Four Levels of Stickeen

Literal Comprehension:

Stickeen was taken to the icy region of Southwestern Alaska. He used to be slow and motionless in the canoe. But when the landing time was near he would be the first to step on to the hand and he was always the lat to get in. When Muir was away, he followed him, and he would also follow the hunter. Other times he was aloof and indifferent. One stormy day Stickeen accompanied Muir. The level flood was hitting on their faces. They went to the west shore of the glacier, and on a return trip there were many dangerous crevasses. It was difficult for the writer to cross them, but Stickeen crossed them easily. He was calm and following Muir. Finally, they were trapped in a place surrounded by a nearly fifty –foot wide crevasse. The writer made small steps on the vertical wall and went across the silver bridge. On the other side also he had to make steps on the vertical wall to climb up. Thus he went across. But Stickeen wisely knew the risk while crossing the crevasse through the bride. He ran, moaned and grieved. The writer encouraged and warned him to cross. Finally, he tried to cross it very carefully and succeeded. Then he was completely changed. He showed uncontrollable joy. He sobbed, cried, shouted and screamed. They reached the camp safely. He never left the writer and always looked at his face as if he were his god. After the trip was over, he was taken by his master and was later stolen by a tourist. But, Muir would never forget him.

Interpretation:

The story may be trying to tell us that there is no difference between human beings and animals. Like human beings they love adventure for nothing. Like saints, they want to be perfect and to develop through suffering. The pleasure earned after hard labour is worth having. Animals are wise and witty, too. They are wise enough to know the reality and the appearance. So Stickeen knew that the last crevasse was really dangerous. Like human beings, they are also completely changed when something terrible happens in life. Stickeen, after being saved, became social and devoted to the savior and also story might be trying to tell us that experience teaches us more than any thing else. The dog stickeen changed completely after it successfully cross the silver bridge and save its life. It may also be interpreted to mean that there are many things which we find in animals and human beings equally. Friendship and gratitude are equally found in animals.

Critical Thinking:

This beautiful story has many points which are normally unacceptable to us. Why do people explore such remote place by putting their lives in danger? Don't they die of cold when they are wet in the icy cold region? Does God make landscapes by floodstorm? Can an animal express its happiness as Stickeen has expressed? But this story makes us feel as if we are with the writer making the journey.

Assimilation:

By reading this story I have learnt many things about the glaciers and the weather there. I came to know that life and death, beauty and danger are interwoven. Like the dog Stickeen, I found myself changed. Now I understand better what the Buddha meant when he said that we should love all living creatures.