After reading for a few more days, I have now progressed in Water for Elephants. The book is has a different plot structure than most books, with the same character in different periods of time. Rather than reflecting on the story while telling it, Jacob, the main character, remembers the story exactly how it happened, and reflects on it later. In the nursing home, he always seems to feel that he was age twenty three and not ninety three just a few moments earlier. Their are many messages from the author that are directly stated and hidden within the text.
When the old Jacob is shown in modern times, there are many messages presented that are relevant to people and their outlook on society. Although Jacob has a very cynical outlook on life, he has some opinions that make the reader feel sorry for him. He accuses the nursing home staff of turning him into a "jello eating sheep" and also believes that by treating him like a balance of nutrients rather than a person, his humanity is slowly slipping away. This shows that people's happiness comes form their interactions with others, and that people can go insane when isolated from society.
Most of the time though, the author reveals theme and other main ideas through the younger Jacob's interactions with others. Although it is never directly stated in the book, by showing that Jacob took a risk by going to work at the circus without thinking about it earlier, the author shows how important decisions can shape the rest of your life. The author also suggests that it is necessary to take meaningful risks to be as successful as possible.
Comparing the two characters, a reader can see how a young and naive man could turn into a cynical person because of the actions they took. Jacob never talks to anyone in the nursing home about his experiences, but criticizes others when they do. Through the text, both the older and younger versions of the character explore the extremes of opposite personalities.
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