The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge Chapter 3: August 24, 1823 Quotes
How we cite the quotes:
(Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote 1
Harris had no idea where to begin, and was almost relieved that the throat wounds appeared so obviously mortal. (1.3.29)
Glass is in such rough shape after the bear attack that death seems like it'd be the easier option. As we'll come to see, however, things are going to be a bit more complicated than that.
Quote 2
He heard her size before he saw it. Not just the track of the thick underbrush that the sow moved aside like short grass, but the growl itself, a sound deep like thunder or a falling tree. (1.3.10)
The bear that attacks Glass is presented more like a force of nature than a flesh-and-blood animal. And that makes sense—it mirrors the abject terror Glass feels when this massive creature is bearing down on him. Yikes. If this is what the relationship between man and nature is going to be like, then we're hopping on the next bus to the city.
Quote 3
But he had never seen human carnage like this, fresh in the wake of attack. Glass was shredded from head to foot. His scalp lay dangling to one side (1.3.27)
There aren't enough cuss words in existence to express the gruesomeness of this scene. Should we just make some up? Florp! Zoop-a-doop! Blarping boof! Now that we've gotten that out our system, please excuse us—we've got a hot date with the nearest barf bag.
Quote 4
They waited all morning for Hugh Glass to die. He never gained consciousness. [...] Still, his chest rose and fell, each breath stubbornly followed by another. (1.3.42)
Hugh Glass is so persistent that he doesn't stop swinging even when he's unconscious. That's boss status. What's more, this sets the tone for everything that follows, as it shows that Glass is far tougher than a human being has any right to be. Are we sure that this dude isn't a Terminator or something?
Quote 5
In the hierarchy of challenges the trappers faced each day, obtaining food [...] involved a complicated balancing of benefits and risks. (1.3.3)
Even hunting is risky here. After all, a gunshot can be heard for a pretty long distance, and you never know who's going to be around the next bend. Could be a group of Arikara warriors. Could be a bear. Might as well be the Grim Reaper itself, if you ask us.