Summary

Home, p. 219 – 255. Present tense narration describes how newly appointed Canadian senator Peter Tovy, in the aftermath of two traumatic events (the sudden and painful death of his wife Clara, the difficult divorce of his son Ben), takes a leave from his responsibilities and goes on a work-arranged trip to Oklahoma. There, after a series of low-intensity meetings, and he visits the Institute for Primate Research.

Peter develops an uneasy relationship with the Institute’s director, Dr. Lemmon, and an awkward camaraderie with the director’s assistant, Bob, and is shocked when he sees the prison-like living conditions of some of the primates being kept there, particularly the chimpanzees. Peter is particularly shocked when Bob comments that “This is home for them” (229). After insisting that he go into a private research area, Peter is at first frightened by how angry and aggressive the chimps...