Home, home on the range, / Where the relationship between fur traders, the U.S. Military, and local Native American tribes cause chaos and violence, / And seldom is heard an encouraging word, / And the skies are not cloudy all day.
That's how the song goes, right?
At least, that's how it should go if The Revenant is accurate. Set it the 1820s, the novel depicts a chaotic time on the American frontier during which fur trappers, U.S. military forces, and local native tribes all found themselves with competing goals. We see guerrilla warfare. We see high-stakes trade deals. We see horrendous racism. It's rough stuff. Amidst this chaos, however, The Revenant pays special attention to the individual lives that are drawn to the frontier, whether for glory, a love of nature, or simply a burning desire for freedom.
Questions About Visions of the American Frontier
- Are the Arikara justified in attacking the traders? Why or why not?
- Compare and contrast the different forts in the novel.
- What is the nature of Yellow Horse's premonition?
- How does Glass's experience with the Pawnee change his view of the frontier?