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Influencing True Son's Identity In The Light In The Forest By Conrad Richard

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A father’s influence on his son affects the boy the man will someday become. In the novel, The Light in the Forest, writer Conrad Richter tells the story of True Son, a white boy kidnapped and raised as a Native American for eleven years then returned to his white family, as he searches for his place in the world. True Son’s three fathers, Cuyloga, Harry Butler, and The Sun, greatly impact True Son’s identity. Each influencing True Son directly and indirectly during his course of hardships and new experiences. To begin, Cuyloga, a respected and beloved Native American chief, influences True Son’s personality and beliefs for eleven formative years. Throughout True Son’s short life, Cuyloga teaches True Son to be a man. One example of a “manly test” is in chapter 1, page 1. “In the summer he would put a hot stone from the fire on his flesh to see how long he could stand it, In the …show more content…

One of the first things Harry Butler talks to True Son about is his cultural pride. Harry states “Paxton Township is where you were born.” True Son has learned to hate the Paxton men, for they killed a Native American town. Alas, Harry says, “Many of them, I’m proud to say, are your own kin,” (Richter, chapter 6, page 30). Slowly but surely, True Son learns that the white people aren’t as bad as he thought. Harry Butler also tries to teach True Son the value of hard work, stated while Harry Butler is counting the money he has made. Harry states, “ a pity his eldest son hadn’t been raised to evaluate and enjoy the satisfaction and benefits of honest work, the solace and support of ready cash...” etc (Richter, chapter 10, page 69). Harry wishes that True Son had the experience of growing up in a white home and learning the benefits of hard work. Fortunately, Harry Butler gets to show True Son the white ways of life, but it is only for a short period of

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