On the Poetics of Canine Narration
They tread a landscape existentially threatened by human wreckage yet are drawn to their fellow species, intriguing and strangely self-destructive. They decipher human scents, collaborate with people to survive, protectively sleep at their bedside and sometimes attack. But above all,
In Paul Yoon's novel Etna, a mixed breed shepherd speaks with a spare, impressionistic calm as he recalls his traumatic journey from an idyllic farm life to serving in a global war. This dog character gazes sensitively upon the vulnerable American soldiers who command him, pondering the shared humanity between them. John Berger's King: A Street Story and George Saunders' Fox 8 also feature dogs as narrators, showcasing the complex relationship between humans and animals in contemporary society.
Etna's story mirrors that of Buck in Jack London's Call of the Wild, who undergoes a similar transformation from a domesticated pet to a soldier in Alaskan Klondike, showcasing the psychological struggles of the canine protagonist as he grapples with the stark differences between his past and present. These canine narrators serve as Greek chorus-like figures, offering a unique perspective on human society while testifying to the self-destructive choices made by humans, highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding in a world fraught with conflict and destruction.
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