Little Big Man Essay
Jack Crabb, as described by Ralph Fielding Snell, is "a cynical man, uncouth, unscrupulous, and when necessary, even ruthless" (p.439). However, as the narration unfolds it becomes evident that Jack Crabb is much more than that. He is a colorful character, with a well full of experiences and adventures to draw from. Throughout his life (the first thirty four years in particular) Jack Crabb plays many roles on the frontier such as adopted an Cheyenne, a buffalo hunter, an Indian scout, a gunfighter, and an uncle. What differentiates Jack from his fellow frontiersmen is that while in appearance he is wholly white, inside he is also spiritually and emotionally connected to the Indian way of life. From the beginning, Jack is placed in a strange and vaguely defined world. His father is a preacher who ironically gives his sermons in a saloon to
a rough crowd of "pickpockets, bullyboys, whores, and suchlike" (p. The word 'achievement' is subjective. By looking into Jack's background, aspirations, and accomplishments, it becomes evident that in every aspect of his life there is a large amount of 'grey area'- no clear cut either/or. This constant quest for family ties is due to his belief "that a man's real relatives are scattered throughout the universe, and seldom if ever belong to him immediate kin" (p. However, Jack's desires for family and freedom are constant. His quest for freedom is intense, yet he is never fulfilled because he cannot "escape the bonds of his own definitions". For example, Jack is the only white person to survive the Battle of Little Big Horn, which in itself is a huge accomplishment, but when it is viewed from the Indian aspect it takes a different twist due to the fact that this battle also marks the end of the Plains Indian way of life. Although Caroline escapes the night after arriving at the Indian camp, Jack stays and is adopted into the tribe of Cheyenne and their culture. With the settlers he was often successful, but still not liberated from comparing him self to unjustified white standards. 1) As they travel in the open country, Jack, his family, and the pioneers they are traveling with encounter a band of Cheyenne Indians. Is he more white or more Cheyenne? Is he a hero for surviving several battles, or a coward for switching loyalties? His life is full of such questions and paradoxes. In the confusion thereafter, Jack and his sister are 'taken' by the Indians and forced to leave their mother and brother behind. As the novel unfolds the reader discovers that a clearly defined either/or mentality does not exist in reality.
Common topics in this essay:
Jack Crabb,
Cheyenne Indians,
Overall Jack's,
Cheyenne Pendrakes,
Indians Jack,
Little Horn,
Plains Indian,
Fielding Snell,
jack crabb,
indian life,
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