Themes: The Realities of Nature
Brian has had little experience with the natural world when he is suddenly thrust into the middle of it. He has learned some things in science classes, on television, and in books, and he uses that knowledge to help him start a fire and catch a fish. But the realities of nature are much harsher than Brian ever expected.
Brian quickly learns that one of those harsh realities is the struggle for food. If he is to survive, he must eat, and he must catch his food. There is no grocery store, no mother to cook supper. Food and fire become the center of Brian’s life.
Yet at the same time, Brian learns to love the natural world. It is beautiful beyond anything he has ever known, and he discovers how to interact with wolves and bears, using his instincts and respect to diffuse tricky situations.
Still, nature is also unpredictable. Brian discovers this when the skunk sprays him and especially when he is attacked by a moose. The latter strikes Brian as completely insane, for the moose has no reason to attack. Brian learns through these experiences that nature does not have reason. It can be unexpectedly violent and harsh even amid its beauty and peace.
Expert Q&A
What does Brian consider the "great, single driving influence in nature" in Hatchet?
In Hatchet, Brian considers the "great, single driving influence in nature" to be the need for food. This realization comes after a painful encounter with a skunk that steals his turtle eggs and temporarily blinds him. Brian learns that all living things are focused on obtaining food and that he must work hard not only to find food but also to secure it from other animals.
Is the conflict in Gary Paulsen's Hatchet man vs. man or man vs. nature?
The primary conflict in Gary Paulsen's Hatchet is man vs. nature, as Brian Robeson battles the elements in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. He faces challenges like mosquitoes, a porcupine, a moose, and a tornado. Additionally, Brian experiences a man vs. self conflict, grappling with self-doubt and depression, ultimately developing resilience. There is no man vs. man conflict, as Brian does not face a human antagonist.
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