Analysis of When the Killing's Done by T.C.Boyle - Book Report/Review Example

 Response Paper of “When the killing’s done” By T. C Boyle T. C Boyle’s poignant and provocative novel “When the killing’s done” is a pragmatic and potent ecological dilemma presented in its realm comportment. Therefore, the author has interwoven social consciousness with rousing escapade; to present the rationality of different perceptions over animal rights and preservation/restoration of their natural habitat. Thus, the author has precisely and pragmatically illustrated the viewpoint of both sides on this divisive issue of animal right for life. Hence, for the aforementioned reasons Boyle has developed two chief characters with distinct traits and astoundingly with similar aim, the protagonist Alma Boyd Takesue, a National Parks Service biologist and antagonist Dave LaJoy, a successful and rich businessman of sound systems. Throughout the novel both characters have centralized their efforts to preserve the rights of animals for their life on Anacapa Island. However, I agree with Alma’s view as overt population of any animal type can become a cause of extension for the other species. Alma Boyd is a project coordinator from National Park Services (Boyle, 101) and she has the liability to preserve the extinct species (dwarf island fox, native deer mouse, spotted skunks and other ground-nesting birds and animals) (135-136) and natural fauna of the Anacapa Island. And in order to save the vanishing species she has to take drastic measures (poison) to eradicate the imposters, thousands of invasive nonnative black rats. For the aforesaid purpose, she puts forth the prominent example of vanished native dodo bird from the Anacapa Island. On the other hand, Dave LaJoy is a passionate animal-rights activist and environmentalist; who is determined to protect the life of animals even if they disrupt the natural fauna of the island. Dave holds the viewpoint that the decision to life remains with the nature not with humans and no human should decide which animals can live and which needs to be eradicated. Therefore, I believe that nature also requires unwavering balance sanctity for the preservation of life. Thus, animal species also need salvage from dominating and fertile species, which increase in leaps and bond and hence, become a form of incursion for other wild life genus. The central place in the work of fiction is a wild inhabited islands of Northern Channel off the coast of Santa Barbara, where black rats on Anacapa and feral pigs population on Santa Curz was getting out of proportion and was adversely affecting the natural habitat of many other wild species. Thus, one should bear in mind that overt population seeks for new accommodation and alternative nourishment ways, which definitely causes paucity of food and pollution. In addition to it, one should agree that nobody loves exploding population of black rats in their surrounding or at any place (ibid, 104), as they symbolize for Bubonic plague in the late nineteenth century till early twentieth century (Byrne ,301). The plague transmitters and carriers were black rats; and to control their movement in such a scenario becomes exigent and intricate. Simultaneously, rats can eat anything, the issue was not of their extermination due to their feed, but what if they ate everything on the island then they would swim to the nearest island and would start disrupting the plant and animal chain over there. Beverly, Alma’s grandmother and her inspiration for professional aspiration, survived in a ship wreck and took refuge on Anacapa island for almost two weeks and few days more (Boyle,92), but the courageous and sole survivor of the ship wreck (Beverly) could not endure the idea of living amongst thick population of black rats. Their unhygienic presence almost everywhere caused her to be nauseated most of times. As a matter of fact, rats produce their young ones after getting eighteen months old and all the year round thus, they can easily produce approximate eighty young ones in a year (“Exploring” ,651). Therefore, if one analyzes how these rodents reproduce annually, the figure would be distressingly shocking to humans, so was Alma alarmed and intended to take actions for this shocking figure. However, the author has pinpointed as to how humans can learn survival and audacity lesson from this imperceptible animal, as these rodents can endure hardships and are ferociously strong willed (Boyle, 112). Even the author has signified the distinct quality of this animal with perfect sense of balance, rigorous swimming for almost forty eight hours and its survival in intricate and exigent circumstances. Historically, the spread of their population (black rats) on Anacapa Island as determined by Alma, was due to shipwreck of Winfield Scott and it could eventually cover the Santa Curz. Island, if not taken care of the issue on immediate bases (Boyle, 114). Due to their rapid reproduction rate, these black rats can become an issue of concern for any city of region, thus, they need to be exterminated as they reproduce very swiftly and their increase number is unhygienic and detrimental for health and other living beings on Earth. Dave LaJoy, on the other hand was advocating the black rats for their right to life and has taken spontaneous actions to sabotage the Government scheme of poisoning the black rats and hence, provided them with Vitamin K2 (171) for their healthy nourishment. The