Two Worlds at Odds A bull calf is newborn male bovine with intact testicles, as opposed to a steer calf, which is a young, male calf that has been neutered. In Irving Layton’s “The Bull Calf”, humanity's dedication to seeing everything's value in terms of financial worth is what leads to the calf's death, and speaks of humanity's flawed relationship with nature. Additionally, the poem contains themes relating to the 'circle of life', as well as our views of animals being at odds with out view of humans. Within the poem, Freeman, the visiting clergyman, fails to see the same beauty in the bull calf that the narrator sees. The narrator sees the bull calf as something as has its own innate worth – describing him as an animal with “the promise of sovereignty” (4) and comparing him to Richard II. However, despite this, for the …show more content…
The clergyman seems to be a foil to the narrator, who alone sees the natural value of the animal as an animal, as opposed to a [profit margin.] The narrator is the one who observes the beauty and value of the bull calf itself. He makes the comparisons between the calf and a king, and still finds the animal beautiful after its death, although it is now “bereft of pride” (34). Humanity has a whole would be horrified if parts of the world killed their male children simply due to the fact that they're male, and therefore worth very little. North Americans denounce the similar practices that take place in countries where male heirs are valued more than females, where female children are left to die, aborted, and generally valued less. However, despite the moral objections that people have to those practices, we still abide and accept similar situations with how we handle our animals. In “The Bull Calf”, the calf is killed for being an intact male bovine – one that will not turn profit the same way that a female cow will, or that a neutered male cow
The second part of the story is about a Catholic voter who rides into town to cast his vote in the local election. The final part of this story is told through a perspective of a stranger who witnessed the incident from a distance. The underlying theme throughout this story is male brutality and during the first part of the story, Baynton depicts the men in this story to be the villains. Her husband lacks respect and doesn’t support her. At the beginning of the story it is said that the wife has a fear of cows. Her husband knew this and insisted on making his cow charge after her to frighten his wife. This is an example of her husband not showing and respect for his wife. “The woman’s husband was angry, and called her - the noun was cur. It was he who forced her to run and meet the advancing cow, brandishing a stick, and uttering threatening words.” (Baynton, 116). Another example of males playing the villain is the passing swagman. This is clearly represented when he brutally rapes and murders her. “The figure of the swagman runs over the psychological and moral harm done by the woman’s husband and achieves physical violence”. (Merkt, 3)
In the US today cattle are part of everyday culture. With more than 93 million cattle in the dairy and beef industry, and tens of thousands in the rodeo business, cattle are definitely a huge part. Lately, there has been many concerns with the bovine friends along with multiple misconceptions. Rodeos may look tough on animals, and todays society is not educated well enough on the beef and dairy industry. People don’t realize that these animals are happy, healthy, and very well cared for.
By being different from the others, the calf shaped a new way of life. He took a different route and showed that there are other ways of accomplishing tasks in life. Although they may be more difficult and out of your comfort zone, there will always be a different way. Foss used this as an example because many humans take the easy way out of things and follow in others' footsteps. Following society’s way of life tends to be expected, which leads to the mysteries and surprises of venturing out and accomplishing things on your own.
Furthermore, Swift also creates a strong argument throughout this essay, with the use of logos; appealing to logic and his use of statistics. Swift states that the “number of souls in this kingdom…of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couples who wives are breeders”; furthermore proposing that an infant can be sold for “two shillings per anun” and “with eight shillings net profit the mother will also benefit and be fit for work to produce another child.” Another quote that implies the reader of his logic and reason , is when he states in these lines that an infant’s flesh can be seasoned throughout the year “with a little pepper or salt…especially in the winter.” He also states that the carcass
His use of diction relating to livestock as well as his cold, calculated tones and constant appeals to foreign authority mirror and comment upon the elite?s absurb rationalization for their abuse and exploition of the dredges of society. He constantly likens beggers to animals, even comparing children to ?sheep, black cattle or swine? and even speaking of them interms of ?fore and hind quarter?s. His tone is so disturbingly uninvolved and methodical that he is able to calculate exactly how many meals a baby will serve and even pictures cannibalism as a socially acceptable occurence when ?entertaining friends.? Throughout the piece Swift constantly seeks to jusify his proposal by mentioning the suggestions he has received from his influential friends in foreign countries. This illustrates that the narrator?s mind is even farther removed from the immediate crisis and famine. As people read through the passage, Swift is able to sneakily encourage people to question the authority of their elitist leadership.
