a. Animal Threat
The existence of animals cannot be separated from human life. They may live in the forest, deep sea, ravine and other places. In this novel, these animals are
portrayed in wilderness or the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Most of those animals are not tame. Karana, a twelve-year-old girl who lives alone in the island is
presented facing natural problems which come from the animals. In fact, there are many animals found in the Island of the Blue Dolphins but there are two kinds of
them which make Karana face difficulties. Those animals are wild dogs and red foxes.
The existence of wild dogs can lead Karana into some problems because they try to attack her. One of the problems is presented in this quotation.
I thought that it was a sound made by the wind, but when we came closer I saw dozens of wild dogs scurrying around through the huts
. O’Dell, 1960: 41
These wild dogs try to steal foods like abalones and fish from humans. Their existences always become a problem for Galas-at people. In addition, when
people move to another island, the dogs have limited foods. Thus, they become fierce and be able to attack human or others. It can be proven where the wild dogs
are able to kill Karana’s brother, Ramo. Therefore, the wild dogs become the menace for Karana who lives alone in the island. That is why she lives on the
headland which is far from the bushes in order to stay away from the wild dogs. Thus, these wild dogs will find difficulties since there were cliff and ravine that
were difficult to be reached by them as what is stated in the quotation below.
“That night I climbed onto the rock to sleep. It was flat on top and wide enough for me to stretch out. Also it was so high from the ground that I did
not need to fear the wild dogs while I was sleeping .”O’Dell, 1960:50
Moreover, another animal threat comes from red foxes. These red foxes
usually get their foods by stealing from the people at Galas-at. They tend to steal foods like abalone and fish. That is why these people try to either avoid or hunt
them. However, as people left the island, their population grows bigger and bigger.
Since, these red foxes’ number is so large, Karana feels that it will be difficult to kill them using spear and string. In other words, Karana is not capable
in facing them and finds that these animals can lead her into many troubles. These situations are reflected in the following quotation:
I would soon kill the wild dogs, but there were many small red foxes on the island. They were so numerous that I could never hope to get rid of
them either by traps or with arrows . They were clever thieves and nothing I
stored would be safe until I had built a fence. O’Dell. 1960: 73 The above statement means that red foxes have a nature to steal human’s foods.
Karana who lives alone has to be careful in keeping her foods and staying away out of trouble. She has no one who can protect her. Thus, she has to protect herself
by living in a safe place and building a fence. Furthermore, she also equips herself with some weapons which she made it by her own. She learns to live in
wilderness and face the animal threat with courageousness.
b. Natural Disaster
Disasters commonly occur in the earth. They can be volcanic eruptions, floods, tsunami, and earthquake. The disaster is also portrayed in O’Dell’s Island
of the Blue Dolphins. In fact, it becomes another natural problem faced by Karana
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