The Zoo of Death is a five-level, underground creation built by Prince Humperdinck and Count Rugen. It's filled with all manner of animals for Humperdinck to hunt, and he chooses an animal to hunt and kill daily. Morgenstern insists that Humperdinck and Rugen constructed the Zoo of Death to fix the problem of Humperdinck's absences (he needs to be around in case Lotharon dies and he becomes king) and while this may be technically true, it also offers Humperdinck a place where there's no chance of him failing to kill any of his targets. In this way, the Zoo of Death becomes symbolic of Humperdinck's cowardice and his belief that he's above rules of fair conduct. is especially true with regard to Westley's death. While Humperdinck does catch Westley out in the wider world, the process of actually killing Westley gives Westley no chance at a fair fight because he's caged and chained—Humperdinck is guaranteed to be successful against a helpless victim, as all the animals in the Zoo are. The Zoo thus also contrasts the cruel Humperdinck with Inigo and Fezzik, both of whom are presented as honest men who go out of their way to ensure a fair fight against Westley.
The Zoo of Death Quotes in The Princess Bride
“I'm very interested in pain,” the Count said, “as I'm sure you've gathered these past months. In an intellectual way, actually. I've written, of course, for the more learned journals on the subject. Articles mostly. At the present I'm engaged in writing a book. My book. The book, I hope. The definitive work on pain, at least as we know it now.”
“Westley dies,” my father said.
I said, “What do you mean, ‘Westley dies’? You mean dies?”
My father nodded. “Prince Humperdinck kills him.”
“He's only faking thought, right?”
My father shook his head, closed the book all the way.
“Aw shit” I said and I started to cry.
“I'm sorry,” my father said. “I'll leave you alone,” and he left.
“Who gets Humperdinck?” I screamed after him.
He stopped in the hall. “I don't understand.”
“Who kills Prince Humperdinck? At the end, somebody's got to get him. Is it Fezzik? Who?”
“Nobody kills him. He lives.”
“You mean he wins, Daddy? Jesus, what did you read me this thing for?”
“Down is our direction, Fezzik, but I can tell you're a bit edgy about all this, so, out of the goodness of my heart, I will let you walk down not behind me, and not in front of me, but right next to me, on the same step, stride for stride, and you put an arm around my shoulder, because that will probably make you feel better, and I, so as to not make you feel foolish, will put an arm around your shoulder, and thus, safe, protected, together, we will descend.”
The Zoo of Death Symbol Timeline in The Princess Bride
