ST JOSEPH’S BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

ENGLISH LITERATURE PROJECT

NAME: AADHYA ANAND HARUGERI

CLASS: 11 A
YEAR: 2022-2023
ROLL NUMBER: 3
A Gorilla in the Guest Room
Q1. Describe the relationship between Durrell and the Gorilla, with close reference to the text.
(400) What do you
understand from this about the unique bond they shared? (200)

Through the story “A Gorilla in the Guest Room”, Gerald Durrell has beautifully portrayed
the indomitable relationship between Durrell and the Gorilla, N’Pongo which is truly remarkable. It
clearly shows the spectacular connect they had developed. The story brilliantly spotlights the
affections of amity, care and concern for our co-existents and the marvellous and true bond of love.

N’Pongo endears himself to Durrell in their very first meeting. Durrell amorously describes
N’Pongo as “the most handsome and healthy looking baby gorilla [he] had ever seen”. Then this
baby moves towards Durrell and holds up his arms to be lifted. When Durrell tickles him, he giggles
hoarsely bearing “eyes shining with amusement”. He sits in Durrell’s lap on the drive home from the
airport, occasionally looking up at his face. Obviously this baby has instinctively recognized Durrell
as a friend and is quite relaxed. N’Pongo had become quite comfortable and affable with Durrell
which was evident in his calm composed and serene behaviour.

Durrell admits that “[he] was captivated by N’Pongo’s behaviour”. He (N’Pongo) was pretty
naïve and gullible yet naughty, but nevertheless ‘well-mannered’. Even all of his faults were
mentioned by Durrell as pardonable lapses and justified for, showing the intimate and sympathetic
connection between them. Durrell’s love and understanding is also noticed in the way he takes care
to find a companion for N’Pongo, he knew that if left alone N’Pongo would become lonely and
morose. After brining in Nandy, Durrell carefully watches them, and warmly describes their growing
friendship.

The animal lover’s most anxious moments are those when N’Pongo falls ill. Durrell
apprehensively says “[they] were to live in a constant state of anxiety over [N’Pongo’s] health and
well-being”. The smallest hint of ill health caused him much dread. Durrell’s anxiety is very
touching, he is like the caring, anxious mother of a child who worries at every small symptom and
fears if this is the beginning of some illness “every time [N’Pongo] got saw-dust up his nose and
sneezed, [he] viewed this with alarm and despondency” wondering whether this was a prelude to
pneumonia or something worse? The detailed description of N’Pongo’s first real illness is a detailed
account of Durrell’s fretfulness and his effort to nurse him back to health.
 This clearly portrays the ineffable relationship between Durrell and the gorilla, they were
bosom lovers and intensely cared for each other. Their connection was one full of non-duality,
empathy, unconditional love and ceaseless affection, which truly touches the hearts of the readers.

Durrell’s penchant for N’Pongo and the deep, explicitly lovely and unbreakable bond they
had formed is just marvellous. He was easily agitated and constantly preoccupied with his well-
being. The story is heart-warming and yet insightful. Throughout, Durrell illustrates every detail
about N’Pongo with such affectionate warmth as is bestowed upon her child by a mother.

One needs to have a lot of love and intense affection for animals and a sense of accountability
as well as commitment to bond with them. The author instantaneously developed a strong feeling of
love and a sense of admiration for N’Pongo. The baby gorilla also seemed to take an immediate
liking to the author and showed his love for the author in many different ways. Durrell trusted the
little gorilla enough to accommodate him in his guest room. The ape too was well-mannered and
won the love of the author’s wife and mother as well.

Thus both the author and N’Pongo developed a strong bond. Each was passionate and fervent
for the other’s wellbeing, while bearing unflagging affection, tender care, boundless endearment and
infinite love in their hearts. Such was the exquisite, beautiful and unique bond between them.
Q2. How does the short story “A Gorilla in the Guest Room” throw light on the importance of
animal conservation?

In the very beginning of the story, Mr Durrell decides to change the status of the zoo from a
“mere show-place of animals” to an abode for contributing towards the conservation of wildlife since
according to him the primary purpose of a zoo should be to act as a reserve of critically endangered
species which need captive breeding in order to survive. He “felt that it would be essential gradually
to weed out all the commoner animals in the collection and to replace them with rare and threatened
species”. Durrell thus ponders over the idea. The list of these “species was long and [caused]
melancholy”. In fact without considering reptiles “it filled three fat volumes” of books. This clearly
shows how concerning the problem is, how essential it was and thus needed to be dealt with an
utmost sense of urgency. While he was thus “wondering which of this massive list of endangered
species” would first be welcome in the zoo “[a]n animal dealer telephoned and asked [him] if [he]
wanted a baby gorilla”.

Gorillas were never exceptionally numerous as a species. African jungles, their natural
habitats, were caught in internecine conflicts, and other causes which had pushed the gorillas to the
edge of extinction. More concerningly animal conservation was seldom in the governments’ agenda.
This portrayed the sheer need to secure and save them. Thus this gorilla came “high on [his] list of
priorities” ever since. Despite the numerous odds, including financial hindrance, Durrell managed to
raise funds and procure N’Pongo the Gorilla. Then when it was necessary to find N’Pongo a mate
Durrell decided to take in Nandy, who had eyes “which sadly showed fear, probably owing to some
earlier experience with humans”. Durrell saw a deep scar, about six to seven inches long on her head,
apparently caused by a machete which had split her scalp. This showed the brutality of man incurred
on innocent and meek animals, stressing on the crucial need to put an end to such acts and work
towards safeguarding of these poor souls.
Being rare animals, every time they suffered from small bouts of diarrhoea, everyone was in
an anxious state until they got over it. When N’Pongo deteriorated badly all were in distraught.
Durrell was in a dilemma regarding his trip to France. N’Pongo finally regained his health and was
back to his mischievous and rotund self. This incident, however, was a trying period for Durrell and
his team. He realised that although breeding rare animals in captivity was an urgent need and one
that afforded a lot of enjoyment it could at times turn into a harrowing experience, ‘a two-edged
sword’. Therefore the story rightfully signifies the urgent need to protect, defend and save these
animals, thus brilliantly throwing light on the importance of animal conservation.