The Human and Animal Interaction According to the Born Free - Book Report/Review Example

Although there are many themes that could be discussed within the book entitled Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds, perhaps the most pervasive theme that is represented throughout the text is with respect to the way in which human and animal interaction takes place. Essentially, as the author of the book attempts to describe and explain the way in which an ongoing relationship is formed between humans and an otherwise wild animal, the story itself takes shape. As the growth and development of the lioness takes place alongside this, the understanding that the situation which has been affected is not eternal is also represented. In this way, the text not only offers a representation of understanding in terms of human and animal interrelationships with regard to the dependency that is created between the lioness and humans; but also in terms of the independence that should be established as a means of reintroducing this wild animal back to its natural habitat. As a means of discussing this dynamic, the following analysis will focus specifically upon the level of human and animal interaction that are represented within chapters of this particular book. It is the hope of this student that such a level of representation will not only be beneficial in terms of helping to summarize the text but also in terms of assisting the reader in understanding the progression of ideas and appreciation for nature that is denoted by the progression of the human and animal relationship depicted. Within the first chapter, the text understandably relates a situation in which the humans are overcome by fascination and interest in the new cub that they have the opportunity to raise. Not unlike giddy young parents, the humans are represented as truly fascinated by the prospect of raising this wild animal within their own homes and sharing its experiences with their own. As such, a level of foreshadowing is illustrated; and one in which the reader comes to understand that even though this opportunity is unique and charming, the growth of the lioness and its changing needs will necessarily take far more than human interest and fascination to be able to meet. Similarly, the second and third chapters, entitled “Elsa Meets Other Wild Animals” and “Elsa Goes to the Indian Ocean” also reflect the growth experience that the humans are sharing with the lioness; as she grows out of being a cub and into a very early adolescent lion. It is necessary to note that this particular juncture that the changing needs of the lioness are actually represented in these chapters; as the humans find their overall level of responsibility and engagement with the lioness changes as does the maturity level that she represents. Much as with the first chapter that was briefly discussed previously, the understanding of these growing and ever evolving needs soon coming to require resources and experiences beyond that which the human caretakers are able to provide leads quite appropriately into what can be termed as the second section of the book. Within the second section of the book, the understanding of the lioness and her needs is effected to a more full and complete degree. Whereas the novelty of raising a young lion, and sharing its experience of growth was fascinating, the very real challenge that this poses and the means by which a healthful level of maturity and consideration for a reintegration with the nature is definitively elaborated upon within the chapters entitled “The Man Eating Lions”, “Safari to Lake Rudolf”. Within these particular chapters, it becomes a clear and overarching understanding of the author that the ultimate goal towards which they will strive is to effectively reintegrate this particular lioness and to ensure that she is able to fulfill the role and purpose that she was born to. Whereas the human – animal interrelationships that was defined within the opening chapters of the text was contingent upon one in which the humans were represented as primary caretakers, the human – animal relationship that come to be represented within these chapters, towards the midsection of the book, was one in which humans took a far decreased role with respect to the way in which the lien engaged with its caretakers and interacted with the environment around it. Furthermore, the author sought to represent the environment in a way in which the lion would come to understand that human life, civilization, and the expectation of being cared for was not a determinant of maturity that was to be expected. For this very reason, the midsection of this book, comprised of the chapters in question, focuses upon the early attempts at integration and understanding of what it ultimately meant to be a lion and the means by which behavior should be predicated. The final section of the text, comprised of the last four chapters, details the early attempts and trials/hardships that the couple had with respect to attempting to reintroduce the lioness to her native environment. In a manner of speaking, these four chapters can ultimately be understood as a section that is comprised of seeking to divorce the human caretakers from the bonds that they had previously so lovingly established. Whereas it is ultimately true that the humans that were responsible for raising Elsa were not clueless with respect to the hardships and difficulties that awaited them, the final section fully represents a level of understanding that the human world and the animal kingdom must forever and perennially be separate. Within this understanding, attempts are regularly made to reintegrate the lioness with a pride that might accept her as one of their own. The author also clearly denotes the fact that a natural advantage the lioness has is contingent upon the fact that she is indeed a female. Where it the case that the author had been tasked with raising male lion from infancy, the difficult social constructs of dominance and inferiority would likely have been impossible to effect. However, as a pride of lions is ultimately a social establishment that is patriarchal and ruled over by a dominant and older male lion, the admission a relatively young female into its ranks was something that could much more easily be affected. It is also within this final section of the text that the reader comes to understand the fact that the author has grown and developed in terms of her understanding of nature and the means by which human and animal interaction takes place. Although it is necessarily true that the text begins by defining an individual to a great deal of knowledge in terms of biology, naturalism, and zoology, the level of growth that is indicative within the final section is an order of magnitude greater as compared to the level of growth and understanding that is represented first second sections of text that have thus far been analyzed (Adamson 65). This is something of a rewarding understanding; due in part to the fact that this progressionary growth and understanding human and animal interaction belies the success is ultimately realized within the lioness is released into her native environment. It is from this third and final section of the text that the reader comes to an understanding of the purpose of human and animal interaction; one in which the owner and head relationship is only evidenced within the domesticated animals and caretaker and overseer is only evidenced within the remainder of undomesticated nature. Whereas understandings of biology, anthropology, and human interaction between the animal kingdom has subsequently been understood to have far greater degree, the ecological understanding that is represented within this particular text is profound; especially with regard to the fact that it was published fully six decades ago. From the information that has thus far been discussed, it is clear and apparent that the human and animal interaction that is represented within Born Free is a defining element of the way in which the plot takes place and the action is revealed. However, as compared to many other texts that simply tell a story or elicit a certain set of emotions, this particular book provides the essential understanding of the way in which humanity has a direct level of responsibility for whether or not success or failure of existing species is represented. As reference previously, the time in which this particular text was written was not one in which ecological preservation and the human and animal interaction was widely discussed or even considered among most scientist. However, and subsequent years, the importance and relevance of this interaction have come to play a primary role with regard to the way in which scientists understand the world around them and seek to preserve the complexity of biological life on planet earth. Accordingly, through a further level of understanding and analysis, this particular text remains relevant in terms of effecting a broader understanding of human and animal interaction and the means by which humans should consider the endemic needs of existing wildlife as compared to other attempting to trivialize them or attempting to somehow domesticate. Work Cited Adamson, Joy. Born free : a lioness of two worlds. New York: Pantheon Books, 2000. Print. Read More