Am I Blue? By Alice Walker

Gina McCrosson

Professor Van Epps

English OL01

23 March 2012

 “Am I Blue?” By Alice Walker

Walker points out that humanity is perhaps not so different than animals, which is indicated in the actual title of her piece “Am I Blue?” This title, which on the surface can be interpreted as “Am I Sad?”, becomes much clearer as one reads the piece. “Blue” is the name of the lonely horse that she interacts with everyday, and the beginning of the story details the loneliness of this horse and how his actions show that loneliness. It quickly becomes much more complicated as Blue is introduced to a female horse for breeding, as his entire attitude toward life is altered and he becomes content (as is the case in human nature when one finds a mate). When Blue’s mate is taken away after the breeding process is over, Walker observes the level of destruction in his eyes, “If I had been born into slavery, and my partner had been sold or killed, my eyes would have looked like that… It was a look so piercing, so full of grief, a look so human…” (382). Walker compares this event to other more relatable events in humanity such as slavery and the treatment of Native Americans. Walker attempts to create a level of empathy for the suffering of this animal, and tries to help her readers understand that pain is pain, and it is felt by all creatures. Walker’s tone throughout the piece is a solemn one. The feelings that she portrays in her writing help to convince her readers of humanity’s ability to understand animal suffering and through that understanding they are more likely to empathize greatly with Blue’s pain. Once her readers are able to empathize, they are forced to analyze the now less clear differences between human and animal suffering. Walker’s title seems to now indicate the true meaning behind her entire piece: “Am I the same as this horse? Are We All?”

Walker’s comparison to the former mistreatment of Africans or Native Americans also calls to light a remarkable similarity. In essence, these tragedies were the embodiment of misguided power and the destruction of innocence and purity which is also the case for Blue. Walker noted that his eyes began to say something different, something tragic to watch, “…a new look, more painful than the look of despair: the look of disgust with human beings, with life…It gave him, for the first time, the look of a beast” (382). In the piece, it is remarked that a white horse is the “very image of freedom”, which is quite ironic. Walker remarks that “…the animals are forced to become for us merely ‘images’ of what they once so beautifully expressed.” With the use of compare/contrast techniques, Walker points out the irony in humanity’s view of animals. Walker is trying to show that humanity never looks any deeper than the surface and that things are much more complicated than most individuals are prepared to accept. As in the case of slavery, Walker points out that our treatment of animals is what makes them “beasts”.

 Walker’s intended audience is a broad one. This piece seems to be directed towards those who do not take animal suffering as a significantly tragic event. Walker is no doubt an animal enthusiast, but instead of taking an angry or even accusing approach, she attempts to instead evoke a sense of understanding from her readers. This story manages to point out to the readers how similar an animal’s pain can be with one’s own, which makes it much harder for an individual to ignore. Walker also points out the significance of animals to humanity, saying, as if from an animal’s perspective “Everything you do to us will happen to you; we are your teachers, as you are ours. We are one lesson” (382). Walker wants her readers to understand and appreciate the innocence and purity of animals. She calls for her readers to be aware of the honesty in the emotions in animals’ eyes and to take note of important lessons that they offer to humanity. 

This piece is rich with examples and comparisons that evoke an emotional response about an issue that for which Walker feels very strongly. The storytelling approach that Walker chose to take while writing this piece allows for her readers to become involved with the story and to connect with Blue, with the hope that those readers would become somewhat attached to him and therefore more affected by his pain. Once the readers are affected by Blue’s pain, Walker is able to compare that pain with other, more human experiences with which her readers are able to empathize. The goal of Walker’s piece is attaining empathy, in that it helps her gain a sympathetic ear towards her main point: Animals and humanity are not very different, and humanity should respect animals and what they are able to teach to the world about honesty, purity, and simplicity.