The Use Of Animals In Saki's Tobermory

Throughout human history, animals appear in everything from oral legends and stories to modern movies, cartoons, and comic strips. The use of animals instead of people in stories provides a sense that the messages and lessons within do not apply to humans. The hard truths and foolish mistakes of human nature are also hidden under the animalistic points of view. With the story told through the animals’ eyes, the impact of the morals is lessened and therefore easier to bare.
For example, in Saki’s “Tobermory” Mr. Barfield, a guest at the party, brings up Tobermory’s relationship with the barn cat in front of all the other guests. When this happens it is easy to overlook as nothing more than a comment of the cat’s inappropriate carryings-on. It may have been passed without a second thought But, when Tobermory said, “From a slight observation of your ways since you’ve been in this house I should imagine you’d find it inconvenient if I were to shift the conversation to your own little affairs” (Saki) the focus is on human partaking in an unbefitting manner. Offense is taken because that kind of event should not be public. Saki shows the hypocrisy of human nature in this way. By first using an animal than humans themselves. By using the animal first he
weakens the veracity of the statement about humans.
Also Saki reveals how humans want to get rid of anything that is different than what they are use to.
Once Tobermory could speak, the party began taking action to plan how to get rid of him. Mrs. Cornett said, “Tobermory may be a valuable cat and a great pet; but I’m sure you’ll agree that both he and the stable cat must be done away with without delay” (Saki). The fear of the unknown propelled the group forward. This reveals that mankind can be cold and uncaring to those who are different than them. By it being Tobermory they wanted to kill it is easier to digest because it could not happen to a human. The animal in the story is being prosecuted, not a human so the shock of this lesson is
diminished.
The power that animals have in literature to help minimize the harsh realities that authors are trying to get across explain why they are used instead of people themselves. Aristotle said, “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.” The animal protects readers from what they are afraid of in human nature and what they do not want to face. Without animals in literature some topics would be too brutal to face.