The story revolves around a circus elephant that has been mistreated and abused by its trainers. The narrator, a young man who works at the circus, becomes increasingly sympathetic to the elephant's plight and begins to question the morality of keeping animals in captivity for human entertainment. As the story progresses, the elephant's behavior becomes more erratic and violent, culminating in a tragic event that highlights the consequences of treating animals with cruelty and neglect. The narrator is forced to confront his own complicity in the circus's mistreatment of the elephant and grapples with feelings of guilt and responsibility. The narrative explores themes of animal welfare, exploitation, and the human condition, raising questions about our relationship with animals and the ethics of keeping them in captivity for our entertainment.
By Aleksandr Kuprin · First published 1903 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 6 chapters