Power, Control, and Abuse

What This Theme Explores: The theme of Power, Control, and Abuse in Water for Elephants delves into the ways authority corrupts, leading to exploitation within the Benzini Brothers circus. This theme extends beyond physical violence to include psychological manipulation, emotional cruelty, and systemic oppression. Characters like August Rosenbluth and Uncle Al wield their positions to dominate those beneath them, be they wives, workers, or animals. The novel explores the devastating effects of this abuse and the courage required to resist it.

How It Develops

The theme of Power, Control, and Abuse unfolds as Jacob Jankowski descends into the circus's dark underbelly. Initially, the power dynamics appear as a harsh necessity for survival. However, this power soon curdles into sadism and tyranny, culminating in a violent rebellion where the abused reclaim their agency.

Early Stages: The circus's brutal power structure is immediately apparent. "Redlighting," the practice of throwing men from the moving train, demonstrates the management's absolute and violent control over the workers. This establishes power as a tool to maintain order and eliminate the weak.
Escalation: The theme intensifies as August's abusive nature is revealed through his violent treatment of animals, particularly Silver Star and Rosie, and his psychological and physical control over Marlena Rosenbluth. Simultaneously, Uncle Al's financial abuse becomes clear as he withholds pay from the workers, treating them as disposable assets.
Climax: The abuse reaches a breaking point with August's public attack on Marlena and Jacob. This mirrors the systemic abuse, as Uncle Al's decision to redlight more men to save money leads to a planned uprising. The climax is a catastrophic stampede, where Rosie, the ultimate victim of August's cruelty, becomes the agent of retribution, killing him and shattering the circus's corrupt power structure.

Key Examples

Specific moments throughout the novel powerfully illustrate the theme of Power, Control, and Abuse.

Redlighting as Ultimate Control: The practice of "redlighting"—throwing men from a moving train—is the first and most shocking example of the circus's abuse of power. It is a tool used by Uncle Al and his enforcers, like Blackie, to eliminate anyone deemed a financial liability or a threat. When Jacob asks what happens to men who can no longer work, Camel grimly predicts his own fate: "I reckon I'll have an appointment with Blackie." This establishes the life-or-death power the circus management holds over its workers.
August's Violence Toward Animals: August's abuse is most frequently directed at the animals under his care. His treatment of Rosie is particularly horrific. When she fails to perform, his response is immediate and brutal. After one failed training session, the menagerie workers can only listen in horror.

The menagerie men and a handful of others stood outside, their ears pressed to the seams of the great canvas tent as a torrent of angry screaming began... Despite this, the distraught listeners could still make out the hollow thud of bull hook hitting flesh, again and again and again.

This passage vividly depicts the sounds of August's cruelty, emphasizing the helplessness of the animals and the workers' inability to intervene. The repetition of "again and again and again" underscores the relentless nature of the abuse.
August's Abuse of Marlena: August's control over Marlena is both psychological and physical. He isolates her, manipulates her, and ultimately resorts to violence. During their final confrontation in the dressing tent, his rage is absolute. He screams at her, "You whore! You slut. You mangy bitch!" before attacking her, demonstrating that his power is rooted in domination and fear. His final threat as she leaves him—"Till death do us part!"—is a chilling assertion of ownership.
Uncle Al's Systemic Abuse: Uncle Al embodies the cold, calculating abuse of a corrupt system. He consistently withholds pay from the working men, knowing they have nowhere else to go during the Great Depression. He justifies redlighting men to save money, viewing them as less valuable than the animals. When confronted by Jacob about his plan to force Marlena back to August, he lays his power bare: "I also look after those who don't." This statement reveals his willingness to manipulate and control others for his own benefit, highlighting the systemic nature of the abuse within the circus.

Character Connections

The characters in Water for Elephants are defined by their relationship to power and abuse, whether as perpetrators, victims, or resistors.

