The Benzini Brothers circus rolls into Saratoga Springs, but instead of setting up, they immediately begin to tear down, signaling a change in plans. Jacob Jankowski is formally introduced to Marlena Rosenbluth, the beautiful equestrian star, and tasked with examining her lead horse, Silver Star. His diagnosis of founder (laminitis) reveals the horse will likely never perform again, infuriating circus owner Uncle Al, who hires Jacob as the show's veterinarian but warns him his job depends on the horse's recovery. This sets the stage for a story where Survival in a Harsh World dictates the value of both animals and people.
Chapter 6: A Change of Plans
In the cookhouse, Jacob learns the real reason for the sudden move: Uncle Al wants to poach a famous "freak"—a man with a parasitic twin—from the collapsed Fox Brothers Circus. This reveals Al's ruthless opportunism. As Jacob helps load the animals, he has a tense moment with his roommate, Kinko, after discovering that August Rosenbluth manipulated the situation to create friction between them, showcasing his penchant for Power, Control, and Abuse.
The journey to Joliet is brutal. August forces Jacob to feed the big cats spoiled meat and then plays a sadistic prank, making Jacob think he's about to be mauled by a toothless lion. This incident highlights August's dark side and the theme of Cruelty vs. Compassion. Diamond Joe warns Jacob about August's dangerous "moments," while Marlena demonstrates her compassion by staying with the ailing Silver Star in the cramped stock car.
Chapter 7: The Price of an Illusion
Jacob is invited to dinner with August and Marlena in their luxurious stateroom, a stark contrast to the squalor of the working men, emphasizing the theme of Illusion vs. Reality. August is initially charming but becomes increasingly drunk and menacing, frightening Marlena and Jacob with his intense stare during a dance.
After August passes out, Marlena confides in Jacob, describing her husband as "mercurial" and admitting to his violent tendencies. She reveals that her Catholic family disowned her for marrying August, who is Jewish, adding a tragic layer to her situation and developing the theme of Love, Passion, and Forbidden Romance. The next morning, Jacob returns to his car to find Kinko masturbating, a humiliating encounter for both men. Silver Star's condition worsens, and Jacob knows he must be euthanized. Marlena tearfully agrees, and Jacob confronts August, who warns him about the potential consequences but provides the rifle. Jacob shoots Silver Star, witnessed with somber respect by the other workers. August then comforts Jacob with a cynical speech about the circus being built on lies, revealing they had to slaughter one of their own workhorses to feed the big cats.
Chapter 8: The Man in the Mirror
The narrative shifts to the present, where Jacob is a ninety-three-year-old man in a nursing home. This chapter is a poignant reflection on Aging, Dignity, and Mortality. He feels imprisoned, stripped of his autonomy, and frustrated by the indignities of old age. He reflects on the loss of his wife, Catherine, and his children's decision to place him in the home.
As he looks at his reflection, he is horrified by the "withered and spotty" old man he sees. "When did I stop being me?" he wonders, capturing the alienation of old age. The chapter ends with him anticipating a visit from his family, who are taking him to see a circus.
Chapter 9: Picking the Bones
The story returns to 1931 as the Benzini Brothers train arrives in Joliet and finds the failed Fox Brothers Circus. Uncle Al begins negotiating to acquire its assets, while August takes Jacob and a sullen Marlena to a diner. Marlena confronts August about his cruelty and storms out. Back at the lot, Jacob watches as Uncle Al hires only a few performers from the Fox Brothers crew, leaving the rest to fend for themselves.
Jacob is horrified to learn that August has forbidden anyone from watering the abandoned Fox Brothers animals, a cruel tactic to force the city officials to sell them to Uncle Al for a lower price. During dinner, Marlena defies August by giving her pork chop sandwich to a starving man, earning quiet applause and enraging her husband. Later, Uncle Al returns, ecstatic. He failed to acquire the parasitic twin but bought an elephant named Rosie, believing she will elevate them to the "big leagues." However, her former keeper warns them she is untrainable and "the stupidest goddamned animal on the face of the earth."
