In André Alexis’ novel, Fifteen Dogs, it is demonstrated that having an intellectual advantage can negatively impact one’s life. The canines in this novel aspire to be regular dogs, having been granted the “gift” of intelligence; however, this “gift” is anything but that. The “gift” of human consciousness and language allows the dogs to analyze situations and feel emotions, which they were not able to do before. The introduction of these abilities to the dogs’ lives causes them to be miserable, and forget the essence of being a dog and being in a pack. This “gift” separates the pack, as the addition of this intellect makes the dogs individuals, instead of a uniform group.
Immediately after the dogs have been granted the human ability of …show more content…
When Benjy returns to the pack, his ranking in the pack is the lowest, meaning he is to submit to being mounted, which is what he describes as a humiliation. As he believes in maintaining the social order of the class, he willingly submits; however, it is due to his ability to process his thoughts that it “occur[s] to him one day while Frick was atop him that if the point [was] to demonstrate that one [has] the power to mount another, the point [does] not need to be made over and over” (74) as it becomes apparent that a dog of his size is pressured and must submit. In the case of Max, his thoughts prevent him from submitting willingly, as he feels as though “he should mount one of them” (74). Max’s desire for equality amongst those in the pack and the fact that he feels as though he “deserve[s] status” (95), causes a separation between him and the pack. Atticus’s principles for the pack includes one principle which states that “the weak [are] in their proper place” (93). Since, Benjy and Dougie had fled the pack, “the pack had changed and Max would have to change with it or suffer the consequences” (95) because “a pack need[s] unity, and unity mean[s] that all underst[and] the world in the same way or, if not the world, the rules at least” (39). Max’s inability to comply with these changes is what ultimately leads to his
Immediately after the dogs have been granted the human ability of …show more content…
When Benjy returns to the pack, his ranking in the pack is the lowest, meaning he is to submit to being mounted, which is what he describes as a humiliation. As he believes in maintaining the social order of the class, he willingly submits; however, it is due to his ability to process his thoughts that it “occur[s] to him one day while Frick was atop him that if the point [was] to demonstrate that one [has] the power to mount another, the point [does] not need to be made over and over” (74) as it becomes apparent that a dog of his size is pressured and must submit. In the case of Max, his thoughts prevent him from submitting willingly, as he feels as though “he should mount one of them” (74). Max’s desire for equality amongst those in the pack and the fact that he feels as though he “deserve[s] status” (95), causes a separation between him and the pack. Atticus’s principles for the pack includes one principle which states that “the weak [are] in their proper place” (93). Since, Benjy and Dougie had fled the pack, “the pack had changed and Max would have to change with it or suffer the consequences” (95) because “a pack need[s] unity, and unity mean[s] that all underst[and] the world in the same way or, if not the world, the rules at least” (39). Max’s inability to comply with these changes is what ultimately leads to his