"Faithful Elephants, " by Yukio Tsuchiya

The brief passage, "Faithful Elephants, " tells the true story of animal slaughter at Ueno Zoo in Japan during World War 2 due to orders of the Japanese military.  This text shows the far-reaching effects of war.  In this case, war is effecting both the animals and their trainers at the Ueno Zoo.  By showing us a side of war usually disregarded, "Faithful Elephants," exposes the struggles and hardships we deal with directly in the face of war.

The most obvious toll the war takes in the story is placed upon the elephants, when they are ordered to be killed. In my opinion, Yukio Tsuchiya, the author, utilized the heart breaking story of the elephants starvation as a way to show the monstrosities of war.  For example, "The elephants became thinner and thinner, weaker and weaker... Their small loving eyes began to look like round rubber balls in their drooping, shrunken faces."  These word paint a horrid picture in the readers mind.  Yes, a picture of the elephants, but also the war, the bombs dropping in the background.  Another piece of evidence is shown when the elephants finally meet their end.  "Zookeepers took hold of Tonky and Wanly's bodies, as if to shake them back to life.. Zookeepers raised their fists to the sky and implored 'Stop the war! Stop the war! Stop all wars!' " This is about the point in the story when the author's intentions and opinions become quite clear.  Stop the war.  Stop the war.  Stop all wars.

In "Faithful Elephants," Yukio Tsuchiya shows the far-reaching effects of war not only by telling the story of the elephants, but of their trainers as well.  For example, when the elephants are on the brink of starvation and beg for food, the trainer is so desperate and cares so much for the elephants that he feels the need to ease their pain.  He directly defies orders and brings them their food.  "Eat your food! Please drink.  Drink your water!" War is causing the trainer to do something so against his principles, not to mention his moral being.  When the trainer brings the elephants food, no one, not even the head zookeeper objects.  "Everyone was hoping and praying that if the elephants could survive only one more day, the war might be over and the elephants would be saved."  War was forcing them too, to commit an act so against anything they could have ever imagined.

In conclusion, the true story, "Faithful Elephants," challenges readers to consider the tragic and extensive effects of war.  This text has certainly effected me with its devastating plotline, but it has also inspired me with its hopeful ending.  While war is a horrid thing, the elephant's deaths symbolize the courage and strife of those trying to put an end to the violence.  And with this dedication, this devotion, I believe we will be successful.