What is so fascinating about circus life?

[Christina Rose]

Still reading the book but I can say that I have always found the circus life so alluring. I am a weird one because I don't actually like going to what most people think of as the circus as I am terrified of clowns, but I do love the more traditional cirucus' with the ideas being centred around misfits and the strange, yet wonderful. I love the pull of the circus. I love that it seems like a way of escaping the every day. It looks like it is a way to be part of a faimily and to bring joy to lots of other people at the same time.

Once I have finished the book I will be able to answer your other questions.

This reminds me of the movie, The Greatest Showman.

Awesome movie and soundtrack!

[Snowflake]

I think it's the excitement of watching others lead a daring life that draws many people in. I've never been to a circus though. I've just never had the opportunity. I don't like the idea of animals being mistreated or leading a confined life though. It would be interesting to see the human acts though.

[Kibet Hillary]

I think it is good given that people are fascinated by it. As long as one can make someone happy and earn a living from it as well, then it is well.

[Mandel]

Personally I have never been to any circus but from watching it on television ,circuses look amusing catching the fun and enjoyment of every person, bring out child in every adult. What fascinates everyone the most is the really extreme and insane tricks displayed by the people at the circus. Another thing is the variety of food and fun games available outside .

[Amondi Oluoch]

Circus life draws people from all life diversities. It's kind of a world of it's own, at one point it's there, at another it's not. At times I am made to believe they use some kind of charms though I actually don't believe in them. At other times you just see it's a trick being used on you and you are so blinded by fun that you don't see it. While others is actually practice.

[Kendra M Parker]

I think it's the excitement of watching others lead a daring life that draws many people in. I've never been to a circus though. I've just never had the opportunity. I don't like the idea of animals being mistreated or leading a confined life though. It would be interesting to see the human acts though.

The treatment of animals certainly is a concern. I think that’s why Cirque du Soleil has gained so much popularity. They focus on the human aspects and the daring nature.

I thought it was interesting how the hippo in this book was treated. It shows a good example of how the animals might be treated in the circus. The poor hippo was brought along in one of the oldest, worst trucks, and lost its life because the circus was unwilling to do something about it. I think for the hippo, at least, the circus was a sort of prison.

While Duke and many of the other sideshow characters found the circus to be family and freedom, I think there were others who felt like it was a sort of prison. For example, the clowns did not seem to be completely happy with their lives. Why not? Duke says they were mostly tortured souls, but what drew them to the circus? Was it that they could not do some other form of acting? Was it something else? I don’t think we get an answer here, but it does make me ponder this further.

[strawberrysab]

Still reading the book but I can say that I have always found the circus life so alluring. I am a weird one because I don't actually like going to what most people think of as the circus as I am terrified of clowns, but I do love the more traditional cirucus' with the ideas being centred around misfits and the strange, yet wonderful. I love the pull of the circus. I love that it seems like a way of escaping the every day. It looks like it is a way to be part of a faimily and to bring joy to lots of other people at the same time.

Once I have finished the book I will be able to answer your other questions.

This reminds me of the movie, The Greatest Showman.

Ah! I watched it a few days ago for the first time and loved it!!

[lmvartanian]

I agree that the most appealing part of the circus is the lack of social norms and embracing of the weird. It's fascinating to watch the strange become the norm under the circus tent. I feel as though today's circus has morphed into the extremes, with examples such as Cirque du Soleil. The amazing talents that people work hard to perfect awakens the wonder in us all. The danger these performers put themselves in by performing amazing feats of acrobats, high wires, or even sword swallowing keeps the audience engaged and on the edge of their seat throughout the whole performance.

[Vlinstry]

Still reading the book but I can say that I have always found the circus life so alluring. I am a weird one because I don't actually like going to what most people think of as the circus as I am terrified of clowns, but I do love the more traditional cirucus' with the ideas being centred around misfits and the strange, yet wonderful. I love the pull of the circus. I love that it seems like a way of escaping the every day. It looks like it is a way to be part of a faimily and to bring joy to lots of other people at the same time.

Once I have finished the book I will be able to answer your other questions.

This reminds me of the movie, The Greatest Showman.

I love that movie so much and I feel that this is one of the reasons why!

[sophiemer642]

I really do not find anything fascinating about circus life. The only thing that really interests me are tight rope tricks. The rest is either gross or boring to me.

[sophiemer642]

Not a big fan of circus life. Definitely wouldn't choose it for myself. I hear it's fascinating. I don't share the fascination.

I feel the same exact way! If I were to go to the circus, I would probably fall asleep within the first five minutes. The circus just seems repetitive to me; nothing at the circus is ever new. You see the same old clown, people breathing fire, lions jumping through hoops, etc.

[sophiemer642]

I think the Circus is a world of its own. I mean, it is like there but actually isn't, like what you said, a mirage. One time it is there, the next time it is no more. It us such an arbitrary way of living, something I cannot really appreciate. I rarely go to the circus and if I would, nowadays, it would probably not because I chose but because I had no choice. It is not that I hate it, I just do not appreciate it that much. I am not yet finished with the book but from what I have read so far, I think it shows Circus the way I feel about it. It may be entertaining but it is not real life. It is hallow of reality. I think Duke was not totally happy with it but he had no choice.

I understand and agree with your point of view. I think Duke joined the circus because he had to do what he had to do. Life is full of things that you cannot control. People look down on others because of the ways that they put food on the table, but you could never understand it if you have never lived through it. I detest most circus acts, but I respect Duke for doing what he had to do.

[sophiemer642]

There was someone on this forum who mentioned animal cruelty. When training the lions and all the other animals that participate in circus acts, I do not think that the animals are trained fairly, which plays part of why I personally do not like the circus.

[sophiemer642]

I think it's the excitement of watching others lead a daring life that draws many people in. I've never been to a circus though. I've just never had the opportunity. I don't like the idea of animals being mistreated or leading a confined life though. It would be interesting to see the human acts though.

The treatment of animals certainly is a concern. I think that’s why Cirque du Soleil has gained so much popularity. They focus on the human aspects and the daring nature.

I thought it was interesting how the hippo in this book was treated. It shows a good example of how the animals might be treated in the circus. The poor hippo was brought along in one of the oldest, worst trucks, and lost its life because the circus was unwilling to do something about it. I think for the hippo, at least, the circus was a sort of prison.

While Duke and many of the other sideshow characters found the circus to be family and freedom, I think there were others who felt like it was a sort of prison. For example, the clowns did not seem to be completely happy with their lives. Why not? Duke says they were mostly tortured souls, but what drew them to the circus? Was it that they could not do some other form of acting? Was it something else? I don’t think we get an answer here, but it does make me ponder this further.

I like how in depth you went when you analyzed the feelings of the other characters. I feel like the animals and some of the other people did feel like they were trapped. They did not have a choice but to continue. I feel like Duke also felt trapped, but I feel like he gained some pleasure while he was at the circus. Just like how some people today deal with their internal pain by cutting themselves, I feel like that is what Duke was doing when he went to the circus. He is hurting inside, but releases all of that while performing at the circus. He likes doing it, but at the same time, it is torture.

[sophiemer642]

I think it is good given that people are fascinated by it. As long as one can make someone happy and earn a living from it as well, then it is well.

I do agree that the circus can help others feel young again, but the repetitive acts can get boring.