Success In Sarah Gruen's Water For Elephants

In society people define success as having a big house, having an expensive car, and being rich or famous. Lots of people strive for that, even when they’re doing just fine. These people have a good income, a family and a job. That’s a lot more than other people have in life, but people still want more. This might be for everyone wants to be successful, they feel like it will give them power and a purpose in life. Many people think success is having a lot of money. I think success is achieving your goals, and pursuing your dreams.Though each of these factors is important in defining how I view success, the element that I feel is most important in living a successful life is achieving your goals, no matter how big or small.
One person that …show more content…
The book follows a 93 year old, Jacob Jankowski’ memories. It starts off as 23 year old Jacob at Cornell University. He’s taking his final exam to become a veterinarian, before the test, he gets taken out of class and is told his parents died in a car crash. His whole life was crushed, since he was going to work for his father's practice once out of college. From there he ran away, not being able to think straight, and jumped a train. He ended up on a Circus train and was almost red lighted, which is getting thrown off of the train, but was saved since he was a vet and the Circus needed one. The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show now had a new animal care giver. Jacob roomed with a dwarf named Walter and established a relationship with him, that was a great accomplishment since Walter doesn’t like anyone. He befriends the director, August,who has very bad anger issues, and his wife, Marlena. He ends up falling in love with Marlena and they have an affair. The Circus has also gained in Elephant named Rosie. Jacob loves the Elephant, and they have a strong bond. Jacob ends up with Marlene and goes back to Cornell to finish his exams and work as a vet. Throughout the whole book one of Jacob's goals is to win Marlena’s heart. After a dinner with August and Marlena Jacob falls deeply in love with her, “August is not the only one consumed by thoughts of Marlena. I lie on my horse blanket at night wanting her so badly I ache”(Gruen,112). He’s consumed by her day to day and wants to be with her. Jacob with much determination does achieve his goal of swooning Marlena and they end up getting married. He set a goal, Marlena, and pursued it the most and ended up accomplishing it. Another one of his main goals from the beginning was becoming a vet. He didn’t get to achieve this in the beginning,