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.
