Old Red Mule.

Old Red Mule.

Authors Note.

This essay is using a quote from “Where The Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls. This is explaining how this makes the main character feel and how he thinks of himself.

    Billy from “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls was just about to go out for his first hunting trip with his two new dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann. Billy’s mother is quite worried about Billy because she doesn’t want anything to happen to him. His father is the one who is not so worried about it, because he trusts and knows his son is going to do a fantastic job. While Billy and his father were having a conversation Billy thought to himself, “He doesn’t even talk to me like I was a boy any more. He Talks to me like I was a man. These wonderful thoughts made me feel just about as big as our old red mule.” This quote portrays a lot about how his father and him have grown so far in the book.

    The quote shows that Billy feels confident and more equal with his father. I know that today, kids want to be treated like adults, most of the time they aren’t responsible enough to deserve that. However, Billy has become more responsible and has grown a lot. His father believes this too, how I know? He trusts his 13 year old son to go into the woods with two dogs to hunt. That takes a lot of trust in your child. He would only allow this if he knew that Billy could handle himself and his dogs out there.
     Lastly, Billy stated that he feels as big as his old red mule. I believe that saying this he could be feeling proud, strong, or fearless. Billy has shown that he is proud of his dogs and proud that he taught them how to hunt. He is also strong, being able to have go into the words requires some strength. Fearless, because for most kids going out into the woods on your own at such an age might be frightening, yet, Billy is not nervous.

    This quote wasn’t major but it did stick out and show so far how he has grown. Also how his father trusts him. They way Billy feels about himself has changed and shows that he is still growing and learning.