The Lives of Animals

John Bernard is Elizabeth’s son, Norma’s husband, and a father. He is an assistant professor at Appleton College, and he teaches both astronomy and physics. The narration is delivered through his perspective though via third-person limited narration. John is a non-traditional protagonist through his static nature and privileged perspective in the story’s narration. He is antagonistic towards his mother’s views and presence.

John displays self-centered and pessimistic traits. He focuses on the potential negative outcomes of Elizabeth’s visit, and he worries how they will affect him. His most prominent concerns include Norma’s complaints and his colleagues’ judgments—a largely irrational fear. John cannot understand his mother’s perspective. His inability to empathize demonstrates Elizabeth’s argument that some individuals are not capable of or refuse to use sympathy-based thinking. John has a strong, albeit misplaced, sense of responsibility. He feels he must control both Norma and Elizabeth and manage the results of Elizabeth’s visit. He is a flat character, and neither his opinions nor his attitude change because of his mother’s visit.

Norma is a scholar, a mother, and John’s wife. She has a Ph.D. in Philosophy, and she specialized in “philosophy of the mind” (17). Norma wants to teach but has not found an applicable position, so she is writing for a philosophy journal. Norma is an antagonistic, flat side character. She is portrayed as a stereotypical nagging wife who does not like her mother-in-law. Her role is to contrast Elizabeth’s views and add tension to the narrative.

Norma brings tension to the story through her disagreement with and disrespect toward Elizabeth. She creates tension in every scene she is present: She avoids answering Elizabeth when Elizabeth asks why the children are dining separately, attempts to ask a question after Elizabeth’s first lecture, and argues against Elizabeth during the Appleton College dinner. Norma disagrees with Elizabeth’s views. However, other than the counterclaims she brings up at the dinner, Norma does not openly disagree with Elizabeth. Instead, she criticizes Elizabeth’s views to John when they are alone. This suggests that although Norma does not respect nor like Elizabeth, she tries to treat her with kindness. Norma represents individuals who support science as objective, who value reason-based thinking, and who do not value sympathy-based thinking or literature.