The One And Only Ivan

“I’ve learned to understand human words over the years, but understanding human speech is not the same as understanding humans.

“Humans speak too much. They chatter like chimps, crowding the world with their noise even when they have nothing to say.” 

In this quote near the opening of the novel, the author introduces two major themes: the relationships between animals and humans, and the challenges and importance of communication. The narrator of the novel, a gorilla named Ivan, can comprehend human language. While real-life animals may not be able to do the same, through Ivan’s perspective, the author suggests that animals take in much more of humans’ behavior and motivations than most people believe. Ivan, seeing humans through the lens of a patient gorilla who uses words sparingly, views much of human communication as meaningless “chatter.” While communication is important, much of human communication is senseless and unnecessary, leaving animals like Ivan unable to fundamentally “understand” humans.

“Anger is precious. A silverback uses anger to maintain order and warn his troop of danger. When my father beat his chest, it was to say, Beware, listen, I am in charge. I am angry to protect you, because that is what I was born to do.

“Here in my domain, there is no one to protect.” 

Applegate emphasizes how by keeping animals like Ivan in cages, separated from others of their own species, humans deny these animals the right to do what they were “born to do.” Animals, like humans, need companionship and have roles to play in their social groups; Ivan, as a mature male gorilla, has the natural role of protector. Through Ivan’s isolation, the author highlights the importance of relationships—something Ivan is deprived of because of human interference in his life.