Theme Of Hunters In The Snow By Tobias Wolff

Literature plays a critical role in the lives of everyday human beings. Whether the book, poem, article, song, speech, play, or essay represents a positive or negative objective, it affects the everyday lives of people. Tobias Wolff is an American short story author who writes in an emotionally entertaining fashion (Tikkanen). “Hunters in the Snow” by Tobias Wolff is not one of his renowned pieces of literature like This Boy’s Life, but it would be an excellent and well-fitting addition to a high school American Literature textbook. The short story accomplishes what literature is meant for: it promotes intelligence which promotes happiness, it brings order and structure to a youthful reader, and it helps the reader escape from life’s everyday

While the main purpose of short stories is to entertain, Wolff’s work, once analyzed, has a much deeper meaning. This is the case for most if not all short stories including action, adventure, horror, mystery, etc. Although all of the characters in “Hunters in the Snow” are not all that honorable or ethical, Tub is the clear protagonist. The reader has a feeling of sympathy for him throughout the first half of the story which allows him to connect with the reader and establish the role of protagonist. On the other hand, Kenny is the antagonist of “Hunters in the Snow.” From the beginning, Kenny is shamelessly a jerk to Tub. Tub and Kenny are both dynamic characters. He changes from tolerating Kenny’s slander to putting a stop to it by shooting him. Kenny is dynamic because once he is shot, he tries to cajole Tub to help him from bleeding to death. This change is not sincere though, Kenny just wants to survive. The last character in “Hunters in the Snow” is Frank, and there is an argument to be made that he can be either static or dynamic. “Frank breathed out. ‘Stop bitching, Tub. Get centered’” (Wolff 1). Frank sides with Kenny the whole first half by teaming up and insulting Tub. This changes towards the end whenever Frank opens up to Tub at dinner. “‘Tub, I think I’m going to be leaving Nancy’” (Wolff 7). “Hunters in the Snow” by Tobias Wolff uses one main symbol that contributes to the overall theme. Snow is used throughout to symbolize toxicity and insincerity toward each other. The short story shows that friends can change based on circumstances and incidents that