Book

The Story of Ferdinand is a children's picture book illustrated by Munro leaf in 1936. The story takes place in Madrid Spain and follows the story of a male bull named Ferdinand. Ferdinand was a healthy strong bull just like the other bulls, except he didn’t have any interest in fighting. While all the other bulls would run, jump, and butt heads, Ferdinad would sit under his favorite cork tree and smell the flowers. Throughout the whole story, Ferdinand has no interest in bullfighting, even after he is put into the fighting ring by mistake. The story ends with Ferdinand back under his favourite tree with the flowers, and is truly happy. The main artifact that I have chosen is the last 2 pages of the book, for it encapsulates the whole message of the story. Even after all the social norms and expectancies of what a bull should do like fighting and competing, he Ferdinand did what made him happy. This simple children’s book actually has a strong message of freedom and peace, which would be an idology that would pose a threat to Nazi Germany and Spain. Overall, this artifact symbolizes freedom.