See Behind Trees: A Coming-of-Age Story in the Heart of Nature

The story is associated with the coming of age of a young native Indian boy. This is a boy with an eyesight problem that limits him from being normal like the rest of the young boys in his society. The community is highly associated with activities of hunting. This is a very important activity that provides the families and the whole community food. It is, therefore, a great source of their livelihood. Hunting is, therefore, a required skill, and it is carried out by the males. It is a gender role assigned to men who have to go to the wild and hunt. However, the young boy by the name walnut has an eyesight problem, and this limits him from being a good hunter. Being unable to see properly hinders him from having a good aim and thus would be limited to getting food for his family and the community. Everyone in the village is aware of his limitations and is therefore lowly regarded by his peers and the rest of the people from his community. This essay, therefore, explores the life and journey of the young boy walnut from a boy to adulthood despite his handicap. It also explores the aspect of the gender in this society about the roles assigned to both men and women and how it influences the dynamic of the society.

The first aspect of gender is represented by hunting. Hunting appears to be the mains source of livelihood for this community. They hunt for food to feed the families and the community. The role of hunting is assigned to males. Boys are trained from a young age to have good aim and become good hunters. They are given a test for which they become men when they pass. Walnut is also a young boy with hopes and dreams of becoming a hunter like the rest of his peers. However, his poor eyesight is problematic. The other aspect is the training of boys to hunt. Training makes the young boys good at aiming and ultimately good hunters. In this community, the role of training is assigning to females and more specifically the boys’ mother. This is depicted by the fact that Walnut’s mother is the one who trains him despite his physical challenges. She trains him every single day and trains him hard until the day of the test. She understands Walnut’s weakness which is he cannot see clearly. However, the test involves shooting at a target without opening the eyes. She uses this knowledge to train him how to shoot without looking. To trust his other senses and use them to his advantages. Fortunately, Walnut passes the test and earns the name See behind Trees which meant he finally becomes a man.

The story is, therefore, effective in exploring the life of a young man as he goes from being a boy and becomes a man. It explores the unique aspect of the gender roles represented by the society. The men and the women carry out different roles. For example, the men are assigned the role of finding food for the community through hunting. Hunting is, therefore, a very important activity. Boys are taught from a timely age and being good at hunting earns them the title of being a man and gives them a manly name. However, the role of training is assigned to the women and specifically the mothers and in this case walnuts mother trains him until he passes the test that makes him a man.