Black Beauty By Anna Sewell: Human Nature And Animal Suffering
The novel was published in 1877, however it is both reflective and important for this context because in our course and the novel both show that not much has changed from years ago. People still uses animals for several different types of work. In addition, Animals are still being dominated by people. Animals whole existence is based on serving humans throughout their entire lives. From the moment they are born, the freedom they have are taken away and becomes alienated (Coulter, 2016). In the novel, the story takes place in England 1877. During this time the novel develops an understand of how horses suffered through their use by human beings with restraining objects like blinkers and bearing reins, they also show procedures like cutting off tails of the horses. The novel revealed different observations about both human nature and animal suffering. Horses were used in/for wars, agriculture, transportation, construction and factory work. Horses were used to pull everything. They were also used to measure wealth, the style and control of the horse mattered to everyone during that time. Often the horses were pushed past the point of exhaustion.
In addition, our course talks about the same issues, we do not see much horses being used for transportation as before, but horses/ animals are still being dominated by humans. Coulter (2016) mentions in the book that animals and humans have always worked around and with each other, it is something that has been around for millions of years. Coulter (2016) also mentions that humans always had been more dominate when it comes to working with animals. It will probably never change. However, in the course we talk about how suffering of animals need to change, people need to be aware of violence towards animals that occurs in the workplaces. Thus, is why black beauty relates because it shows the suffering of over working animals, but it also shows compassion, devotion and learning that takes place in animals and humans lives when working with/ for them. In addition, there are different relationships between many humans and animals. Many individuals benefit from animals. Through learning and exploring animals and work, looking beyond intellectual cages people can gain a deeper understanding of labour and of workers (Coulter, 2016). We can also find ideas of how to build more inclusive, ethical, and inspiring workplaces and society for both animals and humans (Coulter, 2016). In conclusion, the important message that Black Beauty shares, it is the same message that revels in what we are learning in this course. Furthermore, hence why the context is important, even though it is written so long ago it brings the same context of animals and humans working with/ for each other. Including the power humans have over animals still today.
The novel is a good illustration of how the key labour process theory (LPT) concepts discussed in our course are often interconnected when people work with/for animals. In two pages, explain, using at least two of the key LPT concepts. Define the concepts then incorporate strong, illustrative, specific examples. Include direct quotes and paraphrasing as part of your answer. The LPT concept that has been discussed in this course Labour Process Theory. LPT involves care work, dirty work, communication work, and emotion work. In addition, they all interconnect when people work with/for animals. They two keys LPT concepts that that are strongly shown in the book are communication work and dirty work. Communication work is a language between an animal and human. In addition, Humans and animals do not share verbal language, it is often a challenge (Coulter, 2016). This communication can be learned by reading about animals and finding an understanding of what they might be feeling based on how they behave and look. Human and animals often communicate with actions/ sounds and body language (Coulter, 2016). In the novel, Black Beauty the humans and horses often shared this type of communication in their everyday lives. For example, Humans can often tell if something is wrong with the horse. This is often communicated through actions.
When Black Beauty was working one evening the roads were stony and this allowed her shoe to become looser and it ended up coming off. This affected Black Beauty pace. However, his rider did not notice because he was drunk. In addition, the gentlemen that later found Beauty and Reuben noticed the pain Beauty was in by his actions. This example is a way that humans and animals do communication work. Many of the Master that Black Beauty had some understanding of the different looks in a horse's eyes, or ear positioning, and tail swishing, and other indicators such as unwillingness to interact or a more subtle conveying of displeasure, can all be signs of physical and/ or mental discomfort. In the novel, John had this communication understanding when training Black Beauty. Black Beauty described this as "However I did not understand and all he said, but I learned more and more to know what he meant" (Sewell, 2011, p. 20) this shows they had a communication together. It was also mentioned "he seemed to know just how a horse feels" (Sewell, 2011, p. 20).
Which is another indication of communication work. Understanding how animal's feelings and putting it into actions of how they are handling and taking care of the animals. Furthermore, dirty work is also seen in the novel Black Beauty. Dirty work is undesirable and degrading. It refers to work that is physically unpleasant, involves dealing with body fluids, excrement, etc. It often involves vet's surgery, grooming and agricultural work. In stables cleaning manure and urine- soaked straw/ hay, and packing, pressing, or dressing wounds are common practices (Coulter, 2016). In the novel dirty work is mentioned in countless chapters. For example, Black Beauty got sick and injured a lot in the story and the vet doctor had to dress her wounds when he fell on his knees and needed to be treated, this is considered dirty work being done. Another example, would be the groomers in the novel. Black beauty said "I found that my groom understood his business. He kept the stable clean and airy, and he groomed me thoroughly; and was never otherwise than gentle" (Sewell, 2011, p. 122). This is an example of dirty that many humans have to do when taking care of the horses to keep them healthy. In addition, later on in story its shows that Black Beauty ended up getting another groomer. However, this groomer was very lazy and did not clean his feet, or look at the horse's shoes, and left his bit rusty, saddle damp and stable dirty (Sewell, 2011). Which resulted in beauty to develop 'thrush'. This is explained to be when the feet get very tender because of foul stables, where litter is never properly cleaned out (Sewell, 2011, p. 126).
