Abstract
This paper endeavors to study the relationship between humans and animals through the exploration of the attitudes of different people (especially August and Jacob) towards animals in the novel Water for Elephants (2006) authored by Sara Gruen. The sufferings of the elephants and the love between the elephant and the male protagonist Jacob draw people’s attention to animals and make them to understand and show care for other species. Based on the theory of animal rights put forward by David DeGrazia, this paper analyzes and investigate thoroughly the relationship between humans and animals from the perspectives of moral status of animals and animal rights and ideology, intending to rethink modern civilization of human centralism.
Keywords:   Sara Gruen   humans and animals   moral status   animal rights  

本论文主要通过分析美国作家莎拉•格鲁恩的小说《大象的眼泪》（2006）中不同人物（特别是奥古斯特和雅各）对待动物的态度和方式，探讨人与动物的关系。大象在马戏团的遭遇及其与男主人公雅各之间感人的爱，引起人们对其他物种的关心。论文以戴维•德格拉齐亚的动物权利理论为基础，从动物的道德地位及其权利和意识问题，分析探讨人与动物的关系，旨在反思人类中心主义的现代文明。
关键词：  莎拉•格鲁恩   人与动物   动物权利   道德地位  

Water for Elephant is a novel written by Sara Gruen who is an animal conservationist to some extend supporting numerous charitable organizations that protect animals and wildlife. The novel tells a moving story of love between a human being, Jacob Jankowski, a veterinary student of Cornell University and an elephant, Rosie. The story happened on a circus train during the economic depression in the U.S.A. in 1930s. Jacob, as a vet taking care of circus animals, treats them as his friends with all his heart and Elephant Rosie saves Jacob and Marlena in return, which illustrates that animals, equal to people, are friends of human beings, instead of slaves and they also have rights enjoyed by people.
Humans survive and reproduce in a wide variety of environments through cultural adaptations. In contrast, other species are primarily able to survive and reproduce due to biological adaptations that result from eons of natural selection and biological evolution. The cultural adaptations of humans have allowed them to colonize nearly every ecosystem type on Earth.