Analysis Of Christopher Smart'S &Quot;Jubilate Agno&Quot;

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The excerpt from Christopher Smart’s Jubilate Agno unfolds Smart’s interpretation of Christian guidelines of daily conduct that humankind should follow as demonstrated by his cat, Jeoffry. Popular opinion, according to several philosophical discussions throughout history (e.g. René Descartes and John Locke), deems animals as primitive and incognizant. However, Smart does not consider this feature in that negative context; he does not think animals, namely Jeoffry, are inferior to humans because of their primitive characteristics and tendencies. Instead, after studying his use of imagery, diction and repetition in Jubilate Agno, Smart clearly praises them as the very quality allowing animals to be easily trained and thus docile to God’s instructions. He seems to suggest that animals’ sole reliance on basic needs makes them sincere servants of God, allowing them to perform their duties perfectly without distraction or hesitation. In humankind’s case, namely the miser and the hypocrite discussed in Jubilante Agno, the latter results from its intrinsic paranoia and selfishness. In Jubilate Agno, Smart first describes Jeoffry’s animalistic motions and demeanor using both imagery and meticulously chosen diction. He interprets each action and behavior as Jeoffry’s fulfilling divine instructions. In lines 705 through 714, Smart describes Jeoffry’s basic activities necessary for survival as a series of “ten degrees” (Smart, line 704). While the ninth degree conveniently mentions the word “instructions,” Smart mentions that Jeoffry “looks up” for his daily objectives (Smart, line 713). Jeoffry’s looking up is Smart’s way of suggesting a heavenly entity ascribes Jeoffry’s activities, specifically hunting and eating. These activities certainly fulfill a divine directive, as “he (Jeoffry) will not do destruction if he is well-fed” (Smart, line 728). In addition, that

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