Freedom and Oppression

Freedom and oppression are central themes of "Menagerie, a Child's Fable." Johnson uses the setting of the pet shoppe as an analogy for the status of oppressed peoples in any society in which they have little control over the conditions of their own lives and are kept down by those in power. Mr. Tilford represents the oppressive attitudes of people who hold power over others in an undemocratic society. In the beginning of the story, the animals in the pet shoppe are not free. They are under the control of Mr. Tilford, who keeps them in captivity and oppresses them by exerting complete power over them. All of the animals in the shop, except Berkeley, the German shepherd guard dog, are imprisoned either behind bars or in tanks. Mr. Tilford is stingy about feeding the animals, and only provides them with minimal amounts of food. The...