The Bear Group

Question:

cheruka
cheruka

Why is old Ben compared to Priam in William Faulkner's "The Bear" (from short story collection "Go Down Moses")?

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Posted by cheruka on Thursday October 18, 2007 at 8:17 PM and tagged with old ben in the bear, the bear.

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  1. sullymonster Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    Priam was the king of Troy during the Trojan War.  This war was the last for Troy, as the city fell and was destroyed.  In the war, Troy - and its leader - were trying to "hold out" against the Greek army.  Similarly, Old Ben represents the last hold of nature on encroaching civilization.  Ben's death is symbolic of the death of nature.  Nature, like Priam, is a king of old trying to survive in a changing world, but ultimately failing.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/bear/characters

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    Posted by sullymonster on Thursday October 18, 2007 at 8:32 PM