Water For Elephants Short Summary

Water for Elephants goes along two story lines, both featuring Jacob, who is the main character. The story follows him in his old life, and back to his young life as he meets new friends, his wife, and lives life in the circus. Throughout the book, the story switches back and forth between old and young Jacob, and eventually ideas start to connect and we see how little Jacob progressed into old and experienced Jacob. In the majority of Water for Elephants, Jacob is young and innocent, just going through life and trying to get by day by day. He is currently attending Cornell, to get his Veterinary degree. He is very focused on school and determined to finish and become a successful veterinarian doctor, to prove to people that he is capable of …show more content…
Jacob’s weaknesses are shown and his innocence turns to anger. He is also left without a stable job in his future, because he was going to work for his dad, who was also a veterinarian doctor. Jacob’s life is basically turned upside down in a few moments, as he goes from a chance in life, to back at the bottom, with no urge to work his way back up in the world.
One day, it just so happens that Jacob runs into a circus, who is in need of people to help them with the whole entertainment process. Jacob is a veterinarian, so he has that special skill of working with animals. He will fight in just right with the circus, or so he thinks. If it weren’t for all the distractions that get in the way, he would be perfectly fine. Distractions are inevitable, though. The Benzini Brothers take in Jacob as one of their own circus friends, and he becomes part of the family. This is a total change of events in Jacob’s life. He went from being in Veterinary school, to joining a circus. This is very drastic and no where near where Jacob expected to see himself. His parents’ death really took a toll on him and changed him. The question is, it it good change or bad change? Throughout the