antidote was for their survival from the poison pellets (184). The black rats ate the eggs of ground-nesting birds and almost all the plants and small animals on the island, golden eagles ate dwarf foxes and dwarf foxes got extinct due to lack of food, feral pigs destroyed plants, trees, nests and other due to their habitual digging. Golden Eagles could be captured and freed anywhere else for their rescue as they weren’t that largely proportional in number, but black rats and feral pigs were a serious concern for the authorities as they sabotaged the security of other animals on the island. The non-native animals and predators like rats, pigs and snakes disrupted the chain of native animal’s reproduction, hence; their species got extinct. LaJoy interrupts Alma in her lecture regarding the sixty percent extension of wild life caused by black rats and feral pigs on Anacapa Island (Boyle, 138). His Appearance is analogous to his actions thus;he is tall, muscular, quick-tempered, obstinate, dominating and reactive rather than responsive. His stubbornness makes it impossible for him to understand the viewpoint of others especially, of Alma’s perceptions. However, his persistent efforts and strong will to save the black rats and feral pigs is inspirational. His motto was that even a single rat as an animal, has a right to life and nature has cured and would cure the overt population of wild life before. Thus, humans should not interfere in such matter. Thus, I deem that Alma and LaJoy had intrinsic strong will and strong opinions, although; LaJoy is not qualified like Alma, but his research, opinion and efforts from his part are commendable. Yet, he is aggressive and a bully, when denied and especially, in opposition to National Parks Service in the matters of Animals rights. On the other hand, Alma is an attractive, well versed researcher, who has the inspiration and motivation to put forth with the extermination idea due to her grandmother’s refuge on the same island. She has the family history to be intrinsically motivated to work for National Park service and also a personal disliking towards rats due to Beverly’s antipathy experience on the island. Dave’s companion and lover, Anise Reed adores animals without sharing the same loathness like her partner. She is a kind heart and tender person who does not like to advocate for animal rights for the sole purpose of being right, but she adores them due to her grandmother experience on sheep ranch. Alma as an earnest environmentalist is alarmed and annoyed at the same time with swarming vehicles in the city. The pollution caused by them and the traffic chaos with their presence is reaching to an intolerable level for the safety of the city’s environment. Thus, if this issue wasn’t taken seriously by the government authorities, it would bring devastating consequences for the survival of human life on Earth. However most oddly she initially rejects then accepts the idea of abortion, after her break up with Tim (722). Thus, one could perceive that a right to life is the same for the embryo in her womb, therefore, why only animals are considered non-vocal species and needed protection for their life, but helpless embryo or fetus are also living beings which have a right to life and thus, one should ponder on as to how we protect animals species, but approve and accept abortion to end a life (Shafer-Landau and Terence, 439). The dead body of Kelly Ann Johansson, the ship wrecks and the persistent oil spills from the boats and ships of National Park Services and FPA water vehicles around the island for poison or clearing agent and spill of Vitamin K2 for nourishment become active cause for the water pollution and adversely affected marine life in the area. As in the beginning of the novel when Beverly is with her husband Till, the description leads us to assume that fish and crabs are in abundance (ibid,7). But with the passage of time the island and its surroundings got polluted, but Alma could witness dolphin and a pair of humpback or blue whale (642), which means that these fish weren’t extinct but could be seen scarcely. Boyle has used drama and real life rivalry over environmental issues to get his reader’s attention on the matter. Thus, I appreciate his meticulously carved edgy plot and engrossing representation for such a controversial issue. Along with it, the emotional rivalry between his two chief characters Alma and Dave also have a personal regret baggage (unsuccessful dinner date, which went terribly horrid due to Dave’s vile manners towards the restaurant owner) (Boyle, 247-256). His characters, animals and humans both have played challenging environmental roles in a realm manner, thus, thrill and anticipation creeps in almost throughout the novel. Therefore, the author has infused ecstasy, drama, romance, ecological perspective and juxtapose them in a enrich narrative for the wider audience. Works Cited: Top of Form Boyle, T C. When the Killing's Done. New York: Viking, 2011. Print. Byrne, Joseph P. Encyclopedia of Pestilence, Pandemics and Plagues. Westport (Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2012. Print. Top of Form Exploring Life Science. Volume 9, Terrytown, N.Y: Marshall Cavendish, 2000. Print. Top of Form Shafer-Landau, Russ, and Terence Cuneo. Foundations of Ethics: An Anthology. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub, 2007. Print. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Read More