Summary Of Animal Lovers Book Of Beastly Murder

Patricia Highsmith's "Animal-Lovers Book of Beastly Murder" is a collection of stories that explores the relationship between humans and animals. The novel depicts the intricate nature of human-animal interactions with dark humour and irony, frequently blurring the line between good and wrong. The stories in the book demonstrate how humans' actions affect the creatures around them.
In "Chorus Girl's Absolutely Final Performance," we meet Chorus Girl, a circus elephant being mistreated by her keeper. The story opens with the keeper beating Chorus Girl with a hook, which makes the reader sympathize with her plight. The author's use of vivid imagery brings to life the pain and suffering the elephant is experiencing: "He brought the hook down on the elephant's head again and again, and she felt as if her skull would burst open." (Highsmith, 8) The story progresses as Chorus Girl's condition worsens, and she eventually kills her abuser in an attempt to escape. However, her freedom is short-lived as she is shot and killed by the guards. The story highlights the theme of animal abuse and the consequences of such actions. The story addresses the issue of animal cruelty and the consequences of such behaviour.

The woman's boyfriend, on the other hand, abuses Ming behind her back, and the woman is oblivious of the man's true nature. The story is portrayed from Ming's point of view, giving a unique glimpse into the abuse that animals may face. The cat "clung to the deck with her claws, moaning and yowling, while the man continued to beat her" (Highsmith 72) as the man began to beat Ming. This graphically depicts the pain and suffering that animals undergo at the hands of their abusers, as well as the cruelty that people are capable