he looks back about a time that defined his life. In the 1930’s, 23-year-old Jacob’s life changed drastically. One minute he was finishing his Veterinarian degree at Cornell and planning to follow his father in the family business. The next his parents passed away in a carRead MoreTheme Of Greed In Water For Elephants852 Words   |  4 PagesGreed plays a predominant role throughout Water For Elephants. Many characters seemed to have embodied a very greedy nature during this time. Although, one cannot blame such characters for their nature because if you take into account the era they lived in, they quite possibly had no other choice but to be greedy. Although, when I think of greed I don’t just think of it as a physical way desire for money and materialistic needs but also as a selfish mindset. I also think that the author, Sara GruenRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Water for Eleph ant995 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis Essay 9th Novemember 2011 Water for Elephants In a recent interview for â€Å"Collider.com†, Robert Pattinson, a household young actor, revealed that he was offered with various movie characters that he could choose from as his next role after starring in the â€Å"Twilight† series. Finally, he decided to play the role of Jacob Jankowski in a film adaptation directed by Francis Lawrence, â€Å"Water for Elephants†. Why did Robert Pattinson choose to act an orphaned and impecuniousRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Water for Elephant980 Words   |  4 PagesDoris Zhang Miss. Trosko English Character Analysis Essay 9th Novemember 2011 Water for Elephants In a recent interview for à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Collider.comà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ , Robert Pattinson, a household young actor, revealed that he was offered with various movie characters that he could choose from as his next role after starring in the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Twilightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  series. Finally, he decided to play the role of Jacob Jankowski in a film adaptation directed by Francis Lawrence, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Water for Elephantsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . WhyRead MoreWater For Elephants, By Sara Gruen1376 Words   |  6 Pageshowever what separates the extraordinary books from the appalling books, is the author’s ability to visually and emotionally move their readers. In order to establish a connection to the audience, an author must understand human experience. In Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, two narratives are used, one of an older Jacob, and one of a younger Jacob. This choice is made by the author to help the reader fully comprehend the circle of life. Everyone succumbs to age soo ner or later, and while many booksRead MoreLove and Work in Sara Gruens Water for Elephants1477 Words   |  6 Pages The postmodern movement reacted to earlier trends, and tends to be more anti-establishment. Combining these to allow for a great deal of contextual symbolism and a sort of wonder within everyday life. This genre, revealed in the 2006 book Water for Elephants and subsequent movie of the same name, can be understood and exemplified in the term magical realism. Within this genre, there are times when serendipitous, magical things happen in normal settings. The true power of this genre seems to lieRead MoreLove with Courage in Sara Gruen ´s Water for Elephants Essay1392 Words   |  6 PagesLove is a very powerful emotion which is achieved by overcoming many hurdles and acting with courage. This bravery can be shown towards anything and anyone, including humans and animals. In Sara Gruen’s Water For Elephants, courage is a key aspect for characters that portra y their love for other individuals and the animals. The characters, Jacob and Marlena love each other bravely, despite knowing the consequences for their actions. Not only does Marlena love Jacob, she also portrays affection forRead MoreThermal Physics: Elephant Seals Essay742 Words   |  3 PagesA vertebrate is any animal with a backbone. An example of vertebrates are Elephant Seals and Minks. Elephant Seals are amphibious mammals living in the Antarctic waters. They can adapt to both land and sea. On contrary, Minks are also semiaquatic mammals that can be found in North America, mainly in the forested areas that are near streams, rivers, or ponds. Although the Elephant Seals and the Minks are both mammals, both animals will have differences and similarities with how their body functionsRead MoreThe African Bush Elephant Essay1121 Words   |  5 PagesAfrican Elephant The African Bush Elephant, Loxodonta has adapted to suit its harsh environment. They can be found in most of Zimbabwe and Botswana. The rainfall in Botswana mainly occurs in December, January and February which is the wet season. There is 600mm of rain in the north-east of Botswana and 200mm in the drier south-west. (Siyabona Africa, 2014, stated) Adaptations: Limbs Skeleton An elephant has a large skull to use as a weapon when competing with other elephants over territoryRead MoreWhy Elephants Are Scared Of Mice1078 Words   |  5 PagesWhy Elephants Are Scared of Mice Thousands of years ago in Africa, elephants roamed the Earth without a single worry. Their immense size and strength had caused them to develop exaggerated pride, overconfidence and the belief that they were superior to all other creatures. George in particular, was no exception. He was more egotistic and arrogant than the entire elephant race combined. George only allowed the others to refer to himself as â€Å"Master George† and was incredibly irritated when smaller