Human Nature Reading Comprehension Test

Human Nature

Reading comprehension test about the script "Human Nature" by Charlie Kaufman

sniffing red swollen female rump...(8) sniffing red swollen female rump makes it seem as if the female's physical body is weeping. In other words the woman's body is a stand-in for her entire self. However, the fact that this stand-in is an unattractive body part, namely a rump, makes this verbal stand-in ugly rather than attractive.

I would become a hairless lie (15) hairless being is considered to be young, especially if it is a male. A hairless being is also naked and defenseless, like a baby. The speaking liar is thus revealed for all of his mendacity, and his foolishness and youth. Also, he has 'become' his dishonesty; he has become the lie, because it is so total and glaring.

3.Lila glances at several framed photos on the wall: all of Louise and her brother together in various vacation spots (21)

The framed photos create an image of familial perfection. Lila stares at the wall at these images that, because they are framed are clearly arranged and preserved to create a certain vision of Louise and her brother enjoying themselves at leisure. Lilia longs to enter this state of perfection.

4. Yes, well, I love nature. As long as it stays in the zoo where it belongs. (30)

An example of sarcasm -- the speaker's love of nature is really a love of civilization, or of the containment of nature. Zoos, places of confinement and often of cruelty and captivity, exemplify humanity's triumph over nature. Nature is said to truly belong to humanity, to belong in the confining area of the zoo, in the implied meaning of the speaker.

5. She passes it to Nathan, who looks at it and sees that it's a baby monkey (55)

Nathan takes the 'baby' from the woman, suggesting that he sees the entity as the woman's metaphorical child, or an extension of her maternal longing.

6. MY assistant quit today. Okay? He was highly valuable to the project.

The fact that the assistant quit is irritating is evident by the capitalization of the word MY. The use of the word MY also suggests that the speaker feels a sense of possession towards the assistant, thus the assistant's departure is seen as a loss of control, not merely a setback to the project as he says.

7. it's an animal urge, Puff. it's nothing to be ashamed of (65)

The word Puff suggests an animal, even if Puff is not an animal -- Puff is being assured that acting like an animal is natural, and not worthy of shame, despite Puff's feelings to the contrary and the ambiguous quality of Puff's name.

8. Remember, when in doubt: don't ever do what you really want to do (69)

This statement goes against the assurances of the naturalness of human behavior and impulses -- go against one's human or animal nature, it suggests, and repress and resist gut instincts. Instead, follow societal dictates and one's own superego.

9. There is nothing that makes you feel dirtier than finally deciding to sell your soul and finding no buyer (76)

After giving up one's morals, and repressing and resisting one's natural impulses, the speaker finds it frustrating that there are no 'takers' to indulge in this corruption.

10. Please, if you are from a little person, or rather some achondroplasiac terrorist group... (85)