An older brother is determined to shoot a buck during his summer on Molokai island in order to prove he is a man. He is struggling with his identity and feelings of self-worth because his grandmother is always comparing him to his father who, as a boy, was a wunderkinder.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Buck Summer
- The Goat Summer
- Dunbar Ridge
- The General
- Ghost Drums
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This story explores the relationship between two brothers, Ben and Jeffo, during a summer spent on their grandmother’s ahupua'a in Moloka'i. The story delves into themes of masculinity, family dynamics, and the complexities of growing up in a multi-cultural environment.- Masculinity and its Performance: The story examines how Ben and Jeffo navigate expectations of manhood through hunting, physical prowess, and their relationship with their father.
- Family Relationships and Cultural Heritage: The narrative explores the complicated dynamics between the brothers, their grandmother, and their absent father, highlighting the influence of Hawaiian cultural traditions and the tension between past and present.
- Nature and the Landscape: The story uses the setting of the ahupua'a as a backdrop for themes of exploration, self-discovery, and the beauty and dangers of the natural world.
- Identity and Belonging: The brothers grapple with their own identities as hapa haole (part-Hawaiian, part-Caucasian) and the impact of their cultural backgrounds on their experiences.
- Legacy and Tradition: The story explores the significance of family stories and traditions, particularly those passed down from their grandmother, and how they shape the brothers' sense of self and purpose.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Buck Summer: The story opens with Ben, the older brother, shooting a buck on the opposite ridge of the ahupua'a. He lets Jeffo shoot through the scope of his .22 for fun, marking the beginning of their hunting expedition. The story establishes Ben's desire to prove himself as a skilled hunter and his attempt to differentiate himself from his peers in Honolulu. We see how Ben uses hunting as a way to establish his masculinity and impress his friends.
- The Goat Summer: The brothers continue their hunt, focusing on goats as a target. Ben encourages Jeffo to participate in the hunt, emphasizing the importance of hunting as a rite of passage. The story contrasts Ben's enthusiasm for hunting with Jeffo's reluctance, revealing their different perspectives on the activity. The chapter also introduces the theme of the goat as a symbol of Ben's past hunting achievement and his grandmother's disapproval.
- Dunbar Ridge: Ben and Jeffo continue their hunt, venturing onto Dunbar Ridge, an area that is off-limits according to their grandmother's property boundaries. The brothers encounter a steep, challenging climb, mirroring the challenges they face in their personal lives. The chapter foreshadows potential danger and conflict that arises from their defiance of their grandmother's rules.
- The General: The chapter explores the brothers' relationship with their absent father, "the General," through memories and stories. We learn about their father's past exploits and his domineering personality, highlighting the complex and often strained relationships within the family. The chapter reveals Ben's resentment towards his father and his attempt to assert his own authority. The story also suggests that the brothers are attempting to forge their own identities separate from their father’s influence.
- Ghost Drums: The chapter ends with Ben and Jeffo searching for the buck in different directions. The story introduces the theme of the mysterious and supernatural, hinting at the possibility of hidden stories and unspoken truths within the ahupua'a. The chapter leaves the brothers' fate and the outcome of their hunt unresolved, suggesting that their journey of self-discovery is ongoing and may hold unexpected surprises.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This story explores the themes of masculinity, family dynamics, and cultural heritage through the lens of hunting. Keywords that define the story include hunting, ahupua'a, hapa haole, masculinity, family relationships, cultural traditions, and the Hawaiian landscape.
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- Kirby Wright (Autor:in), 2012, Buck Summer. Summers on the Lonely Isle, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/193126
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