A Rebirth & story Essay

A thirteen year old boy named Brian Robeson is the central character in Gary Paulsen’s novel entitled Hatchet (Paulsen, 1999). Brian left Hampton, New York to visit his father. He boarded a plane to the Canadian north woods. Unfortunately, the pilot suffered from a heart attack and died. The young boy was left with no choice but to take over the controls of the plane. Following a traumatic fall, the plane crashed into a lake in the Canadian woods and left the boy stranded. Brian’s mother gave him a hatchet to use in the woods whenever he gets a chance to visit his father. Fastened to his belt at the event of the crash, the hatched served as his only possession that survived the accident. It was a constant element in the young boy’s adventure. His ultimate rescue was made possible when he got the survival pack in the plane through the use of his hatchet. The survival pack contained a transmitter which allowed him to send a signal to the rescuers. He suffered a painful transition when his parents divorced. Brian is an exceptionally dynamic character. As a young boy accustomed to the comforts of city living, he undervalues the conveniences of the life he lives. Yet when he was stranded in the woods, Brian emerged as an independent and mature man who gained a better understanding of the world. It took time for him to learn how to love and respect his environment. In the same way, moving on from his parents’ divorce took him some time. Initially, Brian was a picture of resentment, frustration, and helplessness. However, his adventures in the woods transformed him into a man he never knew he could become. He acquired lessons and adopted traits necessary for survival. A newfound appreciation for his environment and the sense of harmony in mind and body molded his character. Brian developed into a man capable of surviving not just the woods but life in general. He learned the value of patience. The virtue allowed him to mature. If he was who he used to be, setbacks would have already immobilized him. However, he was not his old self anymore. Thus, setbacks become manageable. The moment he came to a realization that feeling hopeless and frustrated will not do him any good, Brian learned to control his temper. It was through a process of trial-and-error which allowed him to succeed in building a shelter and in hunting for food. In the event of failure, he learned from his mistakes and never dwelt on them. When problems arise, he tried different approaches whenever possible until he succeeds. In the woods, he gained a well developed sense of observation. He used his senses not solely as a means for survival. His senses helped him grasp the beauty of his natural environment. The continuous stimulation of urban life has dulled his senses. The comparative peacefulness of the woods made it possible for him to perceive sound anew. Through it, Brian was able to pick up on different of sounds since he has learned to hear them. In the beginning, the view of the woods and the lake seemed to be a blur. Eventually, he was able to see its beauty. His now perceptive sense proved to be an indispensable tool in order to survive. He acquired a new appreciation for nature and the independence that is essential when the comforts of city life are out of reach. He respects the animals who like him find shelter in the woods. He started to acknowledge the fact that he is but a living thing struggling to survive. This makes him no different to the flora and fauna around him. Prior to the plane crash, all the knowledge he has about nature was provided primarily by the books he read, the things he was taught at school and the information relayed by the media. His adventure in the woods affirmed that indeed, experience is the best teacher. When he arrived at the woods, Brian was a little overweight. He was used to eating hamburgers and the food his mother cooks for him. However, when he arrived in the woods, his food intake consisted of fish, rabbit, berries, and chicken-like birds he preferred to call â€Å"foolbirds† (Paulsen, 1999). His new diet reduced the size of his stomach leaving him with lean muscles. He himself was surprised when he first saw how his physical look has changed. Nevertheless, his physical appearance is not the sole and most profound change which took place in his person. Living in the woods has provided him a renewed perspective in life. He found harmony of mind and body when he gained a better understanding of nature. He recalled that his English teacher once told him that the mind has the power to dictate the how the body behaves. It had never been so true. No goal is beyond reach for someone who stays active and maintains a positive outlook in life. For Brian, the body and mind connection is something he has never felt before. It signified a growing comfort with his natural environment. The aforementioned changes were a sign his emerging manhood. Brian used to define his own identity through his parents. In this regard, his parents’ divorce caused a significant impact on his person. It brought about utter pain on the young boy. He came to believe that future will not be as stable as it used to be. The solace he used to find in his identity with his family had gone. He was unprepared to define himself as an adult. Much so, he does not know where to find his own sense of identity as an individual. The plane crash and his consequential stay in the woods are the events which compelled Brian to begin to accept and finally deal with his damaged sense of self. When he was confronted with the challenge of survival, he only had to pick one choice. Brian was forced to decide whether to learn to be tough and mature in the process or to helplessly die. He chose the former and accepted the challenge that fate has brought on his way. He succeeded and emerged from the experience as a man with a sense of responsibility. Brian then became a person ready to take on the pressures that come with growing up in a world devoid of comfort. Reference Paulsen, G. (1999). Hatchet. Aladdin Paperbacks: New York.