The story of “Hunters In the Snow” tells the tale of three friends, Tub, Kenny, and Frank. The three friends decide to hunt outside Spokane in Washington. Kenny kills the dog of an old farm owner after they failed to hunt any game. Kenney is a leader and insults Tub, Frank and Kenney regularly. Three characters struggle at different points in the story to control a group. The story becomes a mess as they try to outdo each other in controlling the group. This story uses conflict, tension, suspense as well as mystery and surprise to illustrate the power struggles among these three best friends. Conflict refers specifically to the fights, which escalate into physical abuse and fights between these three friends. Suspense is a style of writing that makes the reader wonder what will happen next to the three friends. Surprise is when something unexpected happens. The story’s unusual events are called a mystery. The plot in “Hunters in the Snow”, examines the struggle for control between Tub and Kenny. Tobias Wolf uses mystery and surprise in “Hunters in the Snow,” to show the theme that Tub, Kenny, Frank are in a struggle for power.
The way in which the three main characters interact is influenced by their perceptions of their roles. Kenny considers himself the leader of his group and he feels justified in insulting Tub. Frank’s first allegiance is to Kenny. Frank becomes his friend when Tub starts to be aggressive. Tub is like Frank and Kenny in that he wants power. This makes him more desperate to be accepted by friends. Tub is thrilled to be given the role of leader, as he wants to get revenge on Kenny for how he has treated him.
The suspense element is the first fiction element that brings out the power struggles of the group. Kenny drives towards Tub to scare him. This section builds suspense as the reader doesn’t know if Kenny would run Tub over. Kenny is seeking Frank’s approval through his subtle glance. Tub tells Kenny, “You nearly ran me down. You could’ve murdered me.” Tub is a holy man. But the driver next to him says that Kenny had only been playing with him. Kenny feels insecure and believes Frank is superior to him. Frank validates Tub’s and Kenny’s leadership roles at different times. Frank plays a key role in the story as the ‘yes man’ and validates their leadership roles.
The author uses mystery in order to bring out the constant struggle between these three close friends for power. It is a mystery how the characters change in this story. Tub’s character changes from one of friendliness to cruelty. The desire for power is what causes his transformation. He shoots Kenny. It is possible to interpret his action as a form of revenge. The author uses the term hostile weather to symbolize power struggles. The story begins with a cold, snowy weather. Kenny loses his strength when Tub shoots him. Kenny gets thrown behind a freezing pickup truck, and it doesn’t seem to care. This action shows Tub’s and Frank’s lack of sympathy.
The tension between Tub, Frank, Kenny, and their struggle for power is brought out by suspense. Three characters get lost while hunting. The episode between Kenny, Tub and the rest of the characters is a very suspenseful one. The author states that “Kenny sat down with Tub.” I hate you. Tub shot. Kenny fell to his knees and jerked himself backwards. The reader is unsure of what will happen after the shooting because Kenny’s hands are folded across his stomach. Tub’s intention is to demonstrate that he has more power than Kenny.
The author also surprises the reader by having Frank switch his allegiance from Kenny to Tub to humiliate him. This surprise change in power changes the narrative. Kenny’s departure from leadership is a surprise, and this underscores how Tub and Frank could do anything for the sake of being leaders even if they mistreat Kenny. Kenny’s power is highest before he was shot. After the shooting, he loses all power and is humiliated by the other characters.
Conflict shows how each character strives to be stronger than the other. Three characters betray each other. Kenny shoots and kills the farmer’s old dog. Tub shoots Kenny in the end, and rescue attempts fail. Frank and Tub become distracted by trivial issues in their everyday lives. Frank demands that Tub feed him after revealing his love for a babysitter. Tub consumes the meal after admitting to being a glutton. Throughout the entire story, allegiances between the three main characters change. The story begins. Frank and Kenny join forces and put Tub on the sidelines. Tub walks by himself along the stream without company. Kenny may be aware of what Frank is experiencing, but he never tells Tub. Frank, Tub and Kenny are now close after Kenny is shot. Frank and tub become closer and eventually sideline Kenny. The two take Kenny’s quilt and rationalize their actions with the argument that they aren’t doing any good to him, so we should use them. This implies that Tub, Frank and Kenny are trying to be stronger than Kenny. They literally let Kenny go to gain more power (Eder 6).
Surprise, suspense and conflict are all elements in the “Hunters in the snow,” plot which shows the struggle among Tub, Kenny, Frank and their rivalry for power. The characters in the novel are constantly at odds with each other and change their loyalties. The balance of power is altered by mysterious events, such as Kenny’s shooting. The plot is a mystery that leaves the rear hanging throughout. This underscores the power struggle between the three main characters.
Works Cited
Eder Doris L. “Literary contexts in novels: Tobias Wolff’s This Boy’s Life.” Literary Reference Center is a resource for literary information. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
Tobias, Wolf. People who hunt in wintertime.
