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.
Works Cited
Dorris, Michael. Sees Behind Trees. 1996.
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