How the Dream is kept Alive in Hal Borland's When the Legends Die
As I began this book I thought that by "Legends" the author was speaking of certain people and those who are known very well. He was not though...
In this story Thomas Black Bull grows up in the ways of his ancestors. He is forced away from society at a young age and is taught by his parents the ancient customs of living in the wild When both his parents die, Tom is left as the sole keeper of his people's knowledge. His parents have passed, but before they're deaths they gave to Tom all they knew. This is the idea Borland portrays and is even shown in his title, that knowledge and customs die unless passed on. He quotes Tecumseh, a Native American leader of the Shawnee, "When the legends die the dreams end. When the dreams end, there is no more greatness."
If people die without passing on their cultural knowledge, a way of life also dies. By legends, I think that Borland is relating to the experience, thoughts, language, stories, and songs that grow with a society. He is speaking of all things that people learn while they live with others from the same background. If these die an entire culture dies with them. Then with dreams I believe that Borland is speaking of the ability human beings possess to invision they're future. In our dreams, we confide within ourselves the future aspects of our lives we intend to accomplish. If tradition is lost then our dreams are nothing but empty ideas, for they have been thought of and hoped for without the appreciation and grasp of oneself that springs forth from or legends. You must know your own, and your people's history, understanding what has already been done for you to be placed in your current position, before dreams are dreamed and greatness attained.
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