Themes
Adversity and Maturity
Paulsen’s Hatchet isn’t simply a tale of survival in the wilderness. It’s an exploration of human resilience and how adversity can act as a catalyst for profound personal growth. The story opens with Brian already facing adversity. His parents’ impending divorce creates a sense of emotional turmoil, leaving him burdened by anger and a secret he carries about his mother’s infidelity. This event is all-consuming for Brian, and nothing—not even the beautiful view from the plane—fails to distract him from his current misery. Brian considers “divorce” “a tearing, ugly word … the breaking and shattering of all the solid things.”
However, after the plane crash, Brian is confronted with a much more difficult adversity—that of survival. He is stranded with limited resources, completely unprepared for the harsh realities of the wilderness. His initial attempts at survival are driven by panic and desperation. However, as he starts adapting with the progress of time, adversity also becomes the catalyst for Brian’s growth. He chooses to fight for survival. He starts learning from his mistakes. He observes the behavior of animals, mimicking their techniques for catching fish and building a fire with a bow drill. This shift in perspective marks a crucial step in his development. He understands the most important things in life: food, shelter, and survival. This is evident when he pauses to think, “First food, then thought, then action,” after being excited about searching the plane once it emerges after the tornado. This indicates that Brian is now more cautious, temperate, and thoughtful, which has empowered him to confront change with wisdom. Thus, he changes from being a passive victim to actively engaging in his own survival, demonstrating the beginning of his journey toward maturity and agency.
At the end of the novel, when he reunites with his family, “The Secret,” which was insurmountable at the beginning of the novel, is now just a fact in his life, and Brian learns to live with it, even showing the maturity to finally not reveal his mother’s affair to his father.
Man versus Nature
At the heart of Hatchet lies Brian Robeson’s relentless battle against the elements, encapsulating the fundamental theme of man versus nature. Stranded alone in the wilderness, Brian is compelled to tap into his survival instincts and resourcefulness to endure and overcome the multiple challenges posed by his hostile environment. Paulsen meticulously portrays Brian’s evolution from a vulnerable and inexperienced adolescent to a resilient and adept survivor, emphasizing his ability to adapt and innovate in order to secure his survival.
One of the primary examples of Brian’s confrontation with nature is his reliance on the titular hatchet salvaged from the wreckage. The hatchet symbolizes Brian’s empowerment and agency in the face of adversity, serving as a multifunctional tool essential for his sustenance and defense. Brian uses the hatchet to procure food, construct shelter, and fashion rudimentary implements, underscoring the pivotal role of human ingenuity in navigating the challenges of the wilderness.
The novel is meticulously realistic (Paulsen bases many of Brian’s experiences on his own); the wilderness is a formidable and adversarial force that relentlessly tests Brian’s resolve and fortitude. The vast expanse of the Canadian wilderness emerges as an imposing backdrop against which Brian’s struggle for survival unfolds, characterized by its rugged terrain, unpredictable weather patterns, and formidable wildlife. Paulsen’s descriptive prose imbues the wilderness with an aura of menace and unpredictability, enhancing the primal conflict between man and nature. One of the most striking manifestations of Brian’s confrontation with nature is his encounter with various wildlife, including a bear, porcupine, and moose. These encounters serve as poignant reminders of the inherent dangers lurking within the wilderness, compelling Brian to remain vigilant and resourceful in order to avoid harm. Brian also learns to understand his surroundings. For instance, he can sense danger before it appears and learns to trust his instincts. For instance, during his second encounter with a bear, he senses he is unwelcome as the female bear wishes to protect its nearby cub. Paulsen’s portrayal of these encounters underscores the primal struggle for dominance between humanity and the natural world, highlighting the precarious balance of power inherent in their coexistence.
In addition to physical challenges, Hatchet also delves into the psychological toll of isolation on Brian’s psyche, further accentuating the theme of man versus nature. As Brian grapples with loneliness, fear, and despair, Paulsen offers poignant insights into the profound psychological impact of prolonged isolation in the wilderness. Brian’s internal monologues and introspections serve as a window into his inner turmoil, revealing the existential questions that plague his mind as he confronts the harsh realities of his predicament. However, the most compelling aspect of Brian’s psychological journey is his struggle to maintain hope and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. Paulsen sensitively portrays Brian’s fluctuating emotional state, depicting moments of despair and desolation interspersed with fleeting moments of optimism and determination.
Once the initial struggle and hopelessness have dissipated, Brian begins to feel that he is a part of nature. For instance, he marvels at the beauty of his surroundings during the tornado and feels that the rifle he has salvaged from the plane doesn’t fit into his environment. He observes each aspect of the scenery—the sky, the water, the trees—and reflects on how the harmonious interplay of these elements creates a sense of “almost unbelievable beauty.” While he misses his home in New York, he also contemplates whether a day will come in the future when he will observe a sunset from that home that he is now witnessing. This moment suggests a growing attachment that Brian is developing to the wilderness. Despite his longing for his urban home, there’s a part of him that recognizes the absence of the forest sunset’s equilibrium and peace in the city. Even upon his return home, Brian continues to dream about his camp by the lake, which indicates that his experience in the woods has forever transformed him, and the lake may be a truer home for him than the houses of his parents.
The Power of Positivity
One of the many things that Brian learns during the course of the novel is the power of positive thinking. After the crash, he initially experiences despair and frustration and frequently experiences feelings of self-pity. He becomes fixated on memories of home, dwelling on the past rather than looking toward the future. However, as Brian is forced to navigate the challenges of survival in the wilderness, he recalls what his former English teacher, Mr Perpich, had said about the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and self-motivation—“You are all you have.” This keeps resonating with Brian. However, in the initial stage, the words don’t yet sink in.
However, as the story progresses, the reader sees how there’s a shift that starts taking place in Brian’s thinking. When he gets attacked by a porcupine, Brian is in agony—both in pain and hopelessness. However, when he thinks of that ordeal later, he grasps a fundamental rule of survival: self-pity is futile. He comes to understand that wallowing in sorrow achieves nothing; it isn’t wrong or unacceptable, but simply ineffective in the context of survival. Through this realization, Brian begins to comprehend the transformative power of positive thinking and its connection to resilience in the face of adversity.
Another incident that underscores Brian’s resilience and positivity occurs when he faces the daunting task of building a shelter to protect himself from the elements. Despite initial setbacks and moments of frustration, Brian refuses to give up. Drawing upon his resourcefulness and determination, he perseveres, eventually constructing a sturdy shelter that serves as a symbol of his resilience and ability to thrive in the face of adversity. When this same shelter is damaged during the tornado, rather than dwelling on the devastation, Brian resolves to rebuild and persevere. He constructs a new shelter using whatever materials he can find, displaying his tenacity and refusal to give up in the face of difficulty. This incident showcases Brian’s growth and development throughout the novel, highlighting his ability to confront obstacles head-on and emerge stronger and more resilient as a result.
