The representation of Animal and “non-human” characters in Indra Sinha’s Animal’s People

Abstract

This paper aims at examining the representation of Animal, the protagonist, and “non-human” characters in Indra Sinha’s Animal’s People (2007). It discusses various ways in which the socially constructed concepts of “humanity” and “animality” are called into question and strategically deployed in the portrayal of these characters. It argues that Sinha attempts to dismantle binary thinking which not only constitutes the distinction between the human and the animal but also underpins the West’s domination of the East. More specifically, the paper argues that Animal whose deformity is caused by exposure to the toxic gas suffers from alienation—both from himself and from human society—mainly because of his binary view. It also discusses how Animal’s interactions with humans and “non-humans” help him reconstruct his identity. Furthermore, this paper displays how Sinha uses the representations of Animal and “non-human” characters to point out the problems of legal and environmental injustice in postcolonial India. Finally, it argues that Animal uses his new self as a bridge to connect all entities regardless of species. Through the portrayal of the intertwined lives of Animal and human as well as “non-human” characters, Sinha suggests a new kind of society in which all lives are equal.