In the quote from The House of the Scorpion, Tam Lin explains that rabbits do not resist when caught by coyotes because they lack the understanding of hope and accept their fate. He suggests that animals are powerless and simply give up when faced with danger, accepting death as inevitable.

In contrast, Tam Lin emphasizes that humans are fundamentally different. Humans have the capacity to fight against death and despair, even in seemingly hopeless situations. Their resilience and determination often enable them to overcome challenges that might seem insurmountable, highlighting a key difference between human and animal responses to mortality.