Animals and Humans

Abstract

In recent years, Animal Studies experts have concluded that unique personalities and subjectivity exist in all species, not only in humans. Throughout the “long 19th century”, the attitude of man to the animal was the attitude of the obviously higher being – the “king of nature” – to the lower. This model has developed in the highest Russian society due to fashion for everything European, primarily English. In addition to those animals whose bodies were consumed for food, the main role belonged to horses, without the use of whose energy it was impossible to travel. In addition to expensive horses, the wealthy kept monkeys, peacocks, deer, bears and even wolves. The ownership of these economically “useless” creatures helped confirm the social status of the owner. The bond of people with animals in the status of a pet, which could become a family member, was especially close and mutual. The culture of relations with animals was different for men, women and children.