Imagery in visual communication and artistic expression

Reality Explored in "Hunter in the Snow"

Tobias Wolff's short story, "Hunters in the Snow," becomes a testament to how mankind knows very little about himself and his fellow man. Wolff utilizes the extreme circumstances to focus on how man can become incredible self-involved while attempting to remain connected to those around him. Kenny, Frank, and Tub set out to go hunting but end up learning shocking truths about themselves and each other. Issues of infidelity, weight, general lack of concern for anything or anyone become the secrets that these men reveal on this journey. By the end of the story, Wolff had left us with characters that no one would b proud to call a friend but the most appalling fact of all is that they only men just like the rest of us.

One of the issues that Wolff addresses with these men is how we seldom know about people we consider friends. One of the most shocking aspects of this fact is how the men seem to treat their so-called friends. From the moment Kenny and Frank pick up Tub, contention seems to set in at almost every opportunity. Kenny seems insensitive to either man in that he teases Tub for whining and Frank about the babysitter. Tub and Frank are heartless when it comes to getting Kenny to the hospital. They stop off at places to warm up and even stand in the bathroom in front of the automatic hand dryer "opening their jackets and shirts and letting the jet of hot air breath across their faces and chests" (Wolff). Frank, in his insensitivity, tells Kenny, "It wouldn't hurt so much if you just stayed put" (Wolff) in response to his attempting to get out of the back of the truck. These instances illustrate how insensitive men can be when their own needs are not being met. When two healthy, uninjured men are confront with getting their injured friend to the hospital, they take their time, stop to warm up, and literally could not care any less than if they had no one in the back of the truck. What we learn from these men is that we never know the entire truth about people regardless of what we think.