Proximity and Animal Ethics in “The Last Will and Testament of Silverdene Emblem O'Neill”

ABSTRACT “The Last Will and Testament” portrays the proximity of Eugene O'Neill and his dog, Blemie, questioning the ethical obligations that humans have toward domestic animals. Building on animal studies, I demonstrate that the style of “The Last Will and Testament” shapes the narrative's ethics by treating Blemie as a being in himself. This article compares animal representations in “The Last Will and Testament” and The Hairy Ape, and it shows that the genre of the “will and testament” raises questions about animal communication, desire, and suffering. The article concludes by emphasizing that although “The Last Will and Testament” foregrounds the emotional reciprocity of pet-owner relationships, it can also obfuscate the long history of animal domination.