Alex Ch4 Pt1/5:animals vs. humans>reference to the first chapter where Alex makes loads of comparisons between animals and humans/„Change the face to a human one and the reaction changes.“>once people replace animals behind bars they’re prisoners but because they should have a better understanding of how their actions affect everything and everyone and be able to separate right from wrong they’re not innocent like the animals./„Maybe even just once.“>they see this animal as a danger while the—
(2/5) real danger isn’t put to justice. While the animal does not know what they’ve done, humans should. However, people are quicker in doing something to an animal because they are seen as being worth less than a person. “they knew when they did it. THEY KNEW it was a bad thing“ while animals don’t (I’m kind of unsure about one thing here: Alex compared Annas murderer to an animal as well. do you think she thinks he doesn’t know what he’s doing at all?)
Oh this is interesting!! Here’s my take on it -- Alex views evil as animalistic behaviors. The way animals act is that they pursue things in the name of selfishness and self-pleasure. That can be seen when animals kill other animals for food, or have sex simply for the animalistic pleasure of it. She believes that the way Anna’s murderer acts is very similar to the way a crazy, ruthless animal would act. However, the distinction that she’s making clarifies to us why she holds such a massive grudge against Anna’s murderer but not against animals. Although the murderer and the animals all commit the same crimes (rape and murder) the animals don’t know any better because that’s their form of survival. The man should know better, because he is human -- so the fact that he is committing these animalistic, violent acts even with his logical, human mind, makes him more evil than any species on the planet. I think he does know what he’s doing, and that makes it that much more worse.
(3/5) “fighting the urge to show a rock at a speeding car when the driver wolf-whistles at me” -- she can’t defend herself against being objectified here because its still so engraved in today’s society. She would’ve been punished while the driver wouldn’t have been since “the systems don’t work” in favour for women (the systems don’t see how violated women feel by being objectified by men). The whole passage of them talking about neuter and spay applicants is so unbelievably interesting to me because they explain so much about what happened in chapter one but they project it onto dogs and cats being "fixed.”
You’re so right!! I definitely think that conversation has a deeper meaning and could be seen as a metaphor for society and not just cats and dogs.
(4/5) You wouldn’t be in a position to know.“>because she never had to „protect [her] own womb“ from a man./ “aren’t allowed”>these wives here are still submissive to their husbands, not being able to break free from oppression after centuries of it being the norm. The wolf whistle occurrence can be connected with this as well.
(5/5) “Who is your supervisor?“ “only adult here” again child/adult reference./„called out a sanctimonious would-be do-gooder“ so bottom line the woman saw it happen but didn’t want to step in herself because it would’ve been uncomfortable to do so for her>this can be mirrored onto so many topical things like white privilige or rape culture.-🍻
I love how attentive you are, you notice such good details!! I didn’t even notice the child/adult reference there but it’s definitely something worth noting, it emphasizes alex’s maturity and the fact that although she seems so young, she’s practically already an adult. Also, the fact that she has no supervisor kind of reflects how independent Alex is... she makes all her own decisions and doesn’t let anyone control her. Her opinions are entirely her own and she’s strong minded, in all aspects of her life she is the one in charge and there’s no “supervisor” around to tell her what to do.
