Book Essay: The Bear

The Bear by William Faulkner has an old-western feel to it. Think Davy Crockett. Bonanza.

It’s set in the late 1800s when hunting was a way of life for most men. Ike, the main character, observes the struggle between preserving the forests and building civilizations, which is one of two major themes in the book.

In the beginning, Ike is headed for his first hunting trip. It’s a strong family tradition, and he’s taking it all in.

As America’s landscape was changing, hunters had to learn to cope with it, and in today’s media industry it’s a similar tale. Newspapers can hold tight to old ways and phase out of existence, or they can utilize technology to improve.

The other theme involves consciously wrestling with the past mistakes of his family. Ike’s grandfather raped one of his slaves, which later led to suicide. That along with other issues led Ike to forfeit his inheritance, because he wanted to distance himself from his grandfather’s mistakes.

While his decision was noble, it did not need to be so extreme. In the Bible, Paul talks about eating the leftovers of food offered to idols, saying that food is food and if that’s what God provides then take it graciously. Ike was in a similar situation and wasn’t responsible for his grandfather’s mistakes.

Sometimes, as journalists we hold ourselves down for various reasons when we don’t need to, like Ike did. There’s a time for repentance. And there’s also a time to grab a hold of the opportunities God places in front of us. If that means working for a big news organization, do it. Because God has a specific plan for all of us, and He can use us there.