ipl-logo

Water For Elephants Jacobs Character Analysis

1348 Words6 Pages

Preamble: In all pieces of literature, there are many different types of characters, in which there are variations between these types. Characters like the hero, villain, anti-hero, and victim play an integral role in the expression of the author’s ideas within the novel. The hero, however, is deemed to be the character who is the protector and enforcer of what is good and just. Despite this, a hero is not immaculate, as his/her decisions can reveal certain flaws. In Sarah Gruen’s ‘Water for Elephants’, this is no different.
Thesis: Therefore, In Sarah Gruen’s “Water for Elephants”, Jacob’s decisions and their consequences reveal the fact that Jacob is a flawed hero.
Criteria: This is seen in the fact that Jacob’s decisions reveal his flawed …show more content…

This can be broken down into his protection of animals and people. However, Jacob’s decisions reveal his extraordinary protective nature of the animals within the circus.
Point One: To start, Jacob displays an unparalleled amount of protectiveness of Rosie (the circus’ elephant), and eventually becomes her shield in terms of protecting her from August; Rosie’s abuser.
Evidence: An example of a decision which reveals Jacob’s protectiveness of Rosie is when he attempts to defend her from August, who is about to punish (assault) her for drinking the circus’ lemonade, as he promises to “go after him [August]” ( Gruen 215).
Explanation: This decision to attempt to defend Rosie clearly highlights Jacob’s protectiveness towards the animals, and this protectiveness of Rosie is an attribute of heroism, therefore proving that Jacob is a hero.
Point Two: In addition to his protectiveness of Rosie, Jacob‘s decisions reveal the fact that he is protective of the general health and wellbeing of the big cats (Leo the lion, et cetera), as he attempts to refuse feeding them potentially harmful …show more content…

Therefore, it demonstrates Jacob’s bravery, as he fearlessly opposes his murderous boss in the name of Marlena, and anyone willing to do this is ultimately a hero.
Point Two: The second, more subtle point which expresses Jacob’s fearlessness is seen in his older age; specifically towards the treatment of himself and his peers in his nursing home.
Evidence: An example where this bravery is illustrated is when he openly expresses his outrage towards the nurses over the fact that himself and his peers “miss real food” (68) and that he addresses the needs of his fellow residents by asking: “doesn’t anyone else here want real food? Surely you can’t be happy with…this…pap?” (68).
Explanation: Jacob’s actions as displayed in the evidence are important because it shows how Jacob is not afraid to speak his mind in the name of the nursing home, thereby making Jacob the hero of the nursing home. Conclusion: In conclusion, Jacob’s brave decisions as expressed in the opposition of Uncle Al and the conditions of the nursing home are traits of heroism, thereby making Jacob the hero of ‘Water for Elephants’.
Argument

Show More
Related
514 Words | 3 Pages

Love is unconditionally caring about someone else that you care more about yourself. Love may give us joy, and happiness, but it also brings the worse out in us. In Celeste Rita Baker’s short story Jumbie from Bordeaux, the author presents love and the price paid for love through the indirect characterization of Jumbie, his aunt, and parents. In the story the author uses courage to show the love that Jumbie had for his parents. For example, when Jumbie witnesses the harsh beating of his parents, he immediately jumps in to interfere, by attacking the master.

Read More
1152 Words | 5 Pages

The book I chose to read for this assignment was Defending Jacob by William Landay. This is murder-mystery legal thriller that follows the point of view of a former Assistant District Attorney after a 14-year-old in his town was killed, and his son was put on trial. The entire novel is told within the context of the man, Andy Barber, testifying as a witness in a murder trial. Although, it is intentionally ambiguous whether the trial he is discussing and the trial he is a part of are the same. Andrew aka “Andy Barber” was the Assistant District Attorney and a prominent figure in the community of Newton, Massachusetts.

Read More
695 Words | 3 Pages

When Jacobs escapes to New York, she is employed as a nurse to a white family and often accompanies them to dinners and events. This experience teaches Jacobs that even though most people in the North considered themselves abolitionists, they were still racist toward African Americans. While at a dinner with the family she is employed by, she is asked to “seat the little girl in the chair, and stand behind it and feed her,” (page 144) when she sits the child in her lap. She emphasizes the fact that no matter where she goes, slavery and racism will always follow

Read More
920 Words | 4 Pages

Jack makes the boys believe that the beast will not hurt them as long as they do what he says, this gives Jack more control over the boys. When Jack and his hunters go hunting, they find a sow and kill it. When they

Read More
402 Words | 2 Pages

Uncle Jewiir Heart “What does he/she love? Whom? How?” In this novel “A Long Walk to Water” Uncle Jewiir is a good-natured person and is passionate about caring for Salva. Uncle Jewiir has always stuck to Salva ever since he joined the group, even when Salva felt like comply to the desert Uncle Jewiir always carried him onward.

