Behaving Like Animals In Brad Watson's Water Dog God

Humans like to think of themselves as moral, upstanding beings who cognitively and rationally function, but often they are accused of “behaving like animals.” This rationale is a social construct that encompasses the behaviors of people found as unacceptable and shameful to the average population. Although it appears demeaning to compare animals in such a critical manner, there is a clear separation between man and animal that places humans much higher on the scale of civilization. As illustrated in “Water Dog God” by Brad Watson, the lack of civilized presence among people damages the ability for one to understand proper conduct, leading to animal-like behaviors such as the absence of relationship boundaries, limited emotional availability, and no concept of hygiene or social norms. Further, the short story emphasizes the affects of various boundaries that humans cross easily and often due to their distorted nature. For most humans, the boundaries within a relationship are concrete and ridged; certain principles of behavior must be followed in order to maintain a healthy and normal relationship. In America, societal expectations of whom we marry and love are quite strict, especially in regards to our own family. Many believe it is beyond unthinkable for one to have relations

Luckily, she had escaped her dangerous and dysfunctional home after the tornado blew off the roof of her house. As the narrator gruesomely describes by stating “…what all must have climbed into her,” Maeve was the victim of rape (90). Her brothers and father had incestual relations with her, resulting in “…a vile and subhuman” pregnancy that was evil (90). By using her for sex and abusing her, the family acts in nonhuman ways. As humans, the men fail to understand that rape and incest are inhumane and horrible actions, just like an