Analysis Of The Last Hunt Of Doraex

In her short story “The Last Hunt of Dorax” Olive Huck presents a sheep dog, named Dorax, who is faced with conflict when his secret life of running with the wolves catches up with him. Throughout the short story the owner of the ranch, Marshall Ridgeway, and his friend James Andrews discuss Dorax and how unique of a sheep dog he is. James Andrews has his suspicions that Dorax may not be the admirable, loyal dog that Marshall Ridgeway believes he is. In the story wolves have become an increasingly large problem by killing many of the sheep in the town and Andrews speculates that Dorax may even be hunting with the wolves and went as far as confusing Dorax with a wolf when saying “Looks mighty like a wolf a-comin” (Huck 748). However, Ridgeway remained very loyal to Dorax throughout the story and even gave him privileges, such as going inside, that the other sheep dogs did not have. I believe that this

Dorax believes that he can continue to hide his relationship with the wolves from Ridgeway, but he learns that he will soon have to make the choice. It is revealed that Dorax will have to decide between his two lives when the author states “ravenous from their fast during their long hunt, the wolves were about to hold their usual feast before dispersing. But never before had they been here with Dorax” (Huck 752). With no objections from Dorax, the wolves believe that they can convert Dorax one and for all as shown in the quote “Perhaps the jealous old grey leader had thus maliciously guided them; perhaps the young wolf, with feminine craft, had sought to set the final seal to Dorax’s fealty to his new comrades, thus binding him to them forever” (Huck 752). This quote exemplifies the wolves eagerness to get a decision from Dorax. Although living two separate lives are enticing to Dorax, he knew that he would ultimately have to make a