Imagine, everyday you saw a kid get bullied and he begged for help and used the last of his hope on you. You couldn't help him because you were too scared that you might become the bully's next victim and risk you life. This is similar to the short story, Faithful Elephants by Yukio Tsuchiya. This story portrays a zoo where its animals must be put down because the government said bombs from the war could be dropped and let a dangerous animal loose. The elephants, Tonky and Wanly die in the end of hunger because poisoning them wouldn't work. The theme depicts that it is necessary to always help others in need.
One reason to support the theme is when a trainer broke down and helped the elephants. The elephants were nearly begging for food doing their trick. The trainer couldn't take feeling guilty about seeing the innocent elephants get punished. He took a risk by doing this, and when he was done giving them food, he was sobbing at the dangerous risk he took. The other trainers stood there, pretending that they hadn't seen the first trainer take such a risk. Those trainers were the scared bystanders afraid to take that jeopardy.
Another reason is that the elephants die because of their trainer fear to help. Before their death, the elephants performed their trick for food with every last bit of hope. No trainer could bring themselves to help the elephants anymore. The elephants were so innocent and hopeful, they didn't need to die; they weren't dangerous.
Overall, Faithful Elephants challenges the reader to think about how they treat others and if they care enough to help someone. If the trainers could stand up to avail or support the elephants with no fear, there would have been a "happy ending" for the elephants.
*****The conclusion sucks :((((( and also I wanted stronger words and I feel like I couldn't do that.*****
xJulia
xJulia
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