The Story of Doctor Dolittle

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and discusses the source text’s treatment of colonialist attitudes, which it portrays in a positive light, and its outdated and offensive depictions of Indigenous Africans, which largely rely on racist stereotypes.

Doctor John Dolittle, the titular character, is a kind-hearted and eccentric doctor whose love for animals and ability to communicate with them mark him as the story’s protagonist. His character embodies the narrative’s central values: compassion, curiosity, and the pursuit of knowledge, as well as understanding of and unity with all creatures. One of Doctor Dolittle’s most distinctive traits is his empathy toward animals. Unlike other humans in his town, Dolittle sees animals as sentient beings with their own languages and emotions. This empathy leads him to learn animal languages, a skill that profoundly alters his life and practice. His home, filled with a diverse menagerie of animals, reflects his commitment to their well-being. This compassion drives the story, prompting his adventurous altruistic journey to care for African monkeys and highlighting a broader theme of interconnectedness.

As a healer, Dolittle provides medical care not only to humans but also to animals, bridging a gap between disparate living species.