Theme and Summary: Water for Elephants

     I believe that the theme of Water for Elephants is "the benefits of love come from the sacrifices you have to make". This theme first emerges when Jacob Jankowski jumps onto the train after dropping out of college and meets Marlena for the first time. Also at the beginning of the novel, when one of Marlena's performing horses named Silver Star is foundering (AKA laminitis), Jacob then helps Marlena through this situation and comforts her because they both know that Silver Star will not make it. This event brings the both of them closer together.

     “I don’t understand how this could happen so fast.’ Her voice is tiny and hollow, and it occurs to me that she’s probably going to cry. I crouch beside her. ‘Sometimes it just does. It’s not because of anything you did, though.” Page 87

    Another event that helps Marlena and Jacob bond is when the Circus gains a new elephant. Because the new elephant, Rosie, does not understand English commands (as they find out later), August the animal trainer is very brutal with to Rosie. In this situation Jacob is able to be close to Marlena but they have to watch Rosie suffer. 

     "Rosie whimpers and this time doesn't move an inch. Even from this distance, we can see that she's trembling. Marlena chokes back a sob. On impulse I reach for her hand. When I find it, she clutches my fingers so tightly they hurt." page 141

     Finally, when August saw the connection between Marlena and Jacob, he physically hurts both of them which causes Marlena to leave August. Marlena no longer wants to live in August's cart so she moves to a hotel temporarily. Jacob visits her once in a while and on one of the visits, they both confess their love for each other. Marlena and Jacob are physically hurt but are able to love each other without hiding their feelings.

     "'I love you, Marlena. I love you with my heart and soul, and I want to be with you.' ... She lifts her head. There are tears in her eyes. 'I love you, too,' she whispers. 'I think I've loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. But don't you see? I'm married to August.'" page 274

Objective summary: page 308 to 310 ~ SPOILER ALERT
     The animals are let loose creating a disaster stampede. This puts everyone in danger who is watching or in the show. But what Jacob is most concerned about is Marlena. It's a crazy scene of people and animals mixed together; the animals escaping and the people trying to escape and get out the way. While Jacob is trying to get to Marlena, he sees August hitting Rosie with the bull whip and Marlena sitting on Rosie. Before Jacob is able to reach them, Rosie pulls a stake out the ground and hits August on the head. August is knocked out and then trampled by the animal, killing him. Marlena is devastated, but also relieved. Jacob and Marlena can now live their life together.