From every species, Noach had to bring to the Teiva: אִיש וְאִשְתוֹ “a man and his wife”. It is very odd that the Torah should call an animal: אִיש וְאִשְתוֹ “a man and his wife”. Especially since “Ish” is a Lashon of Chashivus, even by humans. The problem of Dor HaMabul was that they were M'zalzel in life. Gezel (stealing) and Arayos means having no respect for what isn’t yours. Everything is Hefker (chaos) and you can do whatever you want without any rules of decency.
וְהִנְנִי מַשְחִיתָם They need to be destroyed, because not appreciating and respecting is a form of subtle destruction. Criticism is in the same class. Amalek was known for their Leitzanus of all that’s holy. They made a joke out of Yetzias Mitzrayim, and were M'vatel all its glory and greatness. This is why we have a Mitzva to: תִמְחֶה אֶת זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק “destroy” the memory of Amalek.
וַתִשָחֵת הָאָרֶץ Society had declined. People who destroy deserve to be destroyed. This is why criticism is such a poison, and: כ ל הַ פוֹסֵ ל בְ מוּמוֹ פוֹסֵ ל your criticism of others is just pointing out your OWN problems. (Chazal). Those who are M'vatel (put down) others, are really being M'vatel (putting down) themselves. No respect; just Zil'zul. R’ Shneur Kotler Zatzal used to talk about the: crime of being a M'vatel. This needs LOTS of work on Ayin Tova.
Work On Respecting Hashem’s Creatures, Especially Your OWN Tzelem Elokim
Perhaps this is why it says: אִיש וְאִשְתוֹ “a man and his wife” by animals, since to conquer a bad Midda (of making life and people cheap), you need to go extreme and respect even an animal. Whatever Hashem creates, is automatically very precious. Now surely you’ll respect humans, and stop abusing their rights.
Notice how the Passuk ends up with: וּמִן הַבְהֵמָה אֲשֶר לֹא טְהוֹרָה הִוא the “non-Tahor” animals, and Chazal say that 8 extra letters were used in order to avoid saying the word “Tamei”. Why Davka here? (And indeed, in later Parshiyos the word “Tamei” is used all over?) Perhaps Davka here, where Noach needed a lesson to respect Hashem’s creatures, the Torah is careful not to say the word Tamei. This explains why Noach got in trouble for feeding the lion too late.
And after the Mabul, the Torah stresses the greatness of a human being by saying that a: רוֹצֵחַ murderer is Chayav Missa: כִי בְצֶלֶם אֱלֹקִים עָשָה אֶת הָאָדָם because Man is created with a Tzelem Elokim. We can suggest (at least as a Remez) that since the Torah went extreme in building up animals (by calling them: אִיש וְאִשְתוֹ “a man and his wife”), so should we also go extreme when we work on self-esteem.
