Review

Federico López
Fourth Year
First Trimester
2018

Robert and the Dog

By Ken Saro-Wiwa

In 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa was hanged as part of nine politically-driven executions carried out by Royal Dutch
Shell and the Nigerian government. Living in a country crippled by inequity and war, Ken Saro-Wiwa fought until his
very last breath to decry injustice in his homeland. “Robert and the Dog” is one of many stories he wrote to depict the
demeaning situation in Nigeria, though this one reaches out even further, diving into the theme of inequality as a
whole.

This story follows Robert, a steward working for a wealthy doctor. One day the doctor brings home his wife
and her dog. He observes how well treated and fed the dog is and doubts whether that’s fair, thus beginning to loathe
the dog. The couple decides to go on vacations and leave the dog in Robert’s care. In a surge of anger, he tethers the
dog to its settee, takes the food and milk to his children and leaves the dog to die.

This story shows how unfairness leads to unfairness. It is not the dog’s fault that the doctor is allowed the
possibility of big meals and a nice house while Robert isn’t, yet it gets punished in inequality’s stead, because of the
anger to which it led. The most burdensome problem society faces is, arguably, inequality. We must review our
priorities and put human life above all else, instead of turning a blind eye.

Ken Saro-Wiwa never fails to make a statement. If you’re looking for a politically-charged, true-to-life and
meaningful story, this one is wonderful and greatly recommended, as are all of Saro-Wiwa’s writings.

Words: 262