Before written languages, the only way to remember people was through oral tradition: the telling of stories passed from one generation to the next. Men sought an epic quest, whether through a journey, battle or pursuit of a villain, and hoped that the story of their conquest would immortalize them after their death. While they would not continue to dwell on earth in their physical bodies, they hoped to live on through stories of their successes. A life without any stories of triumph meant disgrace because there would be no remembrance of the man after his death.
William Faulkner’s The Bear exhibits the characteristics of such a story. The tale describes a band of men who seek Old Ben, a legendary and almost invincible bear. While Faulkner’s loaded, winding sentences prove difficult to read on paper, they are well-crafted examples of the oral tradition style.
The hunters show fierce dedication and competitiveness, sharing camaraderie in their common goal to finish off Old Ben. Refusing to back down from an animal that has escaped death at least fifty-two times (by bullets alone), the men demonstrate unshakeable determination. They vow that they will break him, conquering him and all others that have failed in their attempts.
Today, everyone still wants to be remembered after his death. Instead of living lives of self-focus, men should seek a quest aiding others, like the group of men in Faulkner’s story. There is no glory in being remembered for things done for self-gratification.
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