Read More
595 Words | 3 Pages

Character development is a crucial element to any story, especially due to the fact that is is utilized to create depth within a piece of writing. In Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen presents an extremely dynamic character by the name of Jacob Jankowski. In his old age, he undergoes a significant change in his attitude throughout his time at the nursing home. Through the remembrance of old memories from his life at the circus, Jacob Jankowski develops a sense of happiness and rediscovers his independence.

Read More
879 Words | 4 Pages

Swift makes extensive use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos within the first eight paragraphs to create a strong initial argument that captures the audience’s attention and provide assurance that the information presented is viable. Swift starts with an appeal to Pathos by describing the state of Ireland: “the Streets, the Roads, and Cabin-Doors, crowded with Beggars of the female Sex, followed by three, four, or six Children, all in Rags, and importuning every Passenger for an Alms” (Swift, 1). The description of Ireland leaves a gloomy effect on the audience, as they are met with a somber tone set forth by a description on how thousands of people are affected by the poverty in Ireland. Swift continues this appeal to Pathos by describing the state of families within this poverty: “this prodigious number of Children, in the Arms, or on the Backs, or at the heels of their Mothers, and frequently of their Fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the Kingdom, a very great additional grievance” (Swift, 2). This description of the melancholy state of Ireland creates an emotional appeal because, the thought of having mass amounts of children being forced to cling to their Mothers and Fathers in a desperate struggle for survival, is a morose image.

Read More
493 Words | 2 Pages

In “The King of Mazy May” Walt Masters, a young boy undertakes an adventure to save his neighbors claim. But in order to do that he removed the stake jumpers best sled dogs and paragraph to Dawson while the jumpers are at his heels. The people called Walt heroic because of his bravery and intelligence. One quality that makes Walt heroic is his bravery. The reason for this is because of what he did for his Loren Hall.

Read More
526 Words | 3 Pages

He was soon informed that this was the train of The Benzini Brothers Circus. The main conflict that Jacob faces is that he fell in love with one of the circus performers, Marlena, who is married to August, a guy with a wicked temper. Some things that complicate the conflict is when Marlena gets pregnant and they have to get out because August started beating her. Jacob did everything he could but he basically got kicked of the circus. The conflict was resolved one night when the animals got loose and Jachob’s elephant smashed in Augusts head and killed him.

Read More
623 Words | 3 Pages

“War is hell,” said William Tecumseh Sherman. In war, men are driven to the very limits of their sanity watching others die by the droves in horrific and gruesome ways. In the movie Jacob’s Ladder we meet Jacob Singer, who was a soldier in Vietnam who managed to survive the horrors of war, only to find bigger horrors waiting for him at home. He finds himself in dissolution as he is constantly having to decipher what is reality and what is just in his head, all the while constantly flashing back to a day in Vietnam he can’t remember fully, and to top it off he is being hunted by demons. Eventually, Jacob discovers that he and his battalion had been experimented on by the army, and that he actually died in Vietnam after being stabbed by a fellow

Read More
539 Words | 3 Pages

What is the meaning of a true hero? Could it be selflessness or is it giving something up for something else? From stories of heroes out of children's books a hero is someone who sacrifices there life by laying their life down for someone else. If you had the chance to save yourself or save someone you did not know what would you pick? There is a story called “The Man in the Water” by.

Read More
731 Words | 3 Pages

The main character in the historical novel “Water for Elephants,” written by Sara Gruen, is Jacob Jankowski. In the novel he is pictured both young and old. This character is in retelling a story from his youth while he is 93 years old and in a nursing home. Young Jacob and old Jacob both have their own problems and other troubles. The older Jacob tells his story of his youth because he feels bad for being old.

Read More
468 Words | 2 Pages

There is a hero in almost every story. A hero doesn’t always necessarily involve physical strength, it can be defined many other ways. A hero is someone who is idealized for their noble qualities, courage and outstanding achievements. In Mary Shelley’s book, Frankenstein, the hero in the story is Victor Frankenstein. Victor sacrifices his family, his life, and other peoples lives for his pursuit of creating life, and attempting to cure diseases.

Read More
707 Words | 3 Pages

I think Johnny is a hero. He is a hero for the reasons of his personality and his characteristics. He revealed heroism numerous times throughout the novel. He was also a very gallant and daring. Even when he killed the Socs, saving the kids in the church may have made up for it.

Read More
1104 Words | 5 Pages

Because how she is treated by Senhor as a sex slave, she does not want her daughter to suffer like her. On the other hand, she sees Jacob as a chance for protecting her daughter from sexual abuse like her, hoping Jacob would give her

Read More

More about Water For Elephants Jacobs Character Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document