# Critique of Human Arrogance in The Story of Doctor Dolittle

> Theme guide for The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting.

Through characters like Polynesia the parrot, the book criticizes human self-importance and the notion of 'dumb animals,' showing that animals have complex languages and intelligence that humans often fail to recognize.

## Where it surfaces

- [Animal Language](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/ii-animal-language): Polynesia criticizes humans for calling animals 'dumb' while being ignorant of animal communication.
- [VI: Polynesia and the King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/vi-polynesia-and-the-king): The King's blanket distrust of white men due to past exploitation highlights the arrogance and greed of colonial powers.
- [The Leader of the Lions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/viii-the-leader-of-the-lions): The lion's initial pride and refusal to help, followed by his humbling, serves as a critique of arrogance and the value of humility.
- [The Monkeys' Council](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/ix-the-monkeys-council): The monkeys are shocked by the White Men's need for money and their practice of caging animals in menageries, highlighting human folly.
- [XI: The Black Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xi-the-black-prince): The King's arrogance in imprisoning the Doctor and the use of trickery to undermine his authority.
- [The Barbary Dragon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xv-the-barbary-dragon): Ben Ali's arrogance as a pirate is contrasted with his humiliating fate of becoming a birdseed farmer.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/themes/critique_of_human_arrogance
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/themes