47 pages • 1 hour read
Hugh LoftingThe Story of Doctor Dolittle
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1920A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 1-5Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 1 Summary: “Puddleby”
Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and discusses the source text’s treatment of colonialist attitudes, which it portrays in a positive light, and its outdated and offensive depictions of Indigenous Africans, which rely on racist stereotypes.
Doctor John Dolittle, M.D., lives in the quaint town of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. Doctor Dolittle is well-known and respected in his town, and the townspeople admire him for his cleverness. He lives in a small house with a large garden, and his sister, Sarah Dolittle, serves as his housekeeper. Doctor Dolittle has a deep fondness for animals and keeps many pets including a cow, rabbits, a squirrel, white mice, and a hedgehog, among others. His favorite pets are Dab-Dab the duck, Jip the dog, Gub-Gub the pig, Polynesia the parrot, and Too-Too the owl. As Doctor Dolittle’s collection of animals grows, his house becomes increasingly untidy, leading to complaints from his sister and causing patients to stop visiting him. Thus, his reputation as a doctor suffers, and he becomes poorer as time goes on. Despite this, Doctor Dolittle remains devoted to his animals, even as his financial situation worsens. Eventually, he is left with only a few loyal clients, such as the Cat’s-Meat Man, as his funds dwindle. Doctor Dolittle sells many of his belongings to continue to support himself and his animals.
Chapter 2 Summary: “Animal Language”
Doctor Dolittle discovers his ability to communicate with animals with the help of his parrot, Polynesia. Polynesia explains to Doctor Dolittle that animals can talk in their own languages and teaches him some of these languages, starting with bird language. Fascinated by this new ability, Dr. Dolittle encourages Polynesia to continue to teach him various animal languages, making it easier for him to communicate and treat animals. Soon, animals from all around come to seek his help, spreading the news of his extraordinary abilities. Doctor Dolittle gains a reputation as a wonderful doctor for animals, becoming well-known and beloved by the animals and the local community. His practice grows, and he becomes busier than ever, treating a wide variety of animals and dealing with their unique needs and ailments. Polynesia explains the nuances of animal communication to Doctor Dolittle. She mentions that while people have learned to understand some animal signals, like a dog wagging its tail, they have not grasped the full extent of animal communication and language. Polynesia points out that animals have sophisticated ways of communicating, often misunderstood by humans.
Doctor Dolittle marvels at Polynesia’s wisdom and wonders about her age. Polynesia reveals that she is very old, having lived for many decades, which surprises Doctor Dolittle. The parrot further elaborates that animals have been communicating for thousands of years, and humans are only beginning to understand them.
Chapter 3 Summary: “More Money Troubles”
Despite beginning to make money again, Dolittle’s compassionate nature leads to challenges. Many animals that come to see Doctor Dolittle are very ill and need to stay at his house for extended periods. Even after recovering, they often choose to remain with him, leading to an increasing number of pets at his home.
Doctor Dolittle encounters an Italian organ grinder with a pet monkey, Chee-Chee. The monkey appears unhappy and poorly treated, prompting Doctor Dolittle to offer the monkey a place in his home. The Doctor also acquires a crocodile who wants to escape the circus. However, the crocodile’s presence frightens the locals and causes tension with Doctor Dolittle’s sister, Sarah, who demands that the crocodile be sent away. When the Doctor refuses, Sarah threatens to leave.
Eventually, Sarah packs up her belongings and departs leaving Doctor Dolittle without a housekeeper and facing increased financial strain. With many animals to feed and care for, and no money coming in, Doctor Dolittle becomes poorer than ever. However, he remains unconcerned about money, focusing instead on the happiness and well-being of his animals. The animals, seeing the Doctor’s plight, decide to help. They take on tasks around the house and garden to assist him such as cleaning the house and tending a garden. However, as Winter approaches the garden gets covered with snow and many of the animals start to go hungry.
Chapter 4 Summary: “A Message From Africa”
During a very cold winter night, while sitting by the fire, Doctor Dolittle and his animal companions hear a noise outside. The owl, Too-Too, alerts everyone, and soon they see Chee-Chee, the monkey, running in with urgent news. Chee-Chee has received a message from his cousin in Africa, informing them of a terrible sickness affecting the monkeys there, causing many to die.
Realizing the severity of the situation, Doctor Dolittle decides he must travel to Africa to help. Despite having no money, he is determined to find a way. With the help of his animals, the doctor begins to prepare for the journey. They sell some of his books to raise funds, and Doctor Dolittle borrows a boat for the trip. As they prepare for the voyage, the animals attempt to help in any way they can. Polynesia, the parrot, advises on what to take, and they ensure they have all the necessary supplies, including food and medicine. The excitement and seriousness of the mission are palpable among the animals, especially Gub-Gub, the pig, who is new to such adventures. Finally, they set off toward the seashore to begin their journey to Africa, determined to save the monkeys from the deadly sickness.
