Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The One and Only Ivan, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Animal Abuse and Human Cruelty
Kindness
Art and Self-Expression
Memory and Storytelling
Family, Friendship, and Identity
Summary
Analysis
the next morning. Ivan watches as Mack stops his car, gets out, and stares at the billboard for a long time.
Like George, Mack doesn’t think highly of Ivan’s paintings—it’s probably a shock to see that Ivan is capable of depicting something so clearly.
Themes
mad human. Ivan acknowledges that mad gorillas are loud—but mad humans can also be very loud, particularly as they throw chairs and break machines.
Once again, Ivan suggests that humans and animals, particularly gorillas, aren’t so different. They all show their anger in similar ways.
Themes
phone call. When the phone rings, Mack answers it and glares at Ivan. Mack is perplexed when he learns that Julia contacted whoever is on the line. Mack says that Ivan paints, and then says it was his idea. He begins to smile and says photos won’t be a problem—and Ivan will keep adding to the billboard. An hour later, a man from the paper comes to take Ivan’s picture. Mack suggests the photographer take a picture of him with Ruby.
The attention from the local paper shows Mack that this might not be a bad turn of events. It might be possible to ignore the message behind Ivan’s painting and instead market the fact that Ivan is a skilled painter. In turn, Mack seems to believe that this will bring more visitors to the mall and alleviate his financial troubles.
Themes
a star again. Mack tapes the newspaper story about Ivan’s billboard onto Ivan’s window. More and more people come to visit and buy Ivan’s paintings. He paints for the visitors and even paints Bob, so that Bob can be on the billboard. In the afternoons, Mack and George put up more of Ivan’s pictures on the billboard. These days, Ivan’s paintings cost $65 in the gift shop.
It's a show of how much Ivan loves and respects Bob that he puts Bob on the billboard. This shows Bob that no matter his thoughts on home or homelessness, he still has friends who love him and will honor him in whatever ways they can.
Themes
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the ape artist. Now, people call Ivan “the Ape Artist” and “the Primate Picasso.” People visit him and Ruby all day long—but Ruby’s days are the same. She still has to perform in three shows every day and has nightmares every night. One night, after telling Ruby a story to help her fall asleep, Ivan tells Bob that this isn’t working. Bob suggests that Ivan be patient, but Ivan is tired of being patient.
Ivan just has to trust that the right person is, at some point, going to see the billboard and understand what he’s trying to say. But it’s difficult to trust that his plan is going to work, especially when he sees that Ruby is becoming more and more downtrodden and dull.
Themes
interview. One evening, a man and a woman come to interview Mack, Julia, and George. As Mack and the woman talk, the man walks around and films Ivan painting, Ruby tied to the floor, and the claw-stick.
It’s important that the man focuses on filming Ruby tied up and the claw-stick. These things suggest abuse in a more overt way than Ivan’s billboard, and they may catch the attention of whomever watches this footage.
Themes
the early news. When Mack turns on the TV, the mall is on The Early News at Five O’Clock. Ivan watches himself, Ruby, Julia, and the billboard on the TV. Then he sees the claw-stick on the screen.
It’s been somewhat unclear up to this point how open Mack is with visitors that he uses a claw-stick. But having it broadcast on the evening news means that nobody will be able to ignore the fact that he uses a training tool that the novel associates with cruelty and domination.
Themes
signs on sticks. The next morning, there are a few people in the parking lot with “signs on sticks.” They have pictures and words on them. Ivan notices a drawing of a gorilla holding a baby elephant, and he wishes he could read the words.
Sure enough, the news broadcast showing the claw-stick has made it clear to people that Mack doesn’t treat his animals well. The people in the parking lot are presumably protestors, though Ivan doesn’t seem totally aware of what this means.
Themes
protesters. More people come over the next few days. They want to free Ruby—and some want Mack to shut the mall down. One evening, Mack complains to George that the protestors have it wrong and thanks George for nothing. After Mack storms away, Julia tells George that she loved the sign that read “Elephants Are People Too.” George smiles and goes back to mopping.
To Julia, the protestors are great news—they’ll be able to agitate for change and take Ivan’s billboard message one step further. But to Mack, the protestors represent a loss of income and livelihood when he’s already struggling. The same goes for George—he wants the animals to be cared for better, but he also has his family to think about.
Themes
check marks. One day, a man with a clipboard comes to inspect the mall. Ivan watches him make check marks as he looks at Ivan’s floor, Ruby’s hay, and the water bowls. Mack scowls as he watches, and Bob hides outside, unwilling to let the man see him.
This man seems like he’s performing a welfare check on Mack’s animals. Through this, he’s going to be able to formally decide whether or not Mack is abusing or neglecting his animals.
Themes
free ruby. Every day, more protesters and cameras gather outside. One day, Ruby asks Ivan why the people are yelling at her. Ivan says they’re angry, but they’re not angry at Ruby. A week later, the man with the clipboard returns with a woman in a white coat. The woman watches Ivan and then Ruby, and then she talks to Mack. When the man gives Mack a piece of paper, Mack covers his face and then goes into his office.
