Romanticism in The Light in the Forest The story, The Light in the Forest, written by Conrad Richter, is a classic novel taking place in the 1700's. the story follows a boy who was kidnapped by Indians at the tender age of four, and was adopted and reared as an Indian for eleven years. Then the Indians signed a treaty with the whites, to release all white captives, and the boy was forced to return to his white, biological parents. The boy hated every aspect of white living, so he ran away, back to his Indian family. complications arise, forcing True Son to become stranded between both white and Indian society. This novel is based on the literary style of Romanticism in order to show conflicts between Whites and Indians during this time period. Romanticism is a concept used by authors which "...emphasizes the beauty, strangeness, and mystery of nature...[with]
A Light in the Forest
Autumn forest sceenario.
The Light in the Forestan emphasis upon an organic connection between the human imagination and the natural world."ÃÂ1This novel shows the superiority of the Indian over the White man. These conflicts can be demonstrated through the authors use of characterization, incidents and setting. There is a definite contrast in the setting of this novel between the Indian forest. While making his escape with Half Arrow, True Son and half arrow reflected on their surroundings by "opening their eyes, [as] they feasted on the richness of they Indian forest."ÃÂ2 Knowing that the whites would never understand the power of the Indian wilderness.
The Indian forest was very abundant with life's meager necessities, and "Always... endless [the] Indian forest stood above them. When it thinned, there were the crimson Indian Hearts that white people call strawberry and the purple swords of Indian Raspberries. Fish leaped from the creek and pheasants made thunder through the...