At this stage, I’ll take the liberty of recalling one of the most beautiful medical titles, “Hysteria in a Cat and a Canary Bird” (1898), an article by Henryk Higier discussing hysteriasis (Polish: maciennictwo) in domestic animals. Back then, the cat and the canary were the pets of choice on Polish lands. As research literature of the day tells us, they were afflicted by uterine ailments, as were their mistresses. It goes without saying that I can distinguish between a swan and a canary. My intention is just to highlight the fact that emotions of varying degrees are experienced by animals other than humans.
What about accusations of anthropomorphism? I’m aware that not everyone shares my viewpoint and takes note of the swan’s anger. I skip to one side and offer the following: while bad anthropomorphism serves people, the good doesn’t only suit them. My aim is sensitising you to animal emotions. Surely this can’t be a bad motivation!
One more thing. The bird-shaped goblet.
This gargantuan, luxurious toasting chalice inspires both awe and envy. To Freud’s mind, with some people only what stirs up jealousy is of any value at all. I don’t think I have to convince you about the twin similarities between anger and envy. One often disguises itself as the other. Neither needs to adjust much. Let’s not fool ourselves: what we consider worthless won’t ever make us angry.
And now I leave you here for a sec to consider a jarring question: “So what gets you angry?”
