The Silenced Call: Animal Vulnerability in a Human-Dominated World

Abstract

The article focuses on human–animal interactions in Eliza Orzeszkowa’s novella Pani Dudkowa. By naming the birds and caring for their nestlings, the female protagonists recognize the animals’ individuality and their emotional states. This sharply contrasts with the destructive actions of Tadeuszek, a rural boy whose killing of the chicks reflects social conditioning, class differences, and a lack of empathy. Following Levinas and Singer, the analysis challenges Descartes’ notions of animals as unfeeling machines and automata and highlights their vulnerability. The novella becomes a critique of human cruelty – especially toward vulnerable animals – and exposes gendered and cultural patterns: women often express care and sensitivity, while men are more likely to take part in actions that cause harm. Ultimately, the fate of the hoopoe family symbolizes the fragility of animals in a world dominated by humans.