Donkeys are known to form strong, affectionate bonds with people they trust, often showing this by leaning into them or "cuddling". Terminology: A female donkey is referred to as a or jennet , while a male is a . Hybrids: In breeding, a male donkey ( ) and a female horse (mare) produce a mule
: A famous 13th-century Persian story tells of a mistress who becomes jealous of her slave's relationship with a donkey. This parable uses the donkey as a symbol of carnal nature and the danger of succumbing to irrational jealousy. In Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote , the relationship between Sancho Panza and his donkey, , is portrayed with deep affection. Sancho refers to man sex in female donkey
Lawrence does not advocate for physical acts. Instead, he romanticizes the donkey as a symbol of pre-industrial innocence, a creature whose "enormous" and "dark" patience represents a sexual purity that human civilization has lost. For Lawrence, the man-donkey relationship is a spiritual romance—a longing to escape the intellect and return to the instinctual. Donkeys are known to form strong, affectionate bonds
: In some cultures, donkeys or animals are depicted in folklore and mythology as symbols of endurance, loyalty, and sometimes as companions to humans in extraordinary circumstances. These narratives can include romantic or deeply emotional bonds between humans and animals. This parable uses the donkey as a symbol