1. Domesticated Donkey
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, author of "The Donkey," was a religious man who wanted to influence his readers and promote social change through his writings and poetry. According to Dan Boyd, British Poets, 1880 - 1914, "Chesterton in his poetry, as in his other writings, saw himself as a spokesman for the poor and exploited whom he regarded as the mystical symbols of God's presence in the world." The American Chesterton Society concurs, adding:.
Chesterton's appreciation of the common man predates his college years. His teenage notebooks are full of a reverence for ordinary people, expressed as a corollary to his reverence for the most ordinary of objects and things. Chesterton's respect for the common man was basically a respect for free will. He said that the actions of a beggar are as momentous as the actions of a prime minister, because the beggar's actions are no less free and have an eternal significance surpassing all merely temporal enterprises, even those of prime ministers and kings (www.chesterton.org).
Chesterton's "The Donkey" is full of religious symbolism that, when told from the donkey's passionate perspective, promotes a change of opinion regarding this beast of burden, and of society's downtrodden and oppressed members.
The donkey as the narrator of this poem, allows the reader to experience a unique point of view, and creates a sense of empathy by using emotionally charged words and phrases, such as "moon was blood", "devil's walking parody" and "far fierce hour and sweet" (Chesterton 3, 7, and 14, respectively). Typically, the donkey is viewed as a mere work animal, not very intelligent, often abused and mistreated. As defined in Webster's Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary, "Donkeys are descended from the African wild ass and are sure-footed hardy animals that can walk for long periods in hot, difficult conditions with a minimum of food or water." Chesterton helps readers identify with the donkey's suffering when he writes, "The tattered outlaw of the earth, / Of ancient crooked will; / Starve, scourge, deride me .
However, he says to Donkey "People take one look at me and go, "Ah! ... A good example of toilet humour is when Donkey and Shrek were approaching the castle and Donkey said, "Ooh Shrek! ... , implying that he has small genitalia, and later in the play Donkey says, "I"m gonna need a whole lot of serious therapy! ... Most of the characters you will see in the film are also from well known movies or fairytales, such as Snow White, The Three Little Pigs, Donkey (from the carol Little Donkey), Three Blind Mice, Pinocchio and the Gingerbread Man. ... Despite being an animal, Donkey displays facial m...
There's not many of us left, donkey that is. Do you know the donkey? ... I could graze for hours with the sound of the stream in my head, when I noticed something in the water. ... "Do you know the donkey?" ... The donkey remained where he was. ...
Although the United States IS the finest country that does not mean there are no problems with it. ... As Bobcat Goldthwaite once said, "America's one of the finest countries anyone ever stole." ... Pride is what makes this the finest country in the world. ...
The original ANZAC forces were of the finest physical condition of the time. ... One of the most enduring tales of bravery was an individual, John Simpson Kirkpatrick, who carried wounded troops from the frontline, on a donkey he had found, and adopted. Simpson and his donkey would make their way to Quinn's Post where the opposing trenches were just 15 yards apart. ... He would leave his donkey under cover whilst he went forward to collect the injured. ...
This book also contains some of the finest, most expressive poetry in the Bible. ... In the land of Uz, is where he raised seven sons, three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a large number of servants. ... The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life with fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. ...
On this mission Shrek is joined by the loud mouthed Donkey, voiced by Eddy Murhpy. (Shrek about Donkey: The trick isnt that he talks, the trick is to get him to shut up). Donkey is probably the funniest character in the movie. ... But at Donkey's urging, Shrek realises that he loves Fiona! ... And they live happily ever after in Shrek's swamp (with donkey). ...