Reading Response Blog- Faithful Elephants

The definition of love is an intense feeling of deep affection. In the story Faithful Elephants, the elephant trainer truly loves Tonky and Wanly. In the sad but beautiful story, the elephants at the Ueno Zoo have to be killed. Bombs might be dropped on the zoo and it is too dangerous for the citizens if the animals escape from their cages. All the other animals are poisoned but the elephants know what food is poisoned. Eventually the zookeepers decide that the elephants must be starved. Although the zookeepers love the elephants, they have to let them go. A theme in this story is that even if you love something, sometimes you have to let it go.

In the book, the elephant trainer is closest with the elephants and loves them dearly. The elephant trainer couldn’t bear to see the elephants in so much pain. He caved in, and gave them food and water, even though he was't supposed to, crying "Eat your food! Please drink. Drink your water!" This shows that the elephant trainer loves the animals. Even though his boss told no one to feed the elephants, he went against his boss’s wishes and went the extra mile to put the elephants out of their misery. This is what real love is, sacrificing for what you love. What the trainer did was risky. But he was willing to take the chance for the love he has for the elephants.

Eventually, the trainer realized that it is better for the elephants and civilians if the elephants were put down. "Seeing his beloved elephants dying this way, the elephant trainer felt as if his heart would break.  He had no more courage to see them. All of the other keepers felt the same, and they too stayed away from the elephants’ cage." This shows that the trainer and all of the keepers loved the elephants so much but they knew they had to be put down. The zookeepers loved Tonky and Wanly but they had to do what was best. He had to think about the bigger picture and not just about the elephants. It was unsafe if the elephants got out of the cage. In the beginning of the story it says, "What would happen if bombs hit the zoo? If the cages were broken and dangerous animals escaped to run through the city it would be terrible!" With this in mind, the trainer realized he had to let them die. In his heart he loved the elephants and wanted them to stay, but in his mind he knew he had to let them go.

A few years ago, I used to have a lovebird named Stella. When I first got her, she would fly around the house and perch on my hand. Like the elephant trainer loved the elephants, I loved Stella. A few months later, my parents got a dog. When Stella flew around, the dog would chase her. This terrified Stella. I could see the fear in her eyes. Stella didn’t come out of her cage any more. My family and I decided it would be best for Stella if we gave her away. Even though I wanted to keep her, she was unhappy and I had to do what was best for her and not me. Like the elephant trainer loved the elephants, I loved Stella. And like the elephant trainer let the Tonky and Wanly go, I let Stella go.

This story teaches an important lesson about love. Sometimes you have to let something go, even if you love it dearly. Tonky and Wanly are great examples of this principle.

Many times in life you may come to a hard decision and end up having to let what you love go, like the elephant trainer. But that’s part of what love is. It’s not just an intense feeling of deep affection, it’s putting what’s best for the thing you love before what’s best for you. Thats what love really is.