Hunting

     Okay... I have decided that I am naturally a romanticist. I romanticize what I read. That is why my last post was so off. Once again I found romanticism even though there probably is none. When reading this week's assignment, I enjoyed the paragraph where the author describes hunting. I have grown up where hunting is almost a religion. I see nothing wrong with enjoying that sport; however, just like with anything, man can take it too far. This reading gave me a different perspective. The following quote stood out to me.
    "It was of the men, not white nor black nor red but men, hunters, with the will to survive and the dogs, and the bear and deer juxtaposed and reliefed against it, ordered and compelled by and within the wilderness in the ancient and unremitting contest according to the ancient and immitigable rules which voided all regrets and brooked no quarter, - the best game of all, the best of all breathing and forever the best of all listening..."
    This quote held a truth for me. The battle of nature versus man. The relationship between man and nature was severed just as the relationship between man and man, man and God, etc. Now it is at constant battle. Man has to kill in order to survive; however, the animals fight for survival themselves.
     The last part of the quote is interesting for me. "Forever the best of all listening..." Now, I have never gone hunting, but from what I have understand, one must remain as quiet as possible. This means one can hear nature. The hunter has to listen to nature's song as he waits to take one of nature's own. It is a fascinating concept to me. Again, I am being a slight romantic, and I am probably completely off on my comprehension of what we were given to read. We shall see in class, and hopefully I will soon understand this new line of thought and writing better.
P.S. I commented on Abbie George!

What is the bear?

I just am curious to know what the bear may represent. I'm loving the intensity of the story thus far. I keep waiting for something major to happen regarding the bear, or the main character the "boy."

There is so much mystery in this work as a whole, but especially surrounding the bear, "Old Ben." They are searching for it desperately, yet can't seem to work up the courage or motivation to kill him. There is almost a reverence when describing his physical appearance and dominance.

I wonder if the bear is metaphorical for something that man searches for, must grasp, yet can't quite attain. Something that is so real and tangible yet so mysterious and awe inspiring. Maybe Old Ben represents the search for God, or the supernatural? I'm unsure but anxious to find out.


P.S. Commented on Caleb's.

Old Ben

Why is the story called "The Bear"? Throughout the first three chapters it makes sense because the characters are tracking and trying to kill this mystical bear. This bear whose name is Old Ben, is smart, fast, and mysterious. Everyone is afraid of Old Ben and they have reason to be. It really intrigued me how Faulkner explained that the bear "faded, sank back into the wilderness without motion as he watched a fish, a huge old bass, sink back into the dark depths of its pool and vanish without even any movement of its fins." But then again why "The Bear"? At the end of chapter three Old Ben is killed. I am curious to see how Faulkner connects Old Ben with the rest of the story and how this story deemed its name "The Bear."

P.S I commented on Travis Carr's post.

Faulkner Faulkner Harper Lee

america really doesn't have a mythology. We've discussed a lot that poets are always attempting to construct mythologies and give an air of high culture to the background and origin of their respective peoples. I think this is true of Southern writers. I've been formulating this ever since I first read To Kill A Mockingbird. The rabid dog scene is overwhelmingly supernatural. Lee gives that dog an otherworldly presence. She isn't alone. Faulkner does it here with Old Ben and Lion. These mundane creatures loom over the characters as supernatural beings. It's very much like Hercules or Beowulf. The south is the last place that the US can still find remnants of it's mythological past. All of the spooks in American lore, they come from the South. Or at least we're the last to truly believe in the stories. And the writers portray this. I can't help but be reminded of the great epics when I read Bear. I think Faulkner and other southern writers are giving America a mythology through its Southern stories. This isn't an origin story. But these are folkloric Herod we can look to. The "taming" of Lion. The killing of Bear. These epic-proportioned events. And Ike is the classic hero, only he's been transported to the American South.

—Travis has my comment.

Wisdom

Faulkner's The Bear introduces many interesting characters, such as Ike, Boon, Sam Fathers, Old Ben, Lion and Major de Spain. I have noticed throughout the first three chapters that the boy, Ike, displays a higher level of wisdom than average. This is exemplified in chapter one when Ike demonstrates his ability to recall information. He becomes lost, yet he is able to recollect skills that Sam had taught him in order to find his way again. He also demonstrates an almost supernatural level of wisdom when, in chapter three, he is the only one able to tell that Sam would die soon. I am curious to see how Ike's wisdom plays a roll in the future chapters, such as a means of foreshadowing or providing answers that other characters are unable to produce.

Commented on Abbey's post.

Progression

The progression of the boy really stood out to me throughout the reading this week. There is such a contrast between the mountain man Boon, the indian Sam, Major de Spain, and the boy himself. Best I could tell, the boy himself isn't much indian, but he seems to have the demeanor of one. While Boon is obviously more redneck and doesn't seem to really respect the wild, the boy has a sort of hallowed view towards the wilderness and Big Ben that has been instilled in him by Sam. Despite his lack of natural tendency towards the wilderness, even Boon understands how he is lacking. It will be interesting to see exactly what happens with the boys relationship with the ancient wild now that both the indian and Big Ben are no longer there. There seems to have been some sort of rupture, and it will be interesting to see what results.

Comments on Wendy's post.

Courage

One thing that struck me while reading, The Bear, is when he said, "it was the young hound which even a year ago had had no judgement and which, by the lights of the other hounds anyway, still had none. Maybe that's what courage is, he thought". I find humor in this, but truth as well. I reflect on years passed and see that same ignorance. As so the young hound thought he was invincible, I thought nothing could hurt me when I was younger. Lion is a different kind of courageous. Lion was relentless and bloodthirsty. So is the young hound courageous, or is Lion? In my opinion, the young hound is up for the chase and unknowing of the dangers he is getting into. Lion knows the fury of the bear, but still is up for anything that comes his way.

I commented on Abbey's post.