War Horse is a story of a young horse called Joey and his friendship with Albert Narracott, a young boy living in Devon, England during World War I. The story follows Joey from his birth in Devon to his enlistment in the British Army, and his travels through France in the thick of battle. War Horse has been adapted into a popular film and a stage play, and the question of who owns Joey has been a topic of debate for many years. In this article, we’ll explore the different points of view on the ownership of Joey and examine the legal, moral and emotional elements involved.
History of Ownership
The ownership of Joey is a complicated matter, as he has had several owners over the course of the story. The first owner of Joey was Ted Narracott, Albert’s father, who purchased Joey as a foal from a gypsy. After Ted’s death, Albert’s mother Rose decides to sell Joey to the army to pay off her late husband’s debts. Albert then embarks on a quest to find and free Joey from the army, finally succeeding in reuniting with his beloved horse after a long and dangerous journey.
Legal Ownership
When it comes to the legal question of who owns Joey, the answer is simple: according to the law, the British government is the legal owner of Joey. Ted Narracott purchased Joey from a gypsy, but since he did not register the purchase with the government, the gypsy still has the legal right to ownership. After Ted’s death, Rose Narracott had to sell Joey to the army to pay off her husband’s debts. Since the army had a legal right to purchase Joey, they became the legal owners of the horse.
Morality of Ownership
The legal ownership of Joey is clear, but the morality of the situation is much more complicated. It can be argued that Ted Narracott had the moral right to ownership since he was the one who purchased Joey and cared for him, and that Rose had the moral right to sell Joey to the army to pay off her husband’s debts. However, it can also be argued that Albert had the moral right to ownership of Joey, as he was the one who cared for and trained him, and had a strong emotional bond with the horse.
Emotional Ownership
The emotional ownership of Joey is a matter of debate. Joey and Albert had a strong bond, and it could be argued that Albert had the strongest claim to emotional ownership of the horse. Albert risked his life to find and free Joey from the army, and the horse’s loyalty to Albert is clear. It could also be argued that Ted had an emotional claim to Joey, as he was the one who purchased and cared for him, and Rose had an emotional connection to the horse, as she made the difficult decision to sell him to the army to pay off her late husband’s debts.
Conclusion
The ownership of Joey is a complicated matter, and there is no definitive answer to the question. Legally, the British government is the owner of Joey, as they had the right to purchase him from Rose Narracott. Morally, it can be argued that Ted, Rose and Albert all had a claim to ownership, as each of them had a special connection to the horse. Emotionally, Joey and Albert had a strong bond, and it could be argued that Albert had the strongest claim to ownership. Ultimately, the question of who owns Joey is a matter of opinion, and can be answered differently depending on who is asked.