From The One and Only Ivan, p.142-145
"Mack grew sullen, and I grew bigger. I became what I was meant to be, too large for chairs, too strong for hugs, too big for human life.
I tried to stay calm, to move with dignity. I did my best to eat daintily. But human ways are hard to learn, especially when you're not human.
When I saw my domain, I was thrilled, and who wouldn't have been? It had no furniture to break. No glasses to smash. No toilets to drop Mack's keys in.
It even had a tire swing.
I was relieved to have my own place.
Somehow, I didn't realize I'd be here quite so long.
Now I drink Pepsi, eat old apples, watch reruns on TV.
But many days I forget what I am supposed to be. Am I a human? Am I a gorilla?
Humans have so many words, more than they truly need.
Still, they have no name for what I am."
Ivan seems to be having an identity crisis, or a feeling of unhappiness and confusion caused by not being sure about what type of person you really are or what the true purpose of your life is. How might Ivan's unnatural living arrangements have created this confusion?
"Mack grew sullen, and I grew bigger. I became what I was meant to be, too large for chairs, too strong for hugs, too big for human life.
I tried to stay calm, to move with dignity. I did my best to eat daintily. But human ways are hard to learn, especially when you're not human.
When I saw my domain, I was thrilled, and who wouldn't have been? It had no furniture to break. No glasses to smash. No toilets to drop Mack's keys in.
It even had a tire swing.
I was relieved to have my own place.
Somehow, I didn't realize I'd be here quite so long.
Now I drink Pepsi, eat old apples, watch reruns on TV.
But many days I forget what I am supposed to be. Am I a human? Am I a gorilla?
Humans have so many words, more than they truly need.
Still, they have no name for what I am."
Ivan seems to be having an identity crisis, or a feeling of unhappiness and confusion caused by not being sure about what type of person you really are or what the true purpose of your life is. How might Ivan's unnatural living arrangements have created this confusion?
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