Summary Of Jane Goodall's Book 'Through A Window'
Through a Window: Comparison of Chimpanzees to Humans
Jane Goodall’s book, Through a Window: My Thirty Years With The Chimpanzees of Gombe, did fantastic work in comparing chimpanzees to humans. There are more similarities than differences when it comes to chimpanzee’s social behavior, intellectual ability and even the emotional factors. They behave similarly when it comes to family, the bond between the mother and her children and how the siblings interact and influence each other. Although they can’t talk with a verbal language like humans, these creatures are amazingly smart in many other ways, including the use of tools, sign language, cognitive skills and strategies to increase their reproductive success. In addition, particular events …show more content…
Goodall stated, chimpanzees have “exceptional intelligence” (Goodall 2000:42). Starting with the use of tools, she was amazed when she first saw a chimpanzee, David Greybeard make a tool. David Greybeard took a stick, ripped the leaves off and used it to fish for termites. Another incident, when Goodall was trying to give a banana to Mike and he was too nervous to get it from her hand, he then grabbed a stick and knocked the banana off her hand (Goodall 2000:19). Melissa, the chimpanzee that had twins also showed how she used leaves to wipe off the feces on her leg from her babies (Goodall 2000:163). This was an incredible discovery in mid-1900’s since man was the only known creature that used tools (Goodall 2000:19). Another major similarity is the chimpanzee’s use of sign language. Goodall described how the chimpanzee, Washoe learned and used sign language very easily. For instance, when she was asked in sign language to get an apple in another room, even though she could not see it, she knew what it was and where to get it. Another chimpanzee named, Loulis can do fifty-eight correct signs just from imitating Washoe and other chimps. Although they could not learn how to speak, nonetheless, being able to do sign language means that their learning capacity is incredible and very similar to humans (Goodall
Jane Goodall’s book, Through a Window: My Thirty Years With The Chimpanzees of Gombe, did fantastic work in comparing chimpanzees to humans. There are more similarities than differences when it comes to chimpanzee’s social behavior, intellectual ability and even the emotional factors. They behave similarly when it comes to family, the bond between the mother and her children and how the siblings interact and influence each other. Although they can’t talk with a verbal language like humans, these creatures are amazingly smart in many other ways, including the use of tools, sign language, cognitive skills and strategies to increase their reproductive success. In addition, particular events …show more content…
Goodall stated, chimpanzees have “exceptional intelligence” (Goodall 2000:42). Starting with the use of tools, she was amazed when she first saw a chimpanzee, David Greybeard make a tool. David Greybeard took a stick, ripped the leaves off and used it to fish for termites. Another incident, when Goodall was trying to give a banana to Mike and he was too nervous to get it from her hand, he then grabbed a stick and knocked the banana off her hand (Goodall 2000:19). Melissa, the chimpanzee that had twins also showed how she used leaves to wipe off the feces on her leg from her babies (Goodall 2000:163). This was an incredible discovery in mid-1900’s since man was the only known creature that used tools (Goodall 2000:19). Another major similarity is the chimpanzee’s use of sign language. Goodall described how the chimpanzee, Washoe learned and used sign language very easily. For instance, when she was asked in sign language to get an apple in another room, even though she could not see it, she knew what it was and where to get it. Another chimpanzee named, Loulis can do fifty-eight correct signs just from imitating Washoe and other chimps. Although they could not learn how to speak, nonetheless, being able to do sign language means that their learning capacity is incredible and very similar to humans (Goodall