Half Brother

This section explores the complex relationship between rights and responsibilities from both legal and moral standpoints, highlighting the themes of Communication and Understanding and The Ethics of Animal Experimentation.

Legally, Zan now belongs to Siegal University and Jack Helson. Ben laments, "The idea of Zan being owned, being property—I hated it" (334). This quote highlights the mirroring of Ben and Zan, who have become brothers and emotional supports for each other. Despite the legal definition of his ownership, Zan is capable of expressing his wants, desires, and frustrations, making Peter's earlier statement that Zan's treatment feels dehumanizing even more apt. Although Helson and Richard discussed Zan's tenure at Siegal University and verbally agreed that Helson would not sell Zan for biomedical research, this verbal contract is unenforceable. Zan is only at Siegal for a few months before Helson arranges to sell him to the Thurston Foundation, implying that this deal was in the works almost as soon as Zan arrived. However, while the verbal contract is unenforceable, the moral contract that Ben, Sarah, Peter, and eventually Richard feel toward Zan is something they feel obligated to act on, ultimately uniting them as a team and saving Zan.

Richard initially states, "I would never transfer Zan to a biomedical lab," but he tries to justify Helson's decision to do so (253). When Sarah argues that the Thurston Foundation is well-known for its cruelty toward animals, Richard replies, "We use animals to advance human science. It's completely acceptable […] Ben, if you had a terrible disease, and I could use Zan to find a cure, but it would kill him, there'd be no hesitation. I'd sacrifice Zan's life in a second, to save yours" (339). Richard makes his moral lines clear. He never considered Zan a family member, and once Zan goes to Helson, Richard no longer feels any responsibility toward him. However, the responsibility he feels toward his son helps him in redeeming his character; though he will not act to save Zan alone, Richard comes to see that Zan and Ben are emotionally tied to each other, and Ben will not be okay if Zan is sent to a biomedical lab.

Sarah captures the essence of The Ethics of Animal Experimentation when she says, "Zan's not human. But we taught him that he was. We raised him like a child. Our child. And we have responsibilities to him now" (340). For Sarah, allowing Zan to go to the Thurston Foundation is morally wrong, though legally unobjectionable. Sarah's argument calls into question scientists' responsibilities toward their test subjects, particularly Richard’s, highlighting a key difference between them. Sarah and Ben feel the Tomlins are required to ensure Zan's safety for the rest of his life, despite having no legal claim on him, because he was taken into their care and altered by them. Richard’s refusal to see this until it means he may lose his son demonstrates the differing scientific and human perspectives on animal welfare and the concepts of responsibility and community, highlighting a breakdown in Communication and Understanding.

Even those who agree that the Tomlins are morally responsible for Zan disagree on what that responsibility requires. For Ben, it means Zan should live with the Tomlins for the rest of his life. However, even Sarah, who agrees they need to protect Zan, says that keeping him at the house is not an option. Eventually, they decide the best option is to send Zan to a sanctuary. That Ben agrees to this speaks to his love for Zan and understanding of his needs as an animal; Ben understands Zan for who and what he is, even if it means relinquishing his companionship.

To do what is morally right for Zan, Sarah, Ben, and Peter engage in several activities that are legally and perhaps morally questionable. They break federal law by tampering with Helson's mail based on a hunch. Although the hunch turns out to be correct, they know they have broken the law, but it is this letter that ultimately saves Zan when the media gets ahold of it. Likewise, Sarah and Ben steal Zan from his cage and smuggle him out of the country, breaking even more laws on the grounds of what is right for Zan. However, these actions present questions about the difference between legal and moral correctness and when and how it is justified.

Further complicating matters is the implied issue of The Ethics of Animal Experimentation. While the Tomlins save Zan, he is only one chimpanzee. The Thurston Foundation will no longer experiment on Zan specifically, but nothing is done to prevent them from torturing another chimpanzee. The characters’ behavior suggests that Zan deserves this special attention because he was altered by them and taken into their possession. There is a sense of responsibility and even guilt over Zan’s welfare, and when the circumstances appear dire, Ben takes Zan and runs away, solidifying their relationship as partners and brothers. However, in their escape, Ben sees why Zan cannot continue to live in human-only environments when he bites through a bully’s shoe and accidentally breaks Ben’s hand while saving him from falling. This environment is dangerous for both Zan and the humans he is around, though there is tragedy in Zan never asking to be taken in by the Tomlins. Ironically, in their quick interaction that frees them from the bullies’ reach, Ben and Zan show that Zan has indeed achieved a high level of communication, climbing the tree at Ben’s urging.

While The Ethics of Animal Experimentation are questionable, and the text makes a strong case for the dangers of attempting to integrate a chimpanzee into a family, it also presents a likeness between some humans and animals through Zan and Ben’s relationship. Ben buys Zan for $1 after Helson is exposed. At the chimpanzee sanctuary, Margaret Inverness takes extra care to communicate with Ben about the process of turning over Zan, recognizing the bond between them. She assures Ben, and thereby Zan, that Zan can have as many comforts as he likes, and they allow time for just Ben and Zan. In Ben’s final dream after saying goodbye, he imagines himself signing “love” to Zan, which Zan signs back. This ending represents the peace in the restoration of a more natural order of things, with Zan at a sanctuary where he will be protected for the rest of his life, and Ben back to being a boy without the responsibility of providing care for a chimpanzee. However, their close relationship has steered them through The Challenges of Growing Up, as they were children together, and can both now be freer, happier, and safer.