Symbolism In Hatchet

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In Hatchet, the main character’s use of both a rifle and a hatchet symbolize his encounter of man versus nature. While Brian is in the wilderness, he forms a unique bond with the animals and plants around him. He realizes that he goes through the same challenges and struggles many of the animals around him that he never notices will he was at home in the cities. Such as finding water, safe food to eat, shelter, and avoiding the top predators on the food chain. He also finds the beauty in most things that he would fear or be disgusted at home. In the wilderness he is free from all of his city worries and family issues, but full of natures overwhelming fight to survive.
When Brian left for Canada his mom gave him a hatchet before he took off in the little bush plane. He attached it to his belt and boarded the plane. As he swam out of the crashed plane he was amazed to see it still their attached to his flimsy belt …show more content…

With the use of his hatchet Brian is able to find the survival med pack. In
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there was a sleeping bag, pots, matches, bandages, and a rifle. Shocked Brian does not use it and puts it to the side. To Brian the rifle gives him an unfair advantage over the rest of the forest, and reminds him of the technology and enhancements of civilisation on his little wilderness world.
Even though the rifle is much more accurate and higher tech Brain still refuses the rifle, thinking it is unfair giving him a higher and more civilized advantage.
Brian throughout the story realizes how different man is vs nature. At home he would be mortified of a tornado even though he is perfectly safe, however out in the wilderness he admired the massive storm wondering why it happens and what is its role. At home he would never eat raw turtle eggs but out there he thought nothing of it. Man might have short victories but Nature defeats Man over the long run. Changing them in many

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