Faithful Elephants by Yukio Tsuchiya
     In class, we read a beautiful and touching story called "Faithful Elephants" by Yukio Tsyuchiya. In this story, zoo keepers must kill the elephants in the Ueno zoo because they are worried bombs might drop on the zoo and animals will run loose. The zoo keepers are very emotionally attached to the elephants and have a very hard time killing them, but must in order to insure citizens safety.
     The zoo keepers try to kill John, one of the Elephants, by mixing poisoned potatoes with the regular potatoes John eats. John picks out the only the good potatoes and the zookeepers must find another way to kill him. The zookeepers are obviously upset by this. It almost seems like fate that the elephants didn't die. It seems, to the zookeepers, like they are going against fate by trying to kill them. It pains the zookeepers to do something that seems so wrong, but they know they must do it. I think the process is stressful for not only the elephants, but also the zookeepers. They will have to watch and insure that they die.
     When they try to inject poison directly into the John, it doesn't work either. the needle snaps off and they must find yet another way to kill their beloved "children", as a zookeeper referred to the elephants. At this point, the zookeepers must feel incredibly guilty about trying to kill the elephants. Whenever they try to kill John painlessly, it doesn't work. The zookeepers probably think it is a sign that he did not die. They know that it is wrong to kill the elephants but they know that they have to. I think the zookeepers love the elephants dearly but would be much more relieved if they died. If the elephant died on the first attempt made to kill him, the zookeepers wouldn't be as stressed and worked up as they are now.
     Finally, the zookeepers decide to starve the elephants to death. This does work, but it is a slow and painful death. It is agonizing for both the elephants and the zookeepers. The elephants must suffer every moment they are alive, this is the last thing the zookeepers want. After such a painful and long time, when the elephants did die, it was a relief and not necessarily a sad moment. After all they've been through, death is a happy moment where they finally stop suffering. "They just lay on their sides, hardly able to see the white clouds floating in the sky over the zoo". This quote shows a peaceful scene, not one of sorrow, but one of relief and finally being able to rest. I think the author is trying to show that the elephants are in a better place now, they have stopped suffering and are free from the harsh reality of war procedures. Death was the solution to stop their pain.
    All in all, I think that death is not always a bad thing. It can be an end to suffering. the people around the victim may not wish for them to die, but it may be for the best if they are in pain. It is worse to see someone you love dying and suffering than dead and relieved of misery. "Cherry blossoms fell on the grave, like snowflakes". This quote shows that the grave represents not only death but peace and rest.