August Rosenbluth: As the equestrian director, August is the primary instrument of physical and psychological abuse. His diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia explains his volatility but does not excuse his cruelty. He uses his authority to terrorize Marlena and the animals, creating a world where his control is absolute and his "moments" of rage are a constant threat.
Uncle Al: The circus owner is the architect of the systemic abuse. His power is financial and absolute. He is driven by greed and a desperate desire to compete with larger circuses like Ringling. He treats his workers as disposable commodities, justifying redlighting and withholding pay as necessary business decisions, revealing a complete lack of empathy.
Marlena Rosenbluth: Marlena is a primary victim, trapped in an abusive marriage by social convention and her lack of options. Her love for her animals is a form of resistance, a compassionate counterpoint to August's brutality. Her journey is one of slowly finding the strength to break free from his control.
Jacob Jankowski: Jacob begins as an outsider and observer but is quickly drawn into the cycle of abuse. His empathy for the animals and his love for Marlena compel him to challenge August's and Uncle Al's authority. He represents the moral conscience of the story, struggling to act against an oppressive system.
Rosie: The elephant is the most profound symbol of the abused. Subjected to August's relentless violence, she endures her suffering with a quiet intelligence. Her act of killing August during the stampede is not just self-defense but a climactic act of rebellion, a final, terrible consequence of unchecked cruelty.

Symbolism

Gruen uses powerful symbols to represent the dynamics of Power, Control, and Abuse.

The Bull Hook: This is the most potent and visceral symbol of abuse in the novel. It is the tool August uses to inflict pain and assert his dominance over the elephants. The bull hook represents violent, sadistic control, and the fear it inspires in the animals is a direct reflection of the fear August cultivates in the people around him.
The Train: The circus train is a moving symbol of the rigid social hierarchy. A person's status and power are determined by their location on the train, from Uncle Al's luxurious privilege car at the back to the squalid, overcrowded workers' cars at the front. The act of redlighting—being thrown from the train—is a physical manifestation of being cast out from this self-contained world.
The Menagerie: The menagerie, filled with caged and chained animals, serves as a metaphor for the circus itself. The beautiful, powerful creatures are controlled, displayed, and often abused for profit, mirroring the lives of the performers and workers who are similarly trapped by their contracts and the harsh economic realities of the time.

Author's Message

Through the theme of Power, Control, and Abuse, Sara Gruen delivers a powerful message about the corrupting nature of unchecked authority and the moral imperative to defend the vulnerable. The novel argues that abuse thrives in closed, hierarchical systems where individuals are stripped of their agency and humanity. Gruen suggests that true strength lies not in compassion. The story's violent climax serves as a stark warning: when abuse is allowed to fester, it will inevitably lead to a destructive reckoning. The ultimate downfall of the Benzini Brothers circus is a direct result of the cruelty perpetrated by its leaders, suggesting that systems built on exploitation are inherently unstable and doomed to collapse.

Contemporary Relevance

The theme of Power, Control, and Abuse in Water for Elephants remains deeply relevant today. The dynamics of August and Marlena's relationship offer a poignant exploration of domestic violence, highlighting the patterns of control, isolation, and the cycle of abuse and remorse that trap victims. Uncle Al's ruthless business practices resonate with modern concerns about corporate greed and the exploitation of labor, where profits are prioritized over human dignity and well-being. Furthermore, the novel's depiction of animal cruelty speaks to ongoing debates about animal rights and the ethical treatment of animals in entertainment. The story serves as a timeless allegory for the ways in which power can be misused in any context—be it personal, corporate, or societal—and the enduring importance of empathy and justice.

Essential Quote

"I know I am not doing good work...I am not making an honest living. I am doing what I must to survive."

This quote, spoken by Jacob, encapsulates the moral compromises individuals make within abusive systems. It highlights the desperation that drives people to participate in or tolerate abuse in order to survive, underscoring the insidious nature of power dynamics and their impact on individual choices. It also serves as a reminder that even those who perpetuate abuse may be victims themselves, trapped in a cycle of exploitation.

Power, Control, and Abuse