A Man Called Horse Character Analysis

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Dorothy Johnson in “A Man Called Horse” writes about a young man who was born and raised in Boston. He lives in a gracious home under his grandmothers and grandfather’s loving care. For some reason, he is discontent. He leaves home to try to find out the reason for his discontent. Upon leaving he undergoes a change in status and opinion of himself and others. He begins a wealthy young man arrogant and spoiled, becomes a captive of Crow Indians- docile and humble, and emerges a man equal to all. The young man begins the story wealthy and spoiled. Johnson in the opening paragraphs suggest that the protagonist is just a wealthy and spoiled young man. He is just in search for a new life, “...he still brooded about his status in the world, longing for his equals.” So he decided to travel out West in search for these equals. Even though his “...father had raged and his grandmother had cried...” Upon leaving Boston, the young man’s status and attitude change drastically. He becomes a captive of Crow Indians who treat him badly. He becomes property of a “...scrawny, shrieking, eternally busy old woman with ragged graying hair..” He must gain her trust to earn more freedom around the camp and such. During this time he was “...finding out what loneliness could be.” He earns a future, and in his final stage of transformation becomes a man equal to all. This happens after he marries Pretty Calf and understands their customs and traditions. The captive was like a horse all summer, “...docile bearer of burdens, careful and patient..” Until he earned trust that is.

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