Black Beauty | Hot • METHOD |
This literary device was groundbreaking. It forced readers to confront the reality that animals possess memory, emotion, and a distinct perspective on the world. When Black Beauty suffers, the reader feels the physical pain of the ill-fitting "bearing rein" and the emotional sting of being separated from his mother. When he is happy, the reader feels the joy of a gallop across a fresh field. This anthropomorphic approach was not intended to make animals seem human, but rather to prove that they feel as deeply as humans do.
The next time you see a horse pulling a carriage through a busy city, or a dog tied up in the rain, or even a worn-out piece of machinery that a boss is pushing too hard—remember the white star. Black Beauty
On the human side, we have Joe Green, the kind-hearted but initially inexperienced groom whose mistake nearly costs Beauty his life. Through Joe, Sewell teaches that good intentions are not enough; knowledge and competence are required for true stewardship. This literary device was groundbreaking
The novel is a catalogue of the various ways humans fail their equine counterparts. Through Black Beauty’s eyes, we see the horrors of the "bearing rein," a fashionable device used to force carriage horses to keep their heads held high, which caused immense pain, restricted breathing, and made it difficult for the horses to pull heavy loads uphill. When he is happy, the reader feels the
Sewell shows that an owner’s character directly affects an animal’s health and happiness. Kindness produces a willing, loyal horse; cruelty leads to broken spirits, accidents, and premature death.