Zoo Island Analysis—Author’s Main Idea
By Paulina Oswald
The author’s message in Zoo Island is when you fully understand yourself, where you are and who you’re with you acquire a sense of belonging. This is in some ways is true because you feel connected to every person around you by completely knowing them and relating to them.
This happens when the main character, Jose, sees the sign that he made when he and his friends were taking a census of the farm where he lives and works. “He was a part of that number, he was in Zoo Island, in Iowa, and like Don Simon said, in the world. He didn’t know why, but there was a warm feeling that started in his feet and rose through his body.” Jose feels happy and proud when he thinks about how there are “88 ½ souls” on the farm, and how he is one of them.
Other people in Zoo Island get a feeling of togetherness and a comprehension of themselves and others with the census count. One person says, “And you know, I like what they’re doing. I like having my name on a piece of paper, like they say they’re gonna do. Tell me, when’s anybody ever asked you your name and how many you got in the family and then write it all down on paper.” This person likes the fact that he is being remembered in some way, and he likes that a piece of him will remain on this earth after he’s gone in the form of a census count.
In the beginning of the story, Jose wanted to make the farm into a town by counting the people in it. When he had added up all the people and he realized there were more people on the farm than in the neighboring town, everyone felt accomplished. The farm workers had pride in their little settlement of Zoo Island. And it was all because they finally understood themselves as a whole.
The author’s message in Zoo Island is when you fully understand yourself, where you are and who you’re with you acquire a sense of belonging. This is in some ways is true because you feel connected to every person around you by completely knowing them and relating to them.
This happens when the main character, Jose, sees the sign that he made when he and his friends were taking a census of the farm where he lives and works. “He was a part of that number, he was in Zoo Island, in Iowa, and like Don Simon said, in the world. He didn’t know why, but there was a warm feeling that started in his feet and rose through his body.” Jose feels happy and proud when he thinks about how there are “88 ½ souls” on the farm, and how he is one of them.
Other people in Zoo Island get a feeling of togetherness and a comprehension of themselves and others with the census count. One person says, “And you know, I like what they’re doing. I like having my name on a piece of paper, like they say they’re gonna do. Tell me, when’s anybody ever asked you your name and how many you got in the family and then write it all down on paper.” This person likes the fact that he is being remembered in some way, and he likes that a piece of him will remain on this earth after he’s gone in the form of a census count.
In the beginning of the story, Jose wanted to make the farm into a town by counting the people in it. When he had added up all the people and he realized there were more people on the farm than in the neighboring town, everyone felt accomplished. The farm workers had pride in their little settlement of Zoo Island. And it was all because they finally understood themselves as a whole.