In conclusion, these examples are what dirty work is and it represents the importance of dirty work and often times people do not desire to do this type of work. However, in order to keep animals healthy, they need humans to do this type of work. In 1. 5-2 pages, explain why the concept of work-lives helps us better understand the horses. Begin by explaining the concept. Incorporate strong, illustrative, specific examples and include direct quotes and paraphrasing as part of your answer. Work-lives is a way of thinking about species life. Including their life at work and outside of work. We understand that animals are whole beings. To have a better understanding of them we need to look at their lives outside of work. We look at if their time for themselves, and the way they grew up, etc (Personal communication, Coulter, September 27th, 2018).
In addition, the novel revels many moments that Black beauty had time to his self with the other horses when he was not working. For example, in the beginning of the novel Black Beauty describes her life when he was a colt and he have not yet been trained to work. He describes when he was little he would be in the meadow laying and eating grass with his mother and the others. This example helps us understand the innocence of horses and animals and before work they would just enjoy being able to take in the nice weather and not being worked to death. Another example, in the novel was the times in the stable were Black Beauty had time to rest and talk with the other horses. The horses often worked in shifts because they often needed to rest after working and pulling heavy loads during the day. Sundays were often rest day for the horses (Sewell, 2011). This was the time where the horses would tell stories of their lives and the things they seen and done. In addition, every horse has different work- lives. Ginger was treated very poorly and often times suffered a lot.
However, she was friends with Black Beauty and that made her life a little a better (Sewell, 2011). Furthermore, horses often do not get a lot of time to their selves. Later in Beauty's life she hardly had a day off and was over worked. This was the case for many of the other horses as well. They were pushed till they would fall of exhaustion (Sewell, 2011). That is why it is important to understand horses work- lives. For instance, they are whole beings too like humans and often have feelings and need rest like humans do after work. Having an understanding would allow humans to give these horses time to be able to just run or have a time for just being a horse and not a working horse. When humans do not get time off they are exhausted and do not perform well and this affect the enjoyment of the work they are doing. Likewise, seeing if the needs are being met, are they being fed properly, right treatment and exercise. These examples are shown in the novel as well, Beauty needed these things in order to perform his job. Beauty often did not mind working and bringing people places they needed to go, he just wanted to be treated and taken well care of in the process.
In conclusion, it becomes clear that horses are whole beings, who have working lives. However, we need to understand they need to have time to themselves and to be treated right or they do not perform and are uncomfortable working when not getting what they need. It is important for the horse's health both mentally and physically. Even though this book was written well over a century ago, for those interested in key issues of labour involving animals, it has many elements and insights of enduring relevance. Explain in 1. 5 pages, incorporating two key course concepts (bold them) from the first half of our course not central to the other four questions as part of your argument.
There are many issues of labour involving animals and novels shows many different issues that are still relevant today. Two key course concepts that are seen in the book and our course are Suffering and Enjoyment Continuum. Suffering and enjoyment continuum is two concepts that reflect on the processes and understanding of ones lived experience (Coulter, 2016). Coulter (2016) mentions that the term suffering suggests awareness of long term physical and psychological and emotional harm that has been done to one being. However, enjoyment can be both immediate and an ongoing process. These terms represent that animals can be sentience. This means that the suffering and enjoyment highlight animal's ability to think and feel. In addition, Suffering highlights the damage, the unpleasant, and harm that is done to a being (Coulter, 2016). In the novel, there are many examples of how the horses were suffering. An example, is the horse Ginger who is mentioned many times in the story. Ginger tell Beauty how she was mistreated quite often; when she was first in contact with men, they also handled her roughly most of the time. Ginger also describes to Beauty about bearing reins and how they are used to keep a horse's head high in a fashionable pose when pulling the carriages.
These reins cause horses to be in pain and it's very cruel to do that to a horse (Sewell, 2011). This resulted in them to suffer more when the horses were working. Later in the story Ginger was sold and one day Beauty seen her again, she described Ginger as thin, and having swollen joints. Overall, looking like she is suffering tremendously, she later finds out that Ginger died. However, Beauty hoped that Ginger was not suffering anymore. Therefore, horses being treated badly like Ginger is a reason for animals to suffer from the abuse. Animals still are suffering when they are working with/for humans today. In addition, Enjoyment reflects the fact that work can be a positive experience for animals (Coulter, 2016). Animals often times can experience joy when working. This is also seen the Black Beauty.
For example, during the time that Black Beauty was in Squire Gordon's his time there was very pleasant. He had a Master who took well care and treated him right when he was training and first starting to work. This allowed Beauty to enjoy the way he was living and not have to worry about being mistreated by the types of men his mother describes in the beginning of the novel (Sewell, 2011). Beauty often displayed her emotions through his behavior when working when he was happy or happy about the treatment he was getting he would communicate through actions with his ears, tail, body weight, and sounds. Coulter (2016) mentions this in one of the chapters that horses display physical and behavioural indicators of enjoyment to the work that they do. Horses communicate about their physical and emotional states to those who are interested in understanding, this is expressed through actions like a horse's ears, body weight and their responses to different actions. In conclusion, suffering and enjoyment is expressed through the novel of Black Beauty.
