Culture and Identity in When the Legends Die (Essay Example)

Does someone's culture affect how they present themselves? In the book When the Legends Die by Hal Borland, Tom is split between the white people and the Utes. He has to adapt at a young age after losing both his parents and having a hard childhood, where he is constantly used and abused. He loses the chance to be himself and understand his culture as he ages. Tom is unable to shape his own identity in the presence of other humans because he is often forced into different identities by the people who only seek to profit off of him; therefore, he must return to nature to truly connect with his identity.  

Tom has had struggles all throughout his life from the point his parents die to when he starts riding broncos in the arena. He not only was denied his own culture from people who were using him but he was also hated. When he is riding broncos he still has that hatred for the people who have kept him as an asset and used him for themselves. “He wasn't riding for time or for the crowd. He was riding for himself. And he wasn't riding the bay. He was riding a hurt and a hate, deep inside. The blood drummed in his ears, his teeth ached with the pounding, but he held his rhythm.” (Borland 121) This talks about how Tom has just been so fed up with all the events that have happened in his life and he is forced to take it out on the broncs. He never gets the chance to express himself in any way since he is pressured to do things and is easily persuaded. People have all had struggles in life but Tom has been stopped from discovering himself and forced into other people's shoes. “You do like I say, or I’ll break your goddamn neck! You get thrown”(Borland 96). Red is giving a life threatening statement to force Tom to ride or else he will be killed. He has always been under the influence of people who see him as an asset. His identity is always what other people want them to be rather than something that he sees in himself.

Tom being raised in a Ute family has experienced his culture up to a certain age but after the death of his parents he loses his path. He starts to get seen by people like Blue Elk, he takes him into the school where he starts to experience new things. ”Indians but also wearing white man's clothing.” (Borland 50) Tom has been living in his lodge continuing the old ways that his parents taught him and has never seen any of these new ways. The environment being completely new he isn’t used to it, bringing his brother he gets in trouble whereas if he was with his people nothing would have changed. ” Benny made him sit down and he talked to him, told him that he must stay here, go to classes, learn the new way.” (Borland 56) Not only is Tom brought into a new environment, he is also forced to stay in an unknown place. He not only has to become someone that he’s not, he also has to change his culture and his identity to fit what the people controlling want him to be.

When you have had enough of something you will get tired of it and want to change. This is exactly what Tom did, he escaped from everyone who had been suppressing him. He chose to go to nature and get rid of everything that affected him so that he could focus on himself. “He didn’t try to force the horse all the way to the tongue brush, but got off and let him graze and went on foot.” (Borland 193) When he stays in nature for long enough and where he was raised he starts to become one with hit culture, he respects nature and becomes more gentle with the horses. When he finally returns to his homeland all his memories rush back to him and he starts to remember everything.” He could smile at them, remembering, because he was going away from here and probably never coming back.” (Borland 202) He is going to chase the bear which I think is a representation of his identity as a Ute. The decision to go has made him emotional since he is leaving the place where he was born. 

Identity is something that you make, it isn't something you should let others decide for you. You are who you see yourself as no one can change you no matter what actions they take. If you ever have an internal struggle you may isolate yourself to figure things out before coming back to find other people. Always take your time finding out who you are because it will shape you as a person for the rest of your life.