Cry Wolf: A Political Fable
Published in 2008, the political fable Cry Wolf by Paul Lake is indeed the self-proclaimed “Animal Farm for the 21st century.”
Like Animal Farm, in the opening chapters of the book, “Green Pastures Farm” is described as being completely run by domesticated animals who have assumed power after their master’s death. It is reported that a year has elapsed in which they have organized themselves and, through wise planning, have created a self-sustainable lifestyle without the machines and hands of men.
At the one-year anniversary celebration of their independence, the animals describe themselves as “not the beasts of the forest who live alone and rely on chance for survival, but wise domestic animals who know the comfort of a stall and the wisdom of herding together.” I was especially disturbed by the “comfort of a stall” remark. Going on three years of dorm life I have developed no such fondness for my “stall,” although I do not doubt it is a greater alternative than cuddling up to some rusting machinery in the old steel mill.
The author wastes no time making clear that the animals represent mankind, as the second chapter describes ducks as speaking sardonically, being disgruntled, and having multiple mistresses. Then again, why would a book that was actually about animals living happy, secure lives be published these days? Nobody wants to read about that.
As one might imagine, since the farm is an allusion to modern societies, it is no utopia. Thus, to deal with the various ills that arise, the animals have formed a governing council, and this council is in turn responsible for holding all the farm’s citizens accountable for the four laws they have established. These four laws consist of “No Trespassing,” “Walk by Day, Not by Night,” “Do Not Kill or Eat Living Flesh,” and “Walk in the Ways of Man.”
The first law of the society presented to the reader is “No Trespassing.” This simple phrase is posted on signs throughout the farm and on the fence marking the border. This adversity to intruders is comparable to present day countries’ issues with immigration, and further extrapolated, change in general.
Hoping to preserve their community dynamic, the farm’s borders are taken very seriously. Dogs are on constant patrol and the integrity of the bordering fence is vigorously maintained. One night, however, a wounded doe is discovered to have made it onto the farm by way of a stream that runs underneath the fence. Though his sarcasm is not blatant, I think that, if the author could name the little stream, he would call it the “Rio Grande.” The animals, who at this point begin referring to themselves as “citizens,” debate weather or not to let the injured doe stay. This incident is the beginning of a recurring challenge the farm faces: how to deal with intruders.
As debates take place over whether to accept the following animals into their farm and whether they can be guests or full-fledged citizens, the domesticated animals become increasingly obsessed with being politically correct. Fearing that they will appear selfish or lacking compassion, the animals begin to sacrifice their personal opinions to avoid further conflict with their fellow farm animals. The term “xenophobe,” which the animals adorably mispronounce as “xenaphobe,” is introduced and thrown around.
When a raccoon finds his way onto their territory, the farm animals are torn as to whether to keep him for his adroit handy work, or expel him back into the forest because he is ultimately a trespasser and breaking the first rule of their society. A hen attempts to argue the latter, but, when challenged, she succumbs to the fear of sounding harsh. “‘I didn’t mean to be xenophobic,’ stuttered the old hen, mispronouncing the new word. ‘I was just saying, you know, it might not be such a good thing to have a wild creature lurking about the farm. I certainly didn’t mean to sound xenophobic.’”
Therein lies the victory of the book, in my opinion. Through its portrayal of the fear the animals in their community possess, it warns of the dangers of sacrificing your own views for the sake of appeasing others.
It is thus worth noting that fear is a powerful emotion which, regardless of the society or point in time, should not be underestimated. This is well portrayed in Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, “The Pit and the Pendulum,” in which a man is being tortured by the Spanish Inquisition by means unknown to him. Every time he figures out how he is going to die the form of torture changes, suggesting the idea that the worst form of torture is the unknown and that everyone, albeit in varying capacities, fears the unknown. Furthermore, in an increasingly godless and connected society it is natural and more common to fear the unknown and the feeling of disconnectedness.
Another tie to modern society that is especially pertinent is the domesticated animals’ willingness to continually revise the standards for acceptance into their society. It plays out that, as they lower the bar for admittance to Green Pastures Farm, they are putting themselves into increased jeopardy. I could not help but think of the current economic situation, and how the lowering of standards for mortgages culminated in a global financial crisis. While a community of farm animals falling into anarchy is hardly comparable to trillions of dollars lost, the lesson remains the same: one should be mindful of the limit to the risk they can absorb and not compromise their standards for the sake of making their life temporarily easier.
As Cry Wolf progresses, it touches upon many other topics that are present in modern society. The issues of illegal immigration, migrant workers and cheap labor, the naturalization processes, amnesty, racism, oppression, discrimination, reverse discrimination, secularism, libertarianism, terrorism, political correctness, and anarchy are all examined within the fable’s 214 pages. You will not only see the professors, the students, the politicians, the idealists, the judges, and the activists in this story – you will see yourself. And that sight may be more clear and harsh than you have been used to seeing in a very long time.
But as a Lehigh student, one should have no problem reading this book, provided one treats it like a class and plans to spend three hours thinking for every one hour spent reading. The perils and schisms of the society presented in this book are downright scary. Although it is an effective political fable, I hope it stays just that – a fable – and out of my backyard.
