Why did some people find it such a disturbing experience to see Jenny the Orangutan in the London Zoo? How did her behavior affect Charles Darwin?
Jenny dressed, walked and behaved like a two year old. People traveled from far places to have a look at jenny. Jenny was an orangutan. She resembled a human two year old child that some people were in awe of, while some showed dismay.
She wore a frilly dress and showed human mannerisms. Many people were disconcerted to see an animal bearing so much resemblance to a human. Many at that time believed that the human race was the most superior race. With the introduction of animals who were lot like humans the arrogant streak in humans had to go.
Charles Darwin was intrigued upon seeing her. He noticed that jenny obeyed her keeper. She would accept things from people only when the keeper gave her his consent. Darwin was reminded of his two kids when he saw Jenny. He once played the harmonica and gave it to Jenny, who tried to copy.
He noticed that sometimes jenny was disobedient to her keeper. If she did not get what she wanted, she acted just like a naughty two year old kid. She would also hide in a blanket if she wanted to hide from her keeper when she was afraid of punishment.
Darwin described the behavior of jenny by that saying that if a man sees the sheer brilliance of an orangutan, he would not boast of his prominence. According to him, man considered himself arrogant and after looking at Jenny mankind should become more humble.