Hatrack River Forum: What do animals mean in literature?

This is topic What do animals mean in literature? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Colonel Graff (Member # 11872) on :

I'm reading the book Do Androids Dream in Electric sheep and there is a lot of metaphors in the story. I understand the usual dialogue but in the book the characters seem to be talking about owning animals and missing their animals... having more of them... what their price is (if you buy a real one). Apparently they have artificial and real animals in the universe in the book. I am wondering what animals typically mean in usual literature. Can someone please help me out here?

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

DYOH! [Razz]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Step one: go to the library. Step two: find a book on the symbolism of animals in western literature. Step 3: read it. Step 4: read the books mentioned in that book. Step 5: decide whether you agree with the book or not.

Lather, rinse, repeat. [Wink]

Seriously, animals mean different things depending on the book. You just have to figure it out by thinking about it and drawing on other, similar references you have seen before. And maybe reading folk tales, folklore often plays a large part in symbolism.

Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ketchupqueen:
Seriously, animals mean different things depending on the book. You just have to figure it out by thinking about it and drawing on other, similar references you have seen before. And maybe reading folk tales, folklore often plays a large part in symbolism.

KQ speaks the truth. [Smile]

Animals embody different meanings and purposes depending on the piece. It's hard to find a generalized meaning to animals.

There's the birds in 'Macbeth,' the desire for 'real' animals in DADOES, The birds in... well... 'The Birds.' Moby Dick in Moby Dick, etc.

Each one has a different symbolic meaning in each story. I think it's an interesting thing to look into, that is, 'how do authors use animals to enhance the story?' But I don't think you'll find an answer to how do they 'typically' use animals?

ETA:

I'd suggest you follow Rivka's suggestion of DYOH and go out and read some different books with animals being used as a tool for storytelling. Compare them, and see if you can find the answers you want. [Smile]

Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :

In the case of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, I always felt that the animals were the Big Metaphor for the progression of society and culture in the book. What is missing in the culture in the time the book takes place are the same things that (real) animals can provide: affection, simplicity, trusting, etc. I think the fact that they have been replaced by robotic animals (and their presence as status symbols in the novel) represents a progression of society that the author doesn't like. Empty things like technology become more and more important, whereas fulfilling things lose their place. I seem to recall that evangelical television (or was it some form of VR?) has, in the book, sprung up to replace other religions....

This is just off the top of my head, I haven't read it since high school.

It might also be helpful to think of the qualities typical of each animal (cats, sheep, turtles) and then to think about those qualities and how they (or their absence) might relate to the story in the particular places within the novel where the animals appear.

Or of course that might be bunk.

Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :

Birds often represent freedom. So if you see a caged bird, it represents being trapped, a flying bird represents being free. If you read a story in which a cage bird is released -- well, then you have it all. A snake usually represents deceit, inveigling, evil -- or male sexuality. (Thanks, Bible!) A coyote will usually represent some form of trickery or mischief.. (Thanks, Navajo!)

Those are a few of the common uses of animals-as-symbols in literature that spring to mind.

Of course, at all times, you can't count on any of that. As the others have said, different authors will definitely use them to mean different things. It's all context.

Posted by Humean316 (Member # 8175) on :

Wiki article...

This might help. Or you could watch Blade Runner...

Otherwise, good luck.

Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

Are these essay questions on a homework sheet, somewhere? [Smile]

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

also, it seems to represent a lack of purpose in technology, as it is an example of technology not really replacing the animals, but providing the appearance of an animal.

Also, keep in mind that the point of the story is defining what is human, and how, as technology advances, the definition of what is or is not human will change. The animals may be a simplified example of the same struggle that is happening in the rest of the books regarding humanity.

Which are the real ones, after all....and why are THEY real vs the other ones? [Big Grin]