Orangutans

Diski draws a comparison between herself and orangutans In "Moving Day." Diski discusses what she learns about orangutans from an animal keeper. This animal keeper tells Diski that orangutans are the most solitary of all the apes. They only come together for sexual reasons. They defend their territory fiercely. Diski learns about this in the days after her live-in-lover has moved out. She attempts to reclaim the space as her own once the man leaves. She also states that orangutans can be lazy and sullen, two traits she already associated with herself, when she wrote she was doing nothing and was melancholy. She specifically mentions that these creatures whose name means “man of the forest” resemble humanity (14). More specifically, however, apes resemble her. When Diski gives this insight into orangutans, she is actually giving insight into her own character.

The Natural Death Center

The Natural Death Center...