Sally Jones + the Chief = A Relationship Counteracting Species Boundaries

Abstract

This study analyses the interspecies relationship between Sally Jones, a gorilla, and her human companion, the Chief, in three novels by Jakob Wegelius, focusing on this dynamic relationship and how it reframes the narrative. The research explores three main questions: the modes of interspecies communication, the core elements of their companionship and how their mutual dependency subverts notions of human supremacy. The theoretical framework integrates perspectives from human-animal studies, including Donovan’s critique of speciesist ideologies that separate human and animal communication (2017), Haraway’s concepts of mutual dependence (2003) and contact zones (2008) in interspecies relations and Derrida's carnofallogocentrism, which interrogates anthropocentric hierarchies (2002). Methodologically, the study employs close reading of the texts paying attention to details in the texts, based on the research questions, theories and previous research, analyzing verbal and non-verbal communication between Sally and the Chief, as well as their interdependent relationship. Findings reveal that their companionship is rooted in mutual respect and understanding, transcending human-animal hierarchies. This relationship critiques notions of human supremacy, as the Chief and Sally navigate their lives as equals, disrupting conventional ideas of ownership and superiority, as well as species and societal boundaries and fostering empathy for ‘the Other’. The study contributes to the broader discourse on interspecies relationships, showing how narratives can shape ethical understandings of human-animal relations and potentially reshape perceptions of human-animal relationships in children’s literature.