2.) Why do you think Orlean was so graphic in her writing?
1.) The very last sentence of "Likelike" is really separated from the rest of the text. "Otherwise, the room was Biblically tranquil, the lion at last lying down with the Corsican lamb, the family of jackdaws in everlasting, unrequited pursuit of a big green beetle, and the stillborn Bengal-tiger cub magically revived, its face in an eternal snarl, alive-looking although it had never lived." Susan Orlean talks about the slaughter of animals throughout the entire text, then refers to the Bible suddenly. This was a great way to make sure the reader was paying attention from the beginning to the very end. One will wonder 'how can you make a biblical reference about using deceased animals as an art form?' Orlean does a good job of breaking down how taxidermists justify it.
2.) Orlean was very straight forward about how serious taxidermy is to those who are involved and even got down to the fine details of making dead animals look real; from their heads, and for those who did full bodies, down to their toenails. A couple of taxidermists literally had a conversation about the toenails on an animal: "What did you do for toenails, Ken?" someone asked.
"I left the black bear's toenails in," he said. "They looked pretty good."
Someone like myself who is far from an expert on taxidermy would that it simply consists of stuffing a dead animal. In reality, they order parts, bleach them, mix them to create other species and so on. Orlean did a wonderful job of getting into great detail about how much work is put into the profession, no holds barred.
Tiffany, I like the way you pose the the question as to why Susan Orlean referenced the Bible.The tranquility that existed between humans and animals made me think;could it be the issue of creation as she discusses taxidermy which in my view is like "recreating" animals? I thought your quote was well put.
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