Fifteen Dogs

In Chapter Two, Majnoun develops a deep emotional bond with a human and briefly reunites with Benjy, from whom Majnoun learns what happened to the pack.

Majnoun wakes up in the home of Nira and Miguel, who found him in the park after his attack and nursed him back to health. Majnoun simultaneously broods about the pack’s betrayal and accepts it as justified since he “had drifted so far from his instincts” (44). His grasp of human language gradually improves, shocking Nira, who subjects Majnoun to a battery of intrusive tests (45). He resolves never to speak again but continues to communicate by nodding and shaking his head. Nira grows to appreciate Majnoun’s wisdom but does not account for the ways their different frames of reference influence their beliefs.

Miguel, who does not believe Majnoun is consciously communicating, suggests that Nira take him for walks in the park. She feels that putting Majnoun on a leash would be degrading, but it becomes necessary after dogs who sense his otherness attack him in off-leash areas. Majnoun is capable of defending himself but does not like hurting other dogs. Nira purchases a leash that Majnoun can easily snap off if he needs or chooses to.

Majnoun feels ambivalent about returning to the park. He both fears and longs to meet his former pack because they are “his kind” (54). He eventually runs into Benjy by chance. Benjy notes Majnoun and Nira’s close relationship and, hoping to capitalize on it for his own gain, performs tricks, annoying Majnoun but delighting Nira. She invites Benjy to come home with them.

Benjy privately ranks Majnoun as inferior to Atticus since Atticus was able to outsmart Majnoun. Benjy believes that he can do the same if he learns human language. When Majnoun demands to know what happened to the rest of their pack, Benjy agrees to tell him if he teaches Benjy human language. Majnoun agrees, and Benjy reveals that the entire pack died after eating poison (but he does not elaborate on his role in the pack’s death).

After Majnoun’s attack, which Benjy secretly witnessed, Atticus informed the pack that they had to choose between returning to dog ways or exile. Bobbie chose exile, but instead of letting her leave, Atticus, Frick, Frack, and Max killed her. Benjy admired their clarity, purpose, and violence but was also terrified, since Atticus was not making predictable decisions and thus posed a threat to all. 

Atticus prohibited the new language, amplifying Benjy’s reliance on it. Unable to recover dog instincts, he resorted to imitation. As a small dog, his pack role was to be submissive, but he and Dougie, another small dog, grew weary of the constant performance of hierarchical roles and eventually snuck away. An elderly woman with cats took them in, but they grew to resent her clinginess. Dougie suggested returning to the pack, which Benjy instinctively felt would be a mistake. After Dougie killed one of the woman’s cats, however, she threw them out, and Benjy grudgingly agreed to return. 

Atticus, Frick, and Frack immediately attacked and killed Dougie, despite his repeated cries of submission. Benjy believed the murder was unnecessary but that Atticus and the others could not help themselves. They allowed Benjy to stay, but he hated them for killing his friend. He believed the pack performed dog behavior in a ritualistic, self-conscious way to prove to themselves that they were still dogs, and though ambivalent about killing his own kind, Benjy sought an opportunity to rid himself of them. He lured them to a “garden of death” (76), where people leave poised food out for city mice and rats. The pack members consumed the food and died, leaving Benjy free but alone.

Benjy presents their deaths to Majnoun as an unfortunate accident from which he survived, but Majnoun privately distrusts Benjy’s vague account. He simultaneously feels antipathy and brotherhood for Benjy and keeps his promise to teach him human language. Though a struggle, Benjy masters figurative language sufficiently to impress Nira, but when he asks her for money, she feels intimidated. She has a private word with Majnoun, after which he attacks Benjy but does not hurt him, leaving Benjy to believe that Majnoun is weak and easily dominated. 

Benjy turns his attention to Miguel, ingratiating himself by performing tricks and using human language. Miguel does not believe that Benjy truly understands but is merely mimicking it, making Benjy a “true dog” (85) in Miguel’s eyes, unlike Majnoun. Nira’s dislike of Benjy grows parallel to Miguel’s increasing regard. Seeking to elevate himself in the group dynamic, Benjy begins adopting Miguel’s scornful attitude toward Majnoun. When the opportunity presents itself, Majnoun attacks Benjy, intending to kill him. Benjy realizes that he misunderstood Majnoun and runs away before Majnoun can finish him. Nira later asks where Benjy is, and Majnoun shakes his head. They never discuss him again.