The Theme of Deception in Hunters in the Snow

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The short story Hunters in the Snow by Tobias Wolff depicts three men that go on a hunting trip that changes the course of their lives. Each character lies to himself to accept his actions in his life. Kenny, Frank, and Tub need to successfully fool themselves before they can deceive anyone else. Each of the men are immature and selfish. They don't realize how their decisions impact other people's lives. They justify their lies with their own insecurities about their lifestyles. Their lies impact the situations they encounter and change their lives forever.

Kenny is the bully of the group. He is constantly making fun of Frank and Tub, playing on their insecurities. Kenny is the stereotypical alpha male. He has to be in control. Even the smallest factor, such as driving, has to be done by Kenny. He has to be the one driving. Kenny doesn't care when he's an hour late picking up Tub. He has the audacity to pretend that he is going to hit Tub with his truck. He refuses to listen to Tub's complaints when he gets in the truck and continues on his way. His pompous statements annoy Frank and Tub. "`You ask me how I want to die today,' Kenny said `I'll tell you burn me at the stake'" (Wolff 77). When Kenny threatens to tell Tub Frank's secret, Frank tells him that he is asking for it. Even early on in the trip Kenny is annoying the two men. He snaps when Tub and Frank challenge him. Frank tries to tell him it's not their fault they didn't kill a deer and Kenny is outraged. "`You go with them,' Kenny said. `I came out here to get me a deer, not to listen to a bunch of hippie bullshit. And if it hadn't been for dimples here I would have too... And you, you're too busy thinking about that little jailbait of yours yo...

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... got to the woods where Kenny wanted to hunt. Tub was trying for somewhere different; two years in a row they'd been up and down this land and hadn't seen a thing. Frank didn't care one way or another, he just wanted to get out of the goddamned truck" (Wolff 76). Kenny is in charge. He gives only one reason why they have to hunt at that place and the other two give up. Tub wants to make a change. He puts himself out there by making a suggestion to Kenny and is immediately shot down. Frank is indifferent. He is a product of his surroundings. He is cruel to Tub when he is with Kenny. When he is with Tub he is himself. The unspoken bond between the two men spurs the realization not to take Kenny to the hospital. The both make the decision that Kenny was asking to be shot the whole day. Kenny's treatment of Tub and Frank justify his murder in their eyes.

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