The Bear by William Faulkner summary and analysis

 

The Bear is a celebrated short story by William Faulkner and is in fact one part of a larger work called "Go Down, Moses".

The plot revolves around the character named Isaac McCaslin, a young boy at the beginning of the story who grows into a man over time. He is introduced to the wilderness and hunting by his cousin, the older and more experienced Sam Fathers. Isaac's first encounter with Old Ben, a massive and elusive bear, becomes a central event in his life. The story traces his evolution as a hunter and his changing perspective on nature and the environment.

As Isaac grows older, he becomes an expert huntsman and woodsman. He continuously goes with the hunting parties every year. The group becomes increasingly preoccupied with hunting Old Ben, a monstrous and belligerent bear that creates constant troubles in the forest. Old Ben's foot was wounded in a trap, and he was exposed to the gunshot several times.

Isaac gradually learns to track Old Ben, but he couldn't hunt him down easily because all the hounds are afraid of him. Sam Fathers, who teaches Isaac Old Ben's ways, says that it will take an extraordinary dog to bring Old Ben down.

Isaac sees Old Ben several times. Once, they send a tiny dog with no sense of danger after him, and Isaac even has a shot at the huge bear. But instead of taking it, he runs after the dog and dives to save him from the bear. He looks up at Old Ben looming over him and remembers the image from his dreams about the bear.

At last they find the dog capable of bringing Old Ben to bay: Lion, a huge, wild Airedale mix with extraordinary courage and savagery. Sam makes Lion semi-tame by starving him until he will allow himself to be touched; soon, Boon Hogganbeck has devoted himself to Lion . Using Lion, they nearly catch Old Ben, but Boon Hogganbeck misses five point-blank shots. General Compson hits the bear and draws blood, but Old Ben escapes into the forest. Isaac and Boon go into Memphis to buy whisky for the men, and the next day, they go after the bear again. General Compson declares that he wants Isaac to ride Kate, the only mule who is not afraid of wild animals and, therefore, the best chance any of the men have to get close enough to the bear to kill him.

In the deep woods, near the river, Lion leaps at Old Ben and takes hold of his throat. Old Ben seizes Lion and begins shredding his stomach with his claws. Boon Hogganbeck draws his knife and throws himself on top of the bear, slitting his throat. Old Ben dies, and a few days later, Lion dies as well. Sam Fathers collapses after the fight and dies not long after Lion. Lion and Sam are buried in the same clearing.

Isaac returns to the farm near Jefferson, to the old McCaslin plantation. Time passes; eventually he is 21, and it is time for him to assume control of the plantation, which is his by inheritance. But he renounces it in favor of his cousin McCaslin Edmonds.

Isaac refuses the ownership because of the past slavery happened in that plantation. He considers it as a cursed land.

Hence, Isaac refuses the inheritance, moves to town, and becomes a carpenter, avoiding the material possessions. He marries a woman who urges him to take back the plantation, but he refuses even when she tries to convince him sexually. He continues to hunt and to spend all the time he can in the woods.

Once, he goes back to the hunting camp where they hunted down Old Ben for so many years.  Isaac goes to the graves of Lion and Sam Fathers, then goes to find Boon Hogganbeck. Boon is in a clearing full of squirrels, trying to fix his gun. As Isaac enters, Boon shouts at him not to touch any of the squirrels: "They're mine!" he cries.

The story ends with Isaac walking away from the hunting camp, leaving behind the world of hunting and the old ways. He no longer wants to be part of the tradition that led to the destruction of such a magnificent creature as Old Ben. The ending reflects Ike's growing understanding of the relationship between humans and nature, and his decision to turn away from the violence and exploitation of the natural world.

 

Major Themes

Nature and culture conflict: One of the central themes in The Bear is the ongoing struggle between man and nature. Old Ben, the bear, represents the wild and untamed forces of nature. Isaac's journey from a young, inexperienced hunter to a more enlightened man reflects his growing awareness of the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. It also focuses the innate quality of humankind to dominate and exploit nature for selfish needs.

 

The Passage of Time: Faulkner explores how time and experience shape a person's character. The story spans several decades, and the characters, including Isaac and Old Ben, change over time. This theme underscores the idea that time is a force that transforms everything, including the nature and humankind.

 

Environmentalism: The Bear"can also be seen as a precursor to modern environmentalism. It raises questions about humanity's impact on the natural world and the need for conservation. As Isaac grows older, he becomes more aware of the importance of preserving the wilderness.

Coming of Age: Isaac's journey from youth to adulthood is a classic coming-of-age story. He learns important life lessons through his experiences in the wilderness, and his understanding of the world deepens as he matures.

The Mythic and the Mundane: Faulkner blends the mythic and the everyday in this story. Old Ben takes on almost mythical qualities as the legendary bear that has eluded hunters for years, while the characters and events are firmly rooted in the tangible world.

 

Through the short story Faulkner conveys a message about the importance of preserving the wilderness and respecting the natural world. He suggests that humans should coexist with nature rather than attempting to conquer it. The story serves as a critique of the destructive tendencies of civilization and a call to protect the environment.

 

To sum up, The Bear explores the tension between the wilderness and civilization, highlighting the need for a more harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world.