The Male Animal

Tommy Turner has been married for ten years to Ellen, and he is quietly settled in a teaching job at Mid-Western University. This is the weekend of the Michigan game, and Joe Ferguson, the greatest football hero Mid-Western has ever had, comes to town and sees Ellen, his old sweetheart. In addition, Tommy is drawn into a controversy when a young intellectual writes an article in which he calls the board of trustees “fascists.” Tommy wants to read a letter to his composition class written by Vanzetti, and is about to join the ranks of the martyrs who have been fired because the trustees are shouting, “Red!” Ellen tries to dissuade Tommy from reading the letter, and he tells her to go with Joe and leave him to his books and his principles. Eventually Tommy challenges Joe to fisticuffs after he has fortified himself with the proper courage. He steadfastly maintains his right to read the letter and to teach the young to think. Ellen sees him as a pretty good example of the male animal and stands up with him.