The book Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel is about an ordinary boy named Ben who's family adopts a baby chimp named Zan as an experiment for teaching sign language to a species other than humans. Throughout time the relationship with Zan and Ben improves greatly but my essential question was how does Zan affect the relationship between Ben and his Dad. Throughout the book we see that their relationship is less than perfect. They fight constantly about Zan, school, money, and grades. They don't have a great relationship. When Zan goes into their life they do go into a rough period, Zan is being treated like an experiment by his dad meanwhile Ben and his mother see him as family. After Ben's dad finally accepts Zan, Ben and his dad are much more peaceful. I think that Zan made them think about their family and fix things. The answer to my essential question would be that Zan has changed their relationship for the better.
Animal rights and family was the main theme and topic in both the book Half Brother and the article, "Chimpanzees in Laboratories," but that doesn't mean they are the same. There are many differences which can be seen immediately. For example the book is written in the first person view of a troubled teenager meanwhile the article is written by an educated animal rights activist. But there are many similarities.
When Zan is bought by Helson they describe his life there as violent. One scene in particular says, " But before she even reached the slot, Zeus had given Sheba a hard smack across the chest. She cowered in submission, but Zeus kept at her." (Page 285) This means that Zeus, the leader chimpanzee is violent and controlling towards women and even baby chimps, they live their lives in fear. Later on in the book they describe experimental facilities as making the violent place as, "a five -star resort." (Page 324) Meanwhile in the article they say, "In these prisons, chimpanzees were frequently caged alone and deprived of the freedom, autonomy, and meaningful social interaction essential to their well-being. There were no families, no companions, no grooming, and no nests. There were only cold, hard steel bars and concrete—and terror and loneliness that went on for so many years that most chimpanzees would sink into depression, eventually losing their minds." This means they are both similar in the way that they portray experimental facilities. The book describes it more emotionally meanwhile the article is more informal.
There are also more similarities. They both talk about how chimps act. The article says, "They care deeply for their families and forge lifelong friendships. " (First Paragraph) This means that Zan cares deeply for them and that no matter what he won't forget. In the book they say, "They care about each other. It's hard for some of them, because they came from all sorts of different places and families, so it's difficult for them to feel loyalty. But when they do, it's phenomenal to see." (Page 288) Overall, they all have their benefits and setbacks.
Animal rights and family was the main theme and topic in both the book Half Brother and the article, "Chimpanzees in Laboratories," but that doesn't mean they are the same. There are many differences which can be seen immediately. For example the book is written in the first person view of a troubled teenager meanwhile the article is written by an educated animal rights activist. But there are many similarities.
When Zan is bought by Helson they describe his life there as violent. One scene in particular says, " But before she even reached the slot, Zeus had given Sheba a hard smack across the chest. She cowered in submission, but Zeus kept at her." (Page 285) This means that Zeus, the leader chimpanzee is violent and controlling towards women and even baby chimps, they live their lives in fear. Later on in the book they describe experimental facilities as making the violent place as, "a five -star resort." (Page 324) Meanwhile in the article they say, "In these prisons, chimpanzees were frequently caged alone and deprived of the freedom, autonomy, and meaningful social interaction essential to their well-being. There were no families, no companions, no grooming, and no nests. There were only cold, hard steel bars and concrete—and terror and loneliness that went on for so many years that most chimpanzees would sink into depression, eventually losing their minds." This means they are both similar in the way that they portray experimental facilities. The book describes it more emotionally meanwhile the article is more informal.
There are also more similarities. They both talk about how chimps act. The article says, "They care deeply for their families and forge lifelong friendships. " (First Paragraph) This means that Zan cares deeply for them and that no matter what he won't forget. In the book they say, "They care about each other. It's hard for some of them, because they came from all sorts of different places and families, so it's difficult for them to feel loyalty. But when they do, it's phenomenal to see." (Page 288) Overall, they all have their benefits and setbacks.
The book Half Brother was a good one. It showed universal themes like family and gave me knowledge on the closest animal to a human. Though it was fiction it felt possible for everything to exist in real life. It was amazing to see the development between all of the characters and though some of them like the relationship unbeneficial like the one between Janelle and Ben, it was nice to see his relationship with his family change for the better. This book is a very strong book in family values.
