Chapter four is told from the perspective of Dave LaJoy, the dread-locked leader of the FPA. He is a rude, perpetually enraged man who is more upset by the fact that he and the FPA were not mentioned in an article about Alma’s address than the fact that, in his opinion, the article did not get the facts right. He lives in upscale Montecito, drives two cars, and owns a boat but, as many in our society today do, always wants to fight the power that gave it all to him. He is passionate about animal rights and safety but has little respect for humans, insulting a fat waitress and calling homeless people “bums.” He believes that Alma’s address is anti-animal propaganda that has been through Photoshop to overdramatize the plight of indigenous species while underemphasizing the rats. He and the FPA make a boat trip to Anacapa in a futile effort to save the rats, but Dave’s selfishness is once again highlighted through his fear of dying if the poisoner’s helicopter comes overhead. Later, his incompetency is shown when he attempts to give food to the wildlife, which could be disastrous to them and the ecosystem. Dave LaJoy is the perfect example of a mis-educated pseudo-activist whose wish for brief fame or infamy is shrouded in his insincere sympathy for the plight of animals.
Vocabulary:
Phalangeal - of or relating to the bones of fingers or toes
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