The most prominent theme of the novel involves Tom's lifelong struggle to find meaning, happiness, and peace in his life. When Thomas Black Bull at the age of eleven was found alone in the wilderness he had lost the memories of his past and had to embrace new identities and ways of life. He lost many friends along the way including himself, not to find it until later in the novel.
Borland entitled the first part of the novel "Bessie”, in fitting with his mom’s prominent role, both in the plot of the story and in her son's development. Early in part one Tom’s family has passed away leaving Tom in the wilderness with his new pronounced friends. In chapter seven, Tom shares his meat with a bear and concludes that he will call himself “Bear’s Brother”. This is significant because after the cub's mother dies, Tom cares for him and grieves with him. They share a common emotion, as both of their parents have passed away.…show more content… In this section he chooses to call himself “Thomas Black Bull”. As Tom is ridiculed by his classmates and tormented by the terrible unwanted changes that his new life presents, he longs to return to his old ways. He later makes a decision to stop speaking the Native language and therefore loses more of his original identity. As he returns to the wilderness the animals react with negativity because of his change to a civilized lifestyle, he returns to the wild only to have lost his sense of belonging there as