Chapter 10: The Rubber Mule
While August confronts Uncle Al about the elephant purchase, Jacob and Marlena share a quiet, magical moment with Rosie. They spontaneously waltz together in the menagerie tent, a scene charged with unspoken romantic tension.
The moment is broken when Marlena pulls away, and they wait for August. He returns in a rage, revealing that Uncle Al also bought a custom elephant car, displacing dozens of working men. That night, the circus erupts in a wild party. Jacob gets drunk with Kinko and other workers and is cornered by two dancers who attempt to seduce him. Overwhelmed, Jacob is unable to perform, vomits on one of them, and passes out. He awakens in a costume trunk in Clown Alley, wearing a silk robe, his face painted like a clown, and his genitals shaved—a humiliating prank. Shamed and hungover, Jacob finds August brutally trying to train Rosie with a bull hook. August sends Jacob to find Marlena and keep her away from the back of the tent. Jacob discovers that Pete is slaughtering more emaciated horses from the Fox Brothers stock to use as cat food. Horrified, Jacob finds Marlena in her stateroom. Together, they watch from the window as August beats Rosie mercilessly to force her into the new elephant car. Marlena sobs, and Jacob takes her hand, united in their shared horror and compassion.
Character Development
- Jacob Jankowski: His idealism is shattered by the circus's brutal realities. He is forced to compromise his ethics to survive, deepening his compassion for animals and his romantic feelings for Marlena.
- August Rosenbluth: August's charm is revealed as a mask for a violent, paranoid, and controlling personality. His rages are triggered by challenges to his authority.
- Marlena Rosenbluth: Marlena's strength and compassion are highlighted, but so is her vulnerability. She defies August but is trapped in his abusive cycle. Her connection with Jacob grows into a deeper emotional bond.
- Uncle Al: He is established as the circus's pragmatic and ruthless leader, driven by ambition and viewing people and animals as disposable assets.
- Kinko (Walter): He transforms from a hostile antagonist into an ally after Jacob shows kindness to his dog, demonstrating the importance of compassion.
Themes & Symbols
Cruelty vs. Compassion: August's treatment of Jacob, Marlena, and Rosie contrasts with Jacob and Marlena's compassion for the animals. The slaughter of horses and Uncle Al's willingness to let animals suffer represent the circus's institutionalized cruelty.
Illusion vs. Reality: August states that the circus is an illusion. The beautiful stateroom hides an abusive marriage, and the "Most Spectacular Show on Earth" is built from the scraps of failed circuses, propped up by violence and exploitation.
Power, Control, and Abuse: August's need for control drives the narrative. He manipulates Jacob and Kinko, abuses Marlena, and beats Rosie. Uncle Al wields economic power over his troupe, ensuring compliance through fear.
Aging, Dignity, and Mortality: Old Jacob's reflections on his physical decay and loss of independence contrast with the vitality of his youth. His struggle for dignity mirrors the circus performers' struggle for survival.
Symbol: The Bull Hook: The bull hook symbolizes cruelty and violent domination, representing the force required to bend a creature's will and the abusive power underpinning the circus hierarchy.
Key Quotes
"The whole thing's illusion, Jacob, and there's nothing wrong with that."
August's cynical statement encapsulates the central theme of illusion versus reality. He acknowledges that the circus is a carefully constructed facade, designed to entertain and distract, but he also suggests that this deception is harmless, even necessary, for survival. This quote reveals August's moral ambiguity and his willingness to justify exploitation in the name of entertainment.
Significance
This section is foundational, establishing the love triangle between Jacob, Marlena, and August. The introduction of Rosie provides the narrative with its central animal figure and the catalyst for future conflict. These chapters strip away romantic notions of circus life, exposing the brutal reality of exploitation and the desperate struggle for survival. The juxtaposition with Old Jacob's narrative deepens the story's emotional resonance, framing the flashback as a life-defining memory.