I believe the intensity of the pity you feel for an animal has to do with how it evokes pity for yourself.... Innocence is something we humans pass through and leave behind, unable to return. But animals live and die in that state, and seeing innocence violated in the form of cruelty to a mere duck can seem like the most barbaric act in the world.
The quote from Sigrid Nunez's "The Friend" reflects the deep connection between human emotions and the innocence observed in animals. It suggests that our pity for animals is a reflection of our own vulnerabilities and the loss of our innocence. As humans, we experience a journey through innocence that ultimately gets overshadowed by life's harsh realities, while animals remain in that pure state throughout their lives.
Nunez highlights that witnessing the...
