In Orbiting Jupiter, cows represent a natural, unprejudiced moral judgment that contrasts with the prejudiced judgments of many human beings. The Hurds, a farming family in Maine, foster 14-year-old Joseph Brook after the state of Maine removes Joseph from the care of his abusive father, Mr. Brook. When Mr. Hurd and his 12-year-old son Jack Hurd show Joseph their barn, the cows make no distressed noises and continue eating peaceably—which innocent, unprejudiced Jack interprets to mean that the cows recognize an intrinsic decency in Joseph. Though on his first day at the Hurds’ Joseph refuses to try milking the cow Rosie, he rubs Rosie’s rump, which she loves, revealing his hidden kindness and fondness for animals. The next day, Joseph tries to milk Rosie but fails at first. When he plans to give up, Mr. Hurd explains that Rosie needs to be milked—and this appeal to Rosie’s needs motivates Joseph to try again, showing his sense of responsibility.
While various adults in Joseph’s life judge him negatively for his troubled past—for example, the vice principal of his new school, Mr. Canton, and his bus driver Mr. Haskell—the novel ultimately proves the cows right: Joseph ultimately turns out to be a kind, decent, brave boy who has had to face terrible circumstances. Thus, the cows symbolize how the naïve moral judgments of animals and children like Jack may be more accurate than the cynical judgments of prejudiced adults.
Cows Quotes in Orbiting Jupiter
“I don’t need the milk,” said my father. He pointed at Rosie. “But she needs you to milk her.”
”Do you think Joseph will fit in?” my mother asked me later.
“Rosie loves him,” I said.
I didn’t need to say anything more. You can tell all you need to know about someone from the way cows are around him.
Cows Symbol Timeline in Orbiting Jupiter
