Winterdance | Themes

Winterdance Themes

Becoming Dog

When Gary first moves to Minnesota and begins using sled dogs as part of his new life, he does not see them as more than necessary means for his work. However, his viewpoint changes when an old farmer tells about watching his cows work out a complicated system for protecting their calves and going for water. At this moment Gary begins his transition from human to dog.

After Gary stops hunting and trapping, he chooses to continue running the dogs just for the shear enjoyment of the time spent outdoors. Each time he takes the dogs out for a run they show him new, beautiful things. Soon Gary is craving more beauty and spends more and more time out on the trails. Ruth is the one who first realizes that Gary is becoming more comfortable with the dogs and has reached the point of being able to lead a...
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