Character-August

               One of the characters in Water for Elephants is August. Husband of who Jacob likes, Marlena, and brutal animal trainer for the circus. You really start to see how bad of a man August is when the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth gets an elephant named Rosie. August thinks that Rosie is a dumb elephant because she doesn't follow commands and she only eats all day. But Rosie is actually intelligent, as Jacob finds out, she just doesn't want to listen to August's commands. August is always frustrated with the new elephant and to let out his frustration, he whips her with a bull hook. Marlena, Jacob, and some other circus members see this as harsh and terrible, but the August and audiences who watch the circus thinks it's okay. 

"The audience loves it. Each time Rosie trots ahead of August and stops they roar with laughter. And each time August approaches, red-faced and waving his bull hook, they explode with glee." page 164.

I believe that the audience think that it's all part of the act, being angry at Rosie and all that.

August is a flat character. He has been the same way towards the animals for as long as Jacob has joined the circus and most likely even before that. August also leaves the animals in poor conditions: not feeding them on long trips, giving them spoiled food, and leaving them in hot temperatures. Never has August once considered really taking care of them.

August is also the antagonist. He's obviously keeping Jacob from hooking up with Marlena and prevents him from taking proper care of the circus animals.