Ben and I read chapter 11 yesterday and chapter 12 today. I am glad that we only read one each day since they were quite brutal.
Which of the following would be worse?
- Watching a Dog get weaseled.
- Hearing that your father tell you that he thinks he will die soon.
- Eating chocolate cake with a topping of nuts pulled from a squirrel pouch?
To make matters worse, he has the prospect of a possibly barren brood sow / friend becoming another customer of his father’s services.
Let’s focus on the question of friend/pet versus food. How would you describe Haven Peck’s feelings about animals (farm and wild)?
(Does Haven Peck get joy from slaughtering pigs? If Pinky does prove to be barren, how do you think Haven would feel about killing her? We got a look into Haven’s mind as he talked to Robert after the ‘weaseling’ – what does that tell us about him? Do we – those of us that consume meat anyway – have something to learn from Haven’s attitude toward animals? )
4 Comments:
That weaseling has got to be the cruelest thing ever. Who do you think showed the most maturity in this situation, who acted most like an adult?
Haven has a very pragmatic view of animals. They are living beings so must be respected and cared for, but they are also here for a purpose. Shakers did not believe in keeping animals as pets or playing with them but did believe in letting them make a person's life easier. Maybe this is why Haven can slaughter pigs without being bothered by it but it certainly did not work out that simply for Hussy and it seems Haven came to see her differently.
Foreshadowing is a literary term. Can you figure out what it means? why does an author foreshadow?
Once you understand it, can you equate it to the way that tv or movies would use it?
Next, can you trace back and find evidence of foreshadowing in the novel? What event does it relate to? How is it being shown?
I think that seeing a dog being weaseled would be the worst. At least you would be warned ahead of time if your dad was suspected to die sooon. And, the whole squirrel portion of it would be disgusting, but not nearly as bad as either of the other two options.
I think that Haven likes animals, but doesn't treat them as such. He has two main animals, his cow and his bull,m which he puts to work. And, he kills pigs for a living. It seems like you wouldn't do either if you liked animals.
I feel that Haven 'respects' animals. That was evident it his shamed response to participating in the Weaseling.
Most of us are pretty disconnected from where our food comes from. I think the more involved in that process you are - from the birth to death of food animals - the better you appreciate the responsibility you have to them. That does not mean you 'love' or 'feel sorry' for them. In fact, those emotions could get in the way of doing the work of a farmer - as Robert may learn.
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