Water for Elephants: Growing through Conflict

Jacob Jankowski faces many conflicts throughout Water for Elephants, as one could expect any protagonist would. A conflict Jacob encounters involves his boss, a schizophrenic named August, and his beautiful, performer wife, Marlena. Jacob falls in love with her at first sight. He immediately notices her “delicate features, pale as porcelain” (Gruen 72). August is very protective of Marlena, a well-known fact among the circus folk. Jacob’s roommate, a dwarf named Kinko, points out “that’s just somewhere you don’t wanna go… he’s the meanest son-of-a-bitch I’ve ever met” (Gruen 157), as Jacob glances over at Marlena repeatedly. One night, Jacob kisses Marlena (Gruen 153) and makes everything more complicated. Later, Marlena admits “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you” (195). These two are destined to be together; now they only have to get past a paranoid schizophrenic with a history of violent behavior.

This conflict helps Jacob to grow in many ways. First of all, Jacob has his first experience falling in love. When watching her in her act with her horses, Jacob thinks of how he is “filled to overflowing, bursting with love” (Gruen 202). Also, Jacob learns about desperation, and how it can make people do things that would endanger their own lives. August hits Marlena in a fit of rage, which of course enrages Jacob (Gruen 246). Later on, Jacob takes a knife to August’s room, with the intent of slitting his throat in his sleep (295 Gruen). Fortunately, Jacob decides not to, but the whole event teaches Jacob to control his extreme emotions, and not stoop down to the level of his enemies.