To willfully put oneself in harms way to defend what is right versus doing what is easy is the definitive key to manhood. The story "Walking Out" by David Quammen exemplifies the notion of a young boy's evolution into a man. "Walking Out" describes the story of a father and son's annual hunting trip through the backwoods of Montana. David assists his father on his search for a moose, but what he actually discovers is far more important. With a mangled arm, and his father on the brink of death, David faces the physical struggle of escaping the danger of the woods and the mental battle of taking on responsibility for the first time. Quammen's use of cold weather and other environmental factors epitomize the metamorphosis of a young boy into
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"Six inches had falls, and it was still snowing." David's transition is going strong and there is no going back. This is the most intense battle he will face because during this time, not only does he have to face the freezing snow, but he's injured his hand and wounded his father. Throughout his expedition to save himself and his father, the snow acts as a symbol of David's hope and determination. As an example, David is "no longer afraid of his father" and during this time the "snow [falls] gracefully as before." This suggests that the snow has not stopped and neither had David. He has become aware that he can be who he is and does not need to fear what his father thinks. Finally, when the "snow [stops] in the night, and [does] not resume," it signifies the death of David's father and the birth of David into young man. His father is wounded terribly, and David knows that he probably isn't going to make it, but he carries him out of the woods anyway. But he does it with his father's guidance as the snow is still falling. However, once it stops, David's father no longer helps him, and David must face the journey alone. He becomes his own man. His transition is complete. The end of the snow launches the beginning of a young boy's coming of
"Six inches had falls, and it was still snowing." David's transition is going strong and there is no going back. This is the most intense battle he will face because during this time, not only does he have to face the freezing snow, but he's injured his hand and wounded his father. Throughout his expedition to save himself and his father, the snow acts as a symbol of David's hope and determination. As an example, David is "no longer afraid of his father" and during this time the "snow [falls] gracefully as before." This suggests that the snow has not stopped and neither had David. He has become aware that he can be who he is and does not need to fear what his father thinks. Finally, when the "snow [stops] in the night, and [does] not resume," it signifies the death of David's father and the birth of David into young man. His father is wounded terribly, and David knows that he probably isn't going to make it, but he carries him out of the woods anyway. But he does it with his father's guidance as the snow is still falling. However, once it stops, David's father no longer helps him, and David must face the journey alone. He becomes his own man. His transition is complete. The end of the snow launches the beginning of a young boy's coming of