The Bear (vol. III)

Faulkner’s The Bear is certainly a bildungsroman. The work begins with Isaac McCaslin as a young boy setting out for his first hunting expedition in hopes of killing the legendary Old Ben. On his first hunt, Ike is unsure of himself and filled with fear at the prospect of encountering the bear. However, under the mentorship of Sam Fathers, Ike matures into one of the most skilled hunters in the group. But the development of Ike is not simply in terms of hunting ability, but he is also instilled with the virtues of pride, humility, and courage which are instilled in him by the wilderness. His encounters with nature help Ike to develop a sense of identity and provide the virtues which will guide his future decisions. The work then shifts to Ike’s revelations concerning his family’s troublesome past and Ike must now wrestle with the legacy left to him. It seems that like most young adults exiting adolescence, Ike understands who he is but now must decide whether his future will follow in the footsteps of his family or if he must brave a new path entirely. Ike comes to grips with his family’s past and decides that who he is and will become will be set apart from the sins of his fathers.