Brian's Search for the Meaning of Life in W.O. Mitchell's "Who Has Seen the Wind"

Essay by Rodrigo GollerHigh School, 12th gradeA-, November 1996

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I tried to make a good job but failed in the verb tenses. "Rodrigo, you did an exellent job in this essay, however you must be more carefull with your verb tenses

Brian's Search for the Meaning of Life in W.O. Mitchell's Who Has Seen the Wind

Through the brilliantly written book Who Has Seen the Wind, Mitchell is able to very effectively describe the tale of one boy and his growth on the Saskatchewan prairie. Brian's childhood revolves around aspects of everyday life, and in it he attempts to explain that which has evaded and mystified even the great minds of our times: the meaning of life. He is able to somewhat understand the meaning of life though his experiences with birth, particularly that of a pigeon, and a rabbit. His up-close-in-your-face learning of death, at an early age, when his dog, and subsequently his father dies. Lastly Brian's realization that it's all just sensations, and feelings complete his search for the meaning of life.

Early in his life, Brian has many experiences with birth. The first of these comes to him at an early age when he sees newborn pigeons. When his father explains how these pigeons were made, Brian understands that birth is the beginning of life. Four years later, a similar conversation comes up when Brian asks his father how rabbits are born. With this new found knowledge, Brian also sees another newborn. But this time it was a two-headed calf, who dies at birth. Because of this, Brian comes to the realization that 'God isn't very considerate'(166), for sometimes he lets things like the two headed cow come into this world, only to suffer and then die.

The Second instance in which Brian is confronted with the meaning of life, comes to him...