Certainty In Guy Vanderhaeghe's Dancing Bear

Throughout life individuals make several decisions. Most individuals have certain goals they hope to achieve throughout their lives, varying from fantastical, distant triumphs to limited but realistic objectives. The choices we make have multiple outcomes but one often struggles to determine what they must do in order to restore honor and certainty. In Dancing Bear, the author Guy Vanderhaeghe develops the idea that honor and certainty which individuals possess is constantly receding from their grasp; such desires inspire individuals to dwell upon the past which results in substantial realizations. Thus, when an individual struggles to restore honor and certainty they often reflect upon their past, identity and values which results in the powerful infatuation inspired by ones ambition. …show more content…
Throughout Dancing Bear the protagonist Dieter Bethge undertakes various endeavors. They are all almost done to fulfill his cogent vision for himself and to acquire the honor and certainty he has lost due to his old age and his home keeper Ms. Hax, whom he deeply despises. The narrator comments “The old man lay sleeping on the taunt red rubber sheet as if he were some specimen mounted and pinned there to dry,” exemplifying the notion that initiated Bethege’s ambition to gain respect, love, honor and certainty. Bethge’s honor and background were completely submerged beneath his desire for exquisite existence. He continuously aimed to combat and overtake Ms. Hax but “when someone push[ed] her, she push[ed] back twice as hard,” which made “his