Essay Sample on Witnessing Cruelty: An Ethical Dilemma

Introduction

The author of the excerpt emphasizes the nature in which cruelty and brutality override morality through cowardice and silence. The author represents an ethical dilemma of inability to act and reason and the consequences of such conduct. The extract is about a bunch of friends who witnesses brutality against an animal (a dog) but cannot speak against it although they feel it is not right to cruelly murder the animal (Bauer, p. 59).

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Context and Structure Analysis

The setting of this extract is linked with the brutal shooting of a dog by Carlson, who thinks the dog is stinking. Carlson asserts, 'I do not see any reason for it, let us get over with it, we cannot sleep with him stinking around here.' The friends are hopeless and voiceless, they hold reservations against such cruelty but do not have the audacity to speak against it. The author highlights this phenomenon in the line, 'Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal.' The excerpt is a deliberate attempt by the author to reveal the consequences of inaction and silence in major decision-making processes. The extract takes place in Carlson's house. According to the author the other people in the extract acknowledges that it is not a good idea to kill the dog in that inhuman manner but pretends as if they do not care (Bauer, p. 59). Candy who seems to care has nothing to do but hopelessly wait. Carlson believes that whatever he is about to do is not cruelty as he retorts to Candy, 'He will not even feel it.'

Carlson's character is built as a ruthless murderer through his assertions, 'He will not even feel it,' and 'We cannot sleep with him stinking around here.' Candy seems to be compassionate, caring, and respect the rights to life. The author emphasizes this in the line, 'All the men except Candy watched him.' Slim is portrayed as compassionate, caring, but lack firmness since he could not offer support needed by Candy in opposing Carlson. The author wrote, 'Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal.' The compassionate nature of Slim is revealed when he suggests to Carlson, 'Take a shovel,' proposing a decent burial to the old dog.

The Theme of the Passage

The issue of this extract is the interrelationship between animal cruelty and the consequences of not having the audacity to speak against such actions (Bauer, p.59). 'I do not see a reason for not doing it,' claims Carlson referring to the murder of the dog, an idea opposed to by Candy. Candy, however, does not receive any support from his colleagues and give up pursuing the matter when he allows the killing of the dog, 'Alright, take him.' The care for animals is also depicted in this excerpt since Carlson owned a dog, Slim has a mule, and George asserts that Lennie has a pup from the line, 'I bet Lennie is right out there in the barn with his pup.'

Syntax, Language, and Figurative Discourse

The author of this extract uses complex language related to the ancient growth of the English language. Diction like 'bunk' refers to a bed, and 'barn' barn to mean ranch, was much used by the author. The author also employs vocabularies such as 'euchre' referring to a game of cards in the ancient days. These terminologies may have different meanings in the present literacy world due to modernization that has changed cultures across the globe.

The author uses figurative language by associating silence to an enemy, 'The silence fell in the room again. It came out of the night and invaded the room.' The writer also deploys the usage of figurative language in the line, 'he subdued one hand with the other,' linking the action with a tug of war. Carlson's inner self-conflict versus the power of predisposition to the authority of resolve is incorporated in the passage: 'Come boy. Come on, boy,' he said gently. And he said apologetically to Candy, 'He will not even feel it.' The use of 'gently' and 'apologetically' contradicts the action just about to unfold in the story. Another figurative language used is personification. It emphasizes on culpability and resolves in the human qualities of resilience: 'He will not even feel it.' The writer uses figurative language in illustrating the debaucheries of Carlson and the cooperation of his friends, including Candy, in the passage to give his readers the insights of animal mistreatment in the society.

The mood of the passage is gloomy. Carlson appears to be seeking support from his friends who adamantly and silently agrees to the brutal murder of the dog (Bauer, p.59). The employment of the term 'silence' and its effect in the passage reveals the mood of the characters in the extract. It is obvious they are not happy, and as much as they try to invent ways of uplifting their spirits, it remains futile.

The characterization in the passage illustrates that Carlson does not appreciate having the dog, looks at it as a bother, and seeks support from his friends to eliminate him. Candy does not approve but is overwhelmed by the inability of his friends to back him up, while Slim has no choice but to remain silent. Carlson's friends are much aware that the brutal murder of the dog is not a wise decision, but they remain silent, fearing the unknown.

Conclusion

This passage focuses on the maltreatment of animals in general. It highlights aspects such as the need to advocate for animal care and protection. The extract also dwells on the repercussion of the inability to stand up against evil actions, guilt, and social awareness.

Work Cited

Bauer, Liza. "Living with Companions: On the Peaceful Coexistence of Humans and Other Animals." KULT online 59 (2019). Retrieved from https://journals.ub.uni-giessen.de/kult-online/article/view/279