Bearstone by Will Hobbs Can Be Considered Essay

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BEARSTONE BY WILL HOBBS CAN BE CONSIDERED TO BE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST NOVEL -ONE THAT TEACHES READERS ABOUT THE NEED TO RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT. CHOOSE 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE NOVEL AND ANALYZE HOW THEY TEACH THE READER TO RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

How is Bearstone an environmentalist novel?

Bearstone depicts the life of Cloyd Atcitty, a Native American boy who has become emotionally estranged from the traditional ways of his people. After being expelled from his native school, Cloyd is sent by his tribe to live in Colorado. Through his closeness with a white rancher, Cloyd reestablishes his connection with the land and the traditional ways of his people. Cloyd, at the beginning of the novel, is full of anger, but living in consort with the land has a healing influence upon him. "These were the mountains where his people used to live. Maybe he should stay on the ranch" he decides, gazing at the area (Hobbs 12). The question of who 'owns' the land and who can exercise better stewardship of it -- whites or natives -- comes to the forefront of the narrative's concerns through the story of Cloyd.

Native Americans are often portrayed as living more in harmony with the land than whites.

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However, Cloyd has a divided self. He is town between his Ute heritage and the whites that dominate the rest of society. His sense of self is further destabilized after he has become friendly with Water, when he learns how bear-hunting is common amongst Walter and his friends. Hunting and the question of how to deal with endangered species is another issue of concern amongst environmentalists. Cloyd expresses his rage and anger by turning against Walter in the only manner he knows how: destroying Walter's trees. Cloyd views the attacks on the bears as an attack upon himself and his heritage.

While Cloyd feels affection for Walter, Walter also embodies many of the negative aspects of white control of the land, including panning for gold and seeking material gain from the land. Whites seek dominion over the land while Native Americans seek unity with the land, this suggests. However Cloyd, at the beginning of the novel is not in a full state of harmony with either his people or himself. Bonding with Walter over their common love of nature and establishing a sense of togetherness is essential. Walter, despite his more stereotypically 'white' relationship with the land, provides needed….....

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