To Ruby, all the fuss makes a hard situation even more difficult, since she doesn’t immediately grasp that she’s not in trouble. This drives home how young and naïve she is—she needs Ivan to protect her—which makes Mack’s ongoing cruelty toward her seem particularly harsh. Seeing Mack’s reaction to the piece of paper, it seems likely that he didn’t pass the inspection—validating that he hasn’t been treating his animals properly.
Themes
new box. The woman returns not long after with some other people, who put a big box in the middle of the ring. The box is about Ruby’s size. Ivan knows the woman is here to take Ruby.
Though it’s not yet clear where this woman wants to take Ruby, it seems likely that Ivan has succeeded: Ruby is going to be taken away from her sad life in the mall.
Themes
training. Later, the woman leads Ruby to the box, puts an apple inside, and tells Ruby she’s a good girl. Then, as Ruby inspects the box, the woman makes a metal object click and gives Ruby treats when Ruby touches the box. In a disapproving tone, Bob explains to Ivan that this is clicker training—the woman wants Ruby to learn that when she hears the clicker, she gets a treat.
The clicker training method is a stark contrast to Mack’s claw-stick to training. With clicker training, Ruby gets a treat whenever she does the right thing—something that’s far more positive and less traumatic than being threatened with violence when she does the wrong thing.
Themes
After a lot of clicks and treats, the woman puts Ruby back in her cage. Ruby asks Ivan why the woman gave her carrots for touching the box, and Ivan says that Ruby is supposed to go inside. When Ruby points out that there’s nothing in the box, Ivan explains that Ruby is going to get out of here in that box. He tells Ruby that the woman is from the zoo, and she will take Ruby there. Ruby isn’t excited, like Ivan expects her to be. Ivan tells her that the box will take Ruby to other elephants, humans who care, and a bigger place to live. Ruby says that this is her home, and she wants to live with Ivan, Bob, and Julia. But Ivan says that this place is her prison, not her home.
It's significant that the woman seems like she’s more than willing to let Ruby take her time deciding to get into the box. It’s going to be Ruby’s choice to go, at least to some degree. But for Ruby, this is a difficult choice even though she’s been abused and neglected at the mall. She relies on Ivan and Bob to keep her happy and safe, and she doesn’t yet feel comfortable trusting humans to take her to other elephants. Reminding her that the mall is her prison shows Ivan again using language to tell Ruby the truth, and to encourage her to make the right decision.
Themes
poking and prodding. The woman returns with an animal doctor. He has a bag that looks dangerous. The doctor spends an hour inspecting Ruby, and then he enters Ivan’s cage. Since Ivan can’t copy Bob and hide under Not-Tag, he beats his chest. The doctor leaves Ivan’s cage and says, “We’re going to need to put this one under.” Ivan doesn’t know what this means, but he still feels like he won.
It’s important that Ivan uses the word “cage” here, rather than “domain.” Now that he’s going to escape his cage, he’s willing to use a more truthful word to describe where he lives. It’s also telling that Ivan beats his chest at the vet, as this suggests that Ivan is now more in touch with his identity as a silverback.
Themes
no painting. Now, nobody asks Ivan to paint or Ruby to perform the shows. The only visitors are protestors, and Mack spends his days in his office.
Though the novel implies that it’s going to be better for Ruby and Ivan to move to the zoo, this doesn’t mean that the transition is going to be easy. Ivan loves painting, so being in the zoo without access to art supplies means that he may be even more bored than he’s been at the mall.
Themes
more boxes. When Ivan wakes up from his morning nap, Bob is on Ivan’s belly watching four men with a big metal box—a box Ivan’s size. Bob says the box is for Ivan and, judging by how many boxes there are out there, they’re taking every animal—even Thelma. Ivan asks where they’re being taken, and Bob says probably the zoo or a shelter. In a bright voice that’s somehow sad, Bob says that good things always come to an end and that he’s going to miss Ivan’s belly. Ivan asks what’s going to happen to Bob, but Bob pretends to sleep. Looking at the box, Ivan realizes how Ruby feels. He doesn’t want to get in—the last time he was in a box, Tag died.
Ivan has spent the last few weeks trying to get Ruby moved to a zoo, but it didn’t occur to him that he’d be moved to the zoo as well. And again, the novel frames it as a good thing that all the animals are going to leave the mall—but it’s still a major transition. For Ivan, the prospect of getting in the box will require him to face and perhaps relive the trauma of watching his twin sister die before his eyes. He feels more empathetic toward Ruby in this moment, too.
Themes
good-bye. George doesn’t grab his mop when he and Julia arrive that night. Instead, as he gathers his things, Julia runs to Ivan’s cage, puts her hands up to the glass, and tells him that Mack fired George. As she cries, she says that the zoo woman told George that they might have an opening at the zoo cleaning cages. Ivan approaches the glass and puts his hand up to Julia’s. Though her hand is tiny, their hands are very similar. Julia sniffs that she’s going to miss Ivan, Ruby, and Bob, but that Ivan deserves better than this. Ivan wishes he could respond.
