The Animal In You

The Animal In You

By HASMITA CHANDER

WE, HUMANS, love to understand, judge and label things. We also like to complicate or simplify a situation, a civilisation or a creature, as we please. While we agree that a person can be kind at one time and treacherous at another, that he can be such a mix of emotions and principles as to be unpredictable, we readily label all foxes “cunning”. An owl is a wise creature, according to some cultures and Winnie the Pooh. This is possibly due to the owl’s appearance that resembles a bespectacled school principal with arms folded behind him. On the contrary, in some countries, the owl is considered a stupid bird. It does make one wonder why both beliefs about this bird allude to its intelligence. Take a look at the following set of creature characteristics that are used to describe people. Can you identify the animal in you?

Wolf: This widely misunderstood animal is usually depicted as cruel, ruthless and bad — the big, bad wolf. To wolf food down is to eat greedily. A man who is openly and shamelessly flirtatious is called a wolf.

Fox: Following close behind the wolf is the bushy-tailed fox — small but sly. To fox someone is to trick them, especially with cunning. A foxy lady is a woman who is physically attractive. If you have a foxy look, it means you look shrewd and cunning.

Bull: The bull is known for its massive strength, and also its violence. If you bull your way through a gathering, you push and shove your way in, using your strength ruthlessly, not bothering about others.

Mule: “My brother is such a mule!” you might say if you want to stress how stubborn he is. This animal with a mare and donkey for parents is known for being obstinate. A mulish person refuses to think any other way than his own.

Sheep: Sheep are supposed to be meek and stupid. If you’ve just realised that you’ve done or said something foolish, you might wear a sheepish grin. To feel sheepish is to feel embarrassed and stupid. Pig: A pig is almost synonymous with being dirty. It is said that, among the animals, a pig converts food to fat the fastest, and since they love to eat at any time and as much as you give them, they are associated with overeating as well. When you call someone a pig, the person is unpleasant, or rather messy: “Don’t be a pig. Eat without dropping your food outside the plate!” A greedy pig is someone who eats too much. Pigging out is, again, overeating. Informally, hog is also used to mean eat — “We hogged the cake she had brought.” To say that someone has piggy eyes is to describe in a negative way that she has small eyes.

Cat: The distinguishing characteristics of cats are selfishness and cunningness. Catty remarks are therefore spiteful and sly.

Rat: To rat on someone is to leak information about him or her. A person who’s a rat is unpleasant and disloyal. Something that’s ratty is shabby — a ratty overcoat. If you’re feeling particularly irritable, you might say that you’re feeling ratty.

Squirrel: This rodent is known for its conserving ways. It collects and saves nuts in its hollow for the winter when there may not be enough to eat. E.g. “Oh, I believe that old man had squirreled away thousands of dollars over the years for his retirement, and look at him now, he has all the luxuries possible!”

Worm: Never mind the great utility of earthworms in agriculture or in recycling waste; worms in general are supposed to be contemptible lowly creatures. A worm is a person who is disgraceful and not worthy of respect. If you worm your way out of a tricky situation, you tell lies or somehow convince the person in charge to let go of you. And to worm your way into someone’s trust or affections is, again, to achieve what you want, dishonourably.

As we can see from this lot, people seem to attribute negative qualities to most creatures.

Only a few animals are looked up to:

Lions — for being kings of the jungle (says who?), powerful and majestic. Dogs — regarded with affection since they are supposed to be faithful.

Dolphins — known to be gentle creatures since they don’t usually attack, are intelligent enough to learn tricks and, perhaps, because they seem to smile.

Maybe we need to think more often along the lines of the famous poem:

“All things bright and beautiful, / All creatures great and small, / All things wise and wonderful, / The Lord God made them all.” — Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), Irish poet