George's Choice

The One and Only Ivan

George's sympathy for the animals competes with financial insecurity until he takes a risk to help Julia and Ruby.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Worker Under Pressure A Worker Under Pressure from "The One and Only Ivan". A Worker Under Pressure Work and family George cleans the mall while supporting Julia and his sick wife.

A Worker Under Pressure from "The One and Only Ivan". A Worker Under Pressure Work and family George cleans the mall while supporting Julia and his sick wife.

A Worker Under Pressure Work and family George cleans the mall while supporting Julia and his sick wife. He is tired, practical, and dependent on the job, so his choices are shaped by bills and uncertainty rather than indifference alone. Small acts of kindness Mack gives George money for Julia's crayons, and George accepts the help. Their working relationship contains moments of generosity, but it also places George inside a business whose treatment of animals troubles him.

Concern for Stella Concern for Stella from "The One and Only Ivan". Concern for Stella Speaking up George points out that Stella's foot looks infected and urges Mack to take a closer look.

Concern for Stella from "The One and Only Ivan". Concern for Stella Speaking up George points out that Stella's foot looks infected and urges Mack to take a closer look.

Concern for Stella Speaking up George points out that Stella's foot looks infected and urges Mack to take a closer look. He sees the injury as a serious health problem rather than a routine inconvenience. Limits of sympathy Mack cites the cost of veterinary care, and George apologizes to Stella after Mack walks away. George's concern is genuine, but his dependence on the job leaves him unable to force a different decision.

A Death and a Silence A Death and a Silence from "The One and Only Ivan". A Death and a Silence Anger without power George confronts Mack with fragments of accusation, including that a veterinarian should have been called.

A Death and a Silence from "The One and Only Ivan". A Death and a Silence Anger without power George confronts Mack with fragments of accusation, including that a veterinarian should have been called.

A Death and a Silence Anger without power George confronts Mack with fragments of accusation, including that a veterinarian should have been called. Mack shrugs and leaves, unable or unwilling to face the responsibility directly. Grief carried home George wipes Ivan's glass with wet cheeks and avoids his eyes. His response exposes the cost of remaining silent: he knows the animals suffer, yet he cannot easily risk the work that supports his family.

The Billboard Decision The Billboard Decision from "The One and Only Ivan". The Billboard Decision Risk weighed against need George objects that putting a gorilla's painting on a billboard without permission could cost him his job.

The Billboard Decision from "The One and Only Ivan". The Billboard Decision Risk weighed against need George objects that putting a gorilla's painting on a billboard without permission could cost him his job.

The Billboard Decision Risk weighed against need George objects that putting a gorilla's painting on a billboard without permission could cost him his job. Julia asks him to think of Ruby's future, forcing a direct choice between financial security and doing what seems right. A limited but real act He eventually retrieves the ladder and helps post the image. George does not pretend to know whether publicity will work, but he accepts that uncertainty as part of acting on his principles.

Job Lost and Future Found Job Lost and Future Found from "The One and Only Ivan". Job Lost and Future Found Consequences arrive George loses his job after helping Julia and Ivan's campaign.

Job Lost and Future Found from "The One and Only Ivan". Job Lost and Future Found Consequences arrive George loses his job after helping Julia and Ivan's campaign.

Job Lost and Future Found Consequences arrive George loses his job after helping Julia and Ivan's campaign. He worries about the household's income and tells Julia he cannot immediately take Bob in, even though he understands why she asks. A possible next step The zoo may have a cleaning position for George later. The possibility does not erase the cost of his choice, but it connects his willingness to help the animals with a chance to begin again in a different workplace.

Early in the story, during George's nightly cleaning shifts

Before Stella's death, when George notices her infected foot

The day after Stella dies

The night after Julia recognizes Ivan's complete picture

After the billboard campaign draws scrutiny and Mack fires George