The Emissary: A trigger for a deep analysis about the positive effects of having pets during adolescence

To what extent are teenagers capable to live in a world without affection, love, support and understanding? How do they benefit from having someone’s company, especially their pets?


“The Emissary”, written by Ray Bradbury, is a short story in which Martin, the main character, is confined to bed due to an illness. Luckily, he is not alone and enjoys the company of Dog. Acting as Martin´s emissary, this dog reports the weather and its changes. Dog not only announces news from the outside world, but he finds visitors for his master’s bedside. One of Martin’s adored visitants is his nice teacher, Miss Haight, who brings him orange-iced cupcakes and books. They get on really well and that is why Miss Haight’s death is a hurtful discovery for Martin. October is coming to its end and Dog is gone for a few days. Martin feels really alone but then he gets over this situation when Dog returns bringing with him Miss Haight’s skin from the cemetery.

In essence, this is a story which examines the great advantages that taking care of pets offer to teenagers. Hence, this story that can be of use to create a debate on those advantages pets proffer. This paper is aimed to show that “The Emissary” can be used in a teenage class to reflect upon the positive effects of having pets during adolescence.



One of the positive facts that is explained by The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is that a child who learns to take care of animals, and treat them kindly and patiently, may get invaluable training in learning to treat people the same way. Positive relationships with pets can aid in the development of connection with others as well. Besides, developing positive feelings about pets can contribute to teenagers’ self-esteem and self-confidence. These important advantages are the result of a rich interaction between teenagers and pets.

Adolescents in real life experiment the positive effects of raising pets. It is not surprising then, that Ray Bradbury illustrates those effects through Martin and Dog in the story analyzed. This teenager fulfils his needs to be in contact with the outside world through his pet. It is the loyal dog who allows Martin to touch and smell the environment learning the weather and seasons. Martin knows it is autumn again because Dog comes running into the house bringing the windy cold smell of autumn with him (p.1). Another sign that Dog serves as a medium between the outside and Martin is highlighted when the main character locks a special collar around Dog's neck. It is a note, painted on a metal square saying: 'MY NAME IS DOG. WILL YOU VISIT MY OWNER, WHO IS SICK? PLEASE FOLLOW ME!' Dog carries it into the world every day (p.2). Dog, acting as a messenger of the outside world, allows Martin to learn how the world is like outdoors. Similarly, a professor at the Cumming School of veterinary medicine of Tufts University called Megan Mueller, explains that pets help teenagers feel connected to others and the world around us. The young adults who have a strong attachment to pets, report more connected feelings to their communities and relationships.


Samples of benefits that pets cause on teenagers arise in various ways in ‘The Emissary’ (Ray Bradbury 1947). It is not only possible to learn the benefit of being in contact with the outside world by having a pet as a real connection, but also to acknowledge that a person can gain a loyal companion. The close relationship between Martin and his companion Dog can be considered a clear case of loyalty and respect to each other. Dog´s great effort to get visitors for his master in order to avoid his sadness and loneliness is an instance of this two important values. As it can be appreciated in the story, Martin is alone after Dog is gone. Depression and sorrow invade Martin’s body and mind:

“There was no sound of his soft feet outside the house. No loud barking in the cold night air. Nothing. Dog was gone. Dog wasn't coming home — ever.” (p.3)

It is noticeable that Martin is depressed as he doesn’t count with Dog’s support. The protagonist of the story and teenagers in real life go through hard circumstances during adolescence. They are in a situation in which they have to be responsible for many decisions they make and at the same time they still have to ask for permission for certain things they want to do. It is a moment of conflict and loneliness. LaVonne Perez noted that twenty out of one hundred teenagers experience depression at one point. In one of her articles she highlights, “a pet can give a teen the emotional support they need.” In this sense, starting a debate using the story in the classroom will allow students to identify with Martin and his hard transition in adolescence. Besides, teenagers will recognize the important role their pets play in their lives. This is why a debate among teens about these facts would be very useful in the classroom.

 

Because of all the inevitable connections that can be drawn between “The Emissary” and pets benefits, it is possible to consider this story as a tool to use in a teenage classroom. Robert C. Small Jr. (1992) wrote about Young Adult Literature (YAL). There, he grouped certain elements that should be taken into account when classifying stories for teenagers. “The Emissary” can be considered a story oriented to them because it follows Small’s characteristics when defining YAL. The main character of this story is Martin, a teenager who fits a teen identification. What is more, it is a short story, and it is easy to read with young adults. Also, it can be clearly appreciated in the story that events and problems are related to teenagers. The loneliness that Martin experiments is shown in the following lines:


“Days got shorter, darker earlier, he [Martin] could see that through his window. The trees were naked. The autumn wind was colder in temperature. But it was just an empty show outside his window, nothing more. He wasn't interested.”


Given these points, it can be stated that “The Emissary” follows Small’s characterization of YAL. The story is a useful tool to be used at school to help students reflect upon their interaction with animals and to debate the positive effects they can get from them. One way to make teenagers think about the advantages of having pets is to offer them a chance to compare Martin and Dog’s interaction by deconstructing the story. In this way, teenagers could be able to recognize and value their own perception of their special connection between them and their unconditional pets. The following situations of the story are key instances to invite adolescents to learn the benefits that Dog produces in Martin’s life. The students could be positioned to identify pet’s benefits and to apply them in their personal experiences.


In the following scene of the story, Dog serves as a means of communication between Martin and the outside world:

What is it like outside today, Dog? Tell me.' Lying there, Dog would tell him. Lying there, Martin would know what autumn was like; like in the old days before sickness had put him in bed. His only contact with autumn now was his dog, his leafy fur; the only hint of summer gone by — his autumn-emissary.

The following passage shows how Dog demonstrates love and affection towards Martin by licking his hand.

Dog barked and showed a long length of pink, wet tongue, which he passed over and along the back of Martin's hand.

In these lines Martin shows that he really enjoys Dog’s company and support although his mother prohibits Dog from being on the bed.

'Get down,' warned Martin. 'Mom doesn't like you up here.' Dog dropped his ears. 'Well. . .' Martin softened, 'just for a little while, then.'


According to the deep analysis made about “The Emissary”, it is possible to use this story as a trigger to carry out a debate among adolescents about the gains that pets generate in them. Therefore, they will not only be able to analyze Martin´s relationship with Dog, but they will also be able to reflect upon their own personal relationship with their pets.


References:

-LaVonne Perez (2012) Why Teenagers Should Have Pets. https://nghsblog.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/why-teenagers-should-have-pets-by-lavonne-perez/

(Access date: 11/06/2015)


- Rushmie Nofsinger (2014) Caring for animals may correlate with positive traits in young adults.

http://now.tufts.edu/news-releases/caring-animals-may-correlate-positive-traits-young-adults


(Access date: 09/06/2015)