How To Use Stereotypes In Never Cry Wolf

On August 10th, 2014, Michael Brown, a black male, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Witnesses say that this unarmed teen complied with the demands of the officer, and posed no apparent threat. Nevertheless, studies have shown that police are five times more likely to fire at black suspects than their white counterparts. These dangerous beliefs often affect how people are viewed. Similar stereotypes are clearly prevalent throughout the novel Never Cry Wolf, by Farley Mowat. In the book, Mowat discusses his experiences in a secluded Canadian area where he has been sent to study the habits and characteristics of arctic wolves. Throughout his investigations, Mowat grows fond of one particular wolf pack that consists

While pondering the actual amount of wolves killed by humans, Mowat describes the reasons behind these deaths. He communicates, “The war against wolves is kept at white heat by Provincial and Federal Governments, almost all of which offer wolf bounties ranging from ten dollars to thirty dollars per wolf” (Mowat 232). The government believes that wolves are depleting the caribou population and therefore must be taken out. They even go so far as to pay men to kill the wolves, which encourages the hatred people have toward them. Ultimately, the stereotyping of wolves results in a much higher risk of people wanting to kill them in order to protect themselves. Alternatively, after describing an unfortunate event of two men attempting to kill a wolf, Mowat explains how the intent to kill wolves tranforms people’s perspectives of the animals. He suggests, “Whenever and wherever men have engaged in the mindless slaughter of animals, … they have often attempted to justify their acts by attributing the most vicious or revolting qualities to those they would destroy; and the less reason there is for the slaughter, the greater the campaign of vilification” (Mowat 234). By associating wolves with barbaric traits in order to defend their killings, men are increasing the angst

Shortly after arriving at the frozen lake, Mowat demonstrates his fear of the unknown. He explains, “I therefore decided I should retire underneath the upturned canoe, so that the presence of a human being would not be readily apparent, with its consequent tendency to induce atypical behavior in the beasts” (Mowat 42). Early on in his studies, Mowat exhibits his uneasiness about the danger of the wolf species by retreating to hiding when he feels they are approaching. Influenced by the stories and stereotypes that wolves are ruthless beasts, Mowat is afraid that the wolves will harm him. Because he has not yet had any personal experience with wolves, he assumes that these stereotypes are correct. Comparable to Mowat, people who are unfamiliar with a subject believe stereotypes that often result in harm to others. Nevertheless, after Mowat crawls into the seemingly empty wolf den to find two wolves watching him, he recognizes his instinct to harm them. Mowat recalls, “If I had had my rifle I believe I might have reacted in brute fury and tried to kill both wolves” (Mowat 245). Thoroughly ashamed of himself for his behavior in this situation, Mowat understands that one’s instincts will always be superior to his or her mind. In this sense, once a person is exposed to a certain stereotype, it is