Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is a novel told from the perspective of a horse. It follows Black Beauty’s life, from a happy colt on a country estate to his time in London where he experiences both kind and cruel owners. Through his story, the book highlights the mistreatment of horses and advocates for compassion, and humane treatment. It became a key work in the animal rights movement.
“We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words.” (pg.101)
I chose this quote because I think it is a pivotal moment in the book where Black Beauty, reflects on the suffering of animals and the misunderstanding from humans who often do not care about their pain. After all, animals cannot express themselves in words so we sometimes treat them as lesser. I think the author is trying to tell readers to understand that the absence of speaking does not lessen an animal’s ability to suffer. It brings attention to how humans treat those who are unable to speak their pain which makes this book making it a very real reflection on basic human empathy, compassion, and responsibility toward other living beings.