Though this is a difficult transition for George and Julia too, it’s telling that Julia frames this as a positive, necessary change for Ruby and Ivan. She knows that they’re going to experience more humane treatment at the zoo—and in her mind, it’s more important to do what’s right for them than to cling to her close relationship with them.
Themes
Then, Julia goes to Ruby’s cage and tells Ruby to have a good life. Ruby reaches out to touch Julia as Julia asks where Bob is. George hasn’t seen him, and Julia wants to know what will happen to Bob—especially if Mack shuts the mall down. George says he’s worried too, but Bob is a “survivor.” Julia suggests that Bob could come live with them and keep Sara company. She’d pay for him with her dog-walking money, but George says no. Julia nods and then runs to Ivan’s cage. She slips him a drawing. The drawing depicts Ruby playing with a baby elephant and Ivan holding hands with a pretty female gorilla. They’re all eating yogurt raisins—and in this picture, Ivan is smiling.
For Julia, it’s important to ensure the welfare of all the mall’s animals, including Bob. As a stray, anything could happen to Bob if she and George don’t take him home and care for him. But George makes it clear that their family is going through a difficult time financially, so they can’t take on an animal right now. Just as Ivan’s billboard painting presented a happier future for Ruby, Julia’s drawing shows a happier future for Ivan—one that she presumably hopes will come true.
Themes
click. The door of Ivan’s cage is open, and he can’t stop staring. Now, the giant box is open and pushed up against Ivan’s cage door. All he has to do is walk through the door and into the box. The woman from the zoo—Maya—is here, making the clicking sounds and giving Ivan yogurt raisins, marshmallows, and apple slices. They do this for hours. Ivan sees Ruby watching, waiting to see what he’s going to do. Ivan touches the box and sniffs it—there’s a mango inside. He knows he has to do this for Ruby. This is the way out. He steps into the box.
Ivan doesn’t want to get into the box after what happened to Tag. But he also understands that since he’s a stand-in parent of sorts for Ruby, it’s essential that he push his fears aside and show her that the box isn’t so scary. Now, he has to trust that Maya isn’t going to hurt them. He has to be willing to accept her kindness, or his painting won’t have fulfilled its purpose.
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an idea. Ivan steps back out of the box and into the cage—and then he has a fantastic idea. He suggests that Bob sneak into the box and come live at the zoo. Bob, however, insists that he’s an “untamed” “wild beast.” And besides, humans might not be the most intelligent, but they’d definitely notice.
Bob’s response is humorous, given that zoos are where “wild” and “untamed” animals live if they’re not in the wild. And as a domestic dog, Bob isn’t wild. But he nevertheless encourages Ivan to not underestimate humans, as they’ve underestimated him so many times.
Themes
respect. Ruby asks Ivan if he thinks the other elephants will like her. He assures her that they’ll love her, and then Ruby asks if the gorillas will like Ivan. Ivan reminds her that he’s a silverback. This means that the other gorillas don’t have to like him; they just have to respect him. But privately, Ivan wonders if the gorillas will respect him. He hasn’t been able to practice being a gorilla or a silverback, really. But Ruby continues to ask if the other elephants will know jokes. Then, she says that she’s going to get in the box tomorrow. Ivan says that’s a good idea, and that Stella would be proud. Ruby is looking forward to playing tag with the other elephants, and Ivan thinks of Tag.
Again, Ivan is able to show Ruby how much he cares for her by encouraging her to get in the box and by making it clear that she’s going to be happy at the zoo. But importantly, Ivan doesn’t know for sure that Ruby will be happy—he has to trust that everything is going to work out, and that Ruby will find the better life that Stella wanted for her. When Ivan thinks again of Tag during this conversation, it shows that Ruby is connecting Ivan to his past and helping him remember.
Themes
photo. Late that night, Mack opens Ivan’s cage. He seems smaller for some reason. Bob races away to hide, but Mack tells him it’s not worth it. Then, sitting on Ivan’s tire swing, Mack tells Bob to enjoy his last night with Ivan; Ivan is leaving tomorrow. Ivan is distraught. He hasn’t had enough time to think or say goodbye. Mack pulls a picture out of his shirt of him and young Ivan, sitting in Mack’s convertible. Ivan thinks that he was a handsome youth, but he doesn’t look like a gorilla. Mack chuckles and reminisces about all that he and Ivan did together. Then he stands, sighs, and tells Ivan that he’s going to miss him. He leaves Ivan’s cage and doesn’t look back.
Mack isn’t entirely evil or unfeeling. This photo in particular suggests that Mack loves Ivan, or at least did when Ivan was little, and tried to do the best he could for him. Though Ivan has spoken fondly about his time living like a person with Mack, it's significant that here, he notes that he doesn’t look like a gorilla in the photo. Now, Ivan seems more connected to the fact that he’s a gorilla, and he sees the way that Mack raised him as harmful and unintentionally cruel.
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