The Bear

Although at first this book was incredibly difficult to read and focus on, after discussing it in class it seems as if it is a completely different book. After discussing and understanding Faulkner's writing style it becomes so much easier to see how skilled he was at story-telling. The Bear is a wonderful 'coming of age story' of a boy who learns how to be a man through hunting for a bear. Isaac learns to respect nature and his elders by hunting for the notorious bear. Although I thought it was very disappointing that they caught the bear so quickly in the novel, it seems that the story isn't so much about the bear, but what he learns from the whole experience. He learns so many things that help him throughout his entire life, not simple about hunting. He learns patience and percerverance and how to learn and listen to people around him. This novel also includes what is said to be one of Faulkner's greatest characters: Boon. Although it is difficult for me to see why he is one of the greatest, he does seem like a powerful character. He trains a dog to kill the bear, and is the one who really ends up killing it. He ends up being the one who Ike learned the most from, and was my favorite character in the novel. If not only because he had a dog, but also because he was patient enough to train and raise it to be what he wanted it to be. I'm glad that we discussed this novel in class because if we hadn't I don't think that I would have been able to truly appreciate it as much as I do now.