Animals as Humans or Humans as Animals? A Study of Human and Animal Relationship in Robert Henryson’s Morall Fabillis

Abstract

the purpose of this study is to analyse the characters of Robert Henryson’s Morall Fabillis in relation to the theme of carnality which makes humans bestial and to illustrate how the poet utilises this genre to advise people moralistically. The character analysis has been conducted by evaluating the characters within the fables, determining the characteristics each character has, and grouping these characters that display similar characteristics under the same character type. In this regard, three character types are observed: animal-like, hybrid and human-like. Hence, out of the thirteen fables that constitute the work; six fables include animal-like characters, five fables include hybrid characters and two fables include human-like characters. It is argued that along with the animal-like characters, Robert Henryson’s use of the hybrid and human-like characters within the narrative part allows him to situate his main theme of carnality in the middle of the narrative part.