Chapter 5 Summary: “The Great Journey”
Dolittle and his animal friends embark on a voyage that lasts six weeks. They navigate the rolling sea, guided by a swallow carrying a tiny lantern to prevent them from losing their way. As they travel further south, the weather becomes warmer, which the animals enjoy, especially Polynesia, Chee-Chee, and the crocodile. However, they also face a violent storm, and the ship is damaged. They eventually spot what appears to be Africa and decide to navigate toward it. As the ship crashes on rocks near the shore, the animals and Doctor Dolittle safely swim to land and find shelter in a cave.
After the storm passes, they discover they have indeed reached Africa. Polynesia is particularly joyful to be back in her homeland. They encounter a man who informs Doctor Dolittle that they must all come before the King of Jolliginki who rules the land on which they have found themselves.
Chapters 1-5 Analysis
Lofting characterizes Doctor John Dolittle by his profound empathy and the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Unlike other people in his town, Dolittle treats animals with the same respect and care as humans, establishing the novel’s thematic interest in ethical animal treatment. His home, filled with a variety of pets, evokes a sanctuary where animals are valued and protected. This dedication leads to Dolittle’s financial decline as his home becomes increasingly untidy, causing patients to stop visiting him. Despite these troubles, Dolittle remains committed to his animals, even at a personal cost, highlighting The Impact of Human Activity on Nature through the growing rift between Dolittle and conventional social norms. His well-intentioned attempts to create an environmentally conscious home for his animals disrupt the conventions of human society, causing him to lose patients, and his sister to move away. Thus, Dolittle’s house becomes a microcosm of a natural haven, contrasting the infrastructure of the modern human world outside. Dolittle’s increasingly untidy house reflects his priorities and emphasizes the tension between societal expectations and personal values. Sarah Dolittle serves as a foil to her brother, underscoring his unique priorities and the ensuing conflicts they create with those in his life. Her departure reveals the sacrifices Dolittle makes for his animals, further isolating him from society as he solidifies his dedication to the natural world.
The theme of Adventure and Exploration surfaces in Chapter 2 when Doctor Dolittle discovers his ability to communicate with animals, thanks to Polynesia the parrot, who teaches him animal languages. This ability opens a new world for Dolittle, filled with possibilities for exploration and deeper understanding. It sets the stage for future adventures, emphasizing the excitement and challenges of exploring uncharted territories and forging new connections. Lofting establishes the motif of communication, particularly interspecies communication, as Dolittle learns to speak with animals. This motif supports the values of empathy and interconnectedness with nature. Animal languages symbolize potential harmony and mutual respect between humans and animals, challenging the anthropocentric views of the time. The various animals living with Dolittle symbolize the diversity and richness of the natural world, which he embraces despite the personal and financial challenges.
Doctor Dolittle’s determination to help the sick monkeys in Africa, despite his financial struggles, reinforces his altruistic nature. His readiness to sell his books and borrow a boat to fund the journey highlights his love for nature and commitment to animal welfare, transcending personal hardship. The animals’ eagerness to assist Dolittle in preparing for the voyage reflects their loyalty and the strong bonds they share with him, illustrating mutual support and cooperation. Thus, his decision to travel to Africa exemplifies a deep ethical commitment to animal welfare on a global scale.
The journey to Africa, a significant adventure for Dolittle, symbolizes his pursuit of knowledge and willingness to face unknown challenges. The six-week voyage, with its navigational difficulties and the violent storm they encounter, also emphasizes a narrative ethos of discovery and excitement. The successful navigation to and arrival in Africa mark the beginning of a new chapter in Dolittle’s life. The narrative’s depiction of Africa and the journey’s challenges highlight The Impact of Human Activity on Nature. Dolittle’s mission to heal the monkeys is a direct response to a natural crisis, illustrating the interconnectedness of human actions and environmental health. The journey, including navigating through storms, further reflects how human endeavors are often at odds with the natural world. The shipwreck and the animals’ subsequent survival emphasize resilience and adaptability in the face of environmental challenges.
Analyzing the early chapters of Doctor Dolittle through a post-colonial lens reveals underlying refrains of exploitation and paternalism. In Puddleby-on-the-Marsh, Dolittle’s collection of animals signifies colonial fascination and dominance over nature. The urgent message from Africa about a deadly sickness among the monkeys evokes a ‘white savior’ narrative, with Dolittle’s determined journey despite financial constraints mirroring colonial expeditions framed as missions of mercy. The perilous voyage to Africa, fraught with storms and shipwrecks, symbolizes the white Western European concept of the noble colonial journey. Thus, Lofting’s work, while viewed as a children’s classic, mirrors the colonial attitudes of its time, framing “exotic” animals as in need of white Western intervention and care.
