I got into a discussion today about the theme of animal transformation in books (and other media more generally). That is, a character changing into an animal.
There are many stories where humans become animals at least for some time. The reverse also occurs but is generally presented differently enough to be more or less an entirely different thematic element in stories it’s a part of. Anyway, much more rare is when that new animmal form becomes a permanent or primary state for the character, either until the end of their lives, or on past the end of the book.
We came up with a few stories between us. Obviously, most famous is Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, but there were a couple of other horror-style stories (I think a Lovecraft short story, some Goosebumps, some others), a modern folktale (Lady Into Fox by David Garnett), and maybe a few others.
We also discussed the Animorphs books, which are somewhat notable for the character remaining an animal having a choice in the matter. We were able to come up with other media where characters became and remained animal by choice, but no other books, off the top of our head, though the Firekeeper Saga by Jane Lindskold gets an honorable mention.
That’s rather interesting to me. Many stories depict animal transformation as an element of horror, or being taught a lesson, or in an otherwise extremely negative light, but especially when characters are given a choice, such transformations can be preferred or even sought after.
I was hoping to gather some more thoughts on this subject, maybe hear about how other stories have played with the idea of permanent transformations, by choice or otherwise. It’s a subject which is fascinating to me for various reasons.
by Swibblestein