Analysis of Water for Elephants
Chapter 15
By - Lakin Steedly
This is one of the scenes in chapter 15 of Water for Elephants.
“Good morning, Jacob,” August says as I set my plate on the table and take a seat.
“August. Marlena,” I say, nodding at each.
Marlena looks up quickly and then back at her plate.
“And how are you this fine day?” says August. He digs into a pile of scrambled eggs.
“Fine. And you?”
“Wonderful,” he says.
“And how are you, Marlena?” I ask.
“Very much better, thank you,” she says.
“I saw your act last night,” I say.
“Did you?”
“Yes,” I say, shaking my napkin and spreading it across”
“my lap. “It’s . . . I don’t quite know what to say. It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Oh?” says August, cocking one eyebrow. “Never?”
“No. Never.”
“Really.”
He stares at me without blinking. “I thought it was Marlena’s act that inspired you to join this show in the first place, Jacob. Was I wrong?”
My heart flips in my chest. I pick up my cutlery: fork in my left hand, knife in my right—European-style, like my mother.
“I lied,” I say.
I stab the end of a sausage and begin sawing it, waiting for a response.”
“August. Marlena,” I say, nodding at each.
Marlena looks up quickly and then back at her plate.
“And how are you this fine day?” says August. He digs into a pile of scrambled eggs.
“Fine. And you?”
“Wonderful,” he says.
“And how are you, Marlena?” I ask.
“Very much better, thank you,” she says.
“I saw your act last night,” I say.
“Did you?”
“Yes,” I say, shaking my napkin and spreading it across”
“my lap. “It’s . . . I don’t quite know what to say. It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Oh?” says August, cocking one eyebrow. “Never?”
“No. Never.”
“Really.”
He stares at me without blinking. “I thought it was Marlena’s act that inspired you to join this show in the first place, Jacob. Was I wrong?”
My heart flips in my chest. I pick up my cutlery: fork in my left hand, knife in my right—European-style, like my mother.
“I lied,” I say.
I stab the end of a sausage and begin sawing it, waiting for a response.”
Throughout chapter 15, Jacob is forced to know the whole truth about how Marlena has chose August over him. Jacob gives up and now doesn't even care what anyone else thinks. Jacob reveals that he didn't tell the truth when he first joined the circus: he wasn't originally inspired by Marlena's act.
As he comes clean, Jacob becomes really angry and starts yelling at everybody. This is unexpected. And surprisingly, instead of arguing, August thinks it's all hilarious. Jacob starts to cool down but is totally embarrassed! Some inferences I have for the future of this book consist of wondering if Marlena and Jacob will get together! I really think in the end they will even though they are going through a tough time, I think that Marlena will change her mind soon. Also, another inference I have for the book is that August will make up some lie to tell Marlena about Jacob, just like the last 3 times in the book to split them apart! Why doesn't he just leave them alone? Will August ever leave them alone? Cant wait to find out soon!
It sounds like August isnt a very serious character like Jacob is. Is this true?
ReplyDeleteYes, August just wants Jacob to leave Marlena alone and leave the circus but he loves Marlena
ReplyDelete