In Pinckney Benedict’s 2008 short story “Mercy,” the narrator and his father both take pride in their family’s ranch. The narrator works hard for his father each day, taking breaks only to sneak treats to the miniature horses being kept on the neighbor’s ranch nearby. The narrator’s father; however, does not show the same compassion for the animals as his son. He is adamant about keeping the horses off of his land and warns his son that he will shoot to first to intrude. The narrator views his father in a very austere manner.
Close interpretation of the story "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway leads the reader to an issue that has plagued society for decades. Understanding of the human condition is unveiled in the story line, the main setting, and through the character representation. The main characters in the story are an American man and a female named Jig. The conflict about abortions is an issue that still faces society today. Architectural and atmospheric symbolisms are used to set the mood and outline the human condition. The love bond between the man and Jig is strong; however, the more powerful bond between Jig and her unborn child is sacred.
It is thus a bridge between the past and present and is expressed in the form of a piece of literature. Muir himself said that in writing about horses in this poem, he was reflecting his childhood view of his father’s plough horses, which must have seemed huge, powerful and mysterious to a boy of four or five. Some of his poems, including ‘Horses’, have a close equivalent in passages from
In India’s Sacred Cow, Marvin Harris explores why the cow is considered to be sacred in India. Hindus consider the cow to be sacred and they will not kill them nor will they eat them. Harris’ thesis is, “The cattle are not just worshipped and revered in India. They are also extraordinarily useful”. If we decipher Harris’ thesis, he is basically saying that the cattle are seen as more than just some sacred and special animal, but a beneficial source to all. The Indians are practicing a belief that is seen as rational to some, irrational to many, harmful to health, and an overall good benefit to the environment.
Jim Harrison and Jack Underwood are two completely different authors who share one thing in common; their poems involve a connection with animals. Jack Underwood writes how he does not care too much about the animals which is the poem called “Totem Pole” as he hunts them and then mentions “to appraise my work only” (Underwood). Jim Harrison writes the poem called “Man Dog” in which the main character cares for his animal so much that he even pretends to act like his animal. In both poems we experience the authors writing in first person and expressing a somewhat somber mood. Jim Harrison and Jack Underwood are both able to connect through animals and through the use of emotions as well as a deeper connection we see how two different poems
Imagine sitting around eating you’re sitting in a restaurant eating your burger and you see a cow in the back. You might think was the cow that I’m eating mistreated? Or did they have a good quality life before they became my meal. This is why many decide to not eat meat at all because they fear what happened to that animal before it became their meal. Author Gary Steiner is an American moral philosopher, and Professor of Philosophy at Bucknell University. He explained this best in his paper Animal, Vegetable, and Miserable, along with other pieces of work that focused on animal rights.
This idea of humans disregarding the feelings of animals for human selfishness through the use of animals for food is also a main point Walker makes. She discusses how we do not consider the impact that the methods of production have on the animals. Most humans want to be ignorant on how the animals they eat are killed. She explains this idea of the “contented cows” that we see on our milk containers. We choose to be ignorant so we don’t have to own up to all of the bad things we do as a race. Indians are envied for their land and are therefore slaughtered then called animals or savages to make up for our wrong doings. By reminding us of our ignorance in the past she shows us that we have been wrong before and continue to be wrong when it concerns the rights of animals. She ends the piece by claiming that she was “eating misery”, which again shows the emotions that animals have that are so nonchalantly
Michael Pollan’s, An Animal’s Place, analyzes the controversial topic of animal abuse while Pollan himself struggles to comprehend the relationship between humans and non-humans. Whether animals are used for food or clothing, Pollan’s impartial view of the moral ethics behind the treatment of animals acknowledges that we as readers are susceptible to influence and he encourages the questioning of our own beliefs. Rather than succumbing to Singer’s, All Animals are Equal demands of making it our “Moral obligation to cease supporting the practice” (pg.4), Pollan conveys the benefits as well as the concerns to the consummation of animals. From the personal connection Pollan establishes with his readers, his progressive beliefs
In the poem “A Blessing,” James Wright analyzes the relationship between human beings and nature through the descriptive explanation of an encounter between his friend and himself and two Indian horses. He shows that although we are able to relate and interact with the animals we don't have the ability to join them or as Wright puts it: “break into blossom” (26-27). Wright uses imagery and personification to describe the nature he witnesses as he escapes from the stress of human life. The ponies in this poem are personified by comparing them to human beings, mainly through the description of their emotions. This personification lessens the gap between the author and the horses and separates him from civilization represented by the highways
In the first and second stanzas of the poem, of the passionate shepherd to his love is passing a message to the target audience and explains a life that has nature pleasures, the valleys, rocks, grooves, hills, fields, falls, rivers, mountains, and woods. Other leisure included like listening to the birds make the