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Tim O Brien's Menagerie

Decent Essays

In the short story “Menagerie, a child’s fable”, the animals are going through a harsh time without the presence of the owner, Mr. Tilford. Mr. Tilford was a cruel, hot-tempered drunk owner of a pet shop. He had many animals in the pet shop, but he had as his favorite. Berkeley, a German Shepard that is kept loose to protect the pet shop, is a bold, and leading watchdog that protects the pet shop from any burglars. The pet shop consisted of fish, reptiles, parrots, rabbits, Etc. The Animals in the pet shop have their unique personality, which makes Berkeley a well-rounded dog being able to get along with them. There was one animal in particular that Berkeley wasn’t to fond of, the monkey. The Monkey was considered a “clown” whom did everything just get a laugh from visitors and the other animals. One day Mr. Tilford never showed up to the pet shop for work, all the …show more content…

Berkeley, half asleep tries to circle and attack the monkey for the gun, but as soon as Berkeley leaps, monkey fires and hits Berkeley straight on. The Monkey represents greed and oppression in the story. He is a very selfish animal that only cares about his well being, not caring if other animals starve or even die. “It is often easier to focus on how people are oppressed, disadvantaged and discriminated against than it is to address how we as individuals may have privileges and as a result are able to exercise our power at the expense of others.” (Ignite) With this the monkey was able to control all the animals and sometimes even Berkeley, because he was the one who had the hands to feed the other animals. When Berkeley had fallen asleep, the monkey knew that his only downfall would be cause by Berkeley, so he wanted to bring him down from power. He then finds a gun where he wanted to use to get the dog shock collars out and place it on Berkeley, so Berkeley would be under his

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