Cole’s Conf lict with the Spirit Bear
Mrs. Oelerich
 Cole first hears about the Spirit Bear from Garvey. He
tells Cole that Spirit Bears have “pride, dignity, and
honor. More than most people” (Mickaelson 18).
 Cole’s initial response is: “If I saw a spirit Bear, I’d kill
it” (Mickaelson 18). This shows that he is consumed by
anger and ignorant.
 When Cole sees the Spirit Bear for the first time, he
wants to kill it because he is frustrated that the Bear
does not fear him like Peter and everyone else
(Mickaelson 59).
 Cole confronts the Spirit Bear with a spear and it mauls
him within an inch of his life (Mickaelson 65-67).
 Again, this shows Cole is angry and ignorant about
nature and himself.
 Then Cole begins to change: while Cole is helpless and
injured, the Spirit Bear returns (Mickaelson 92-94).
 Intriguingly, Cole senses curiosity and trust rather than
aggression from the Bear.
 “Cole forced his hand forward until his fingers touched the
bear’s moist white coat. [. . .] With his fingertips he felt
warmth. He felt the bear’s breath and heartbeat. And he felt
one more thing. He felt trust. But why? Already he had tried
to kill the bear. He had spit at it. [. . .] He had hated it with
every fiber of his existence” (Mickaelson 95).
 This shows Cole is beginning to realize that his anger does
not necessarily make him powerful. He is beginning to see
how Peter felt when he was beaten.
 After his rescue, Cole decides to tell Garvey and Edwin
the truth from now on.
 Cole realizes “His life had become filled with lies. [. . .]
From now on he would speak the truth, even if it meant
going to jail. [. . .] His words would become his only
proof” (Mickaelson 111-112).
 This shows that Cole is maturing. He has seen that
proving himself is of little importance compared to
what he has experienced. Cole realizes that the Spirit
Bear will serve as a constant reminder of where his
anger can lead him.
 Cole’s conflict with the Spirit Bear is an external
conflict. While it helps him to make important
realizations about himself, it is a conflict between Cole
and a force of nature making it a person vs. nature
conflict.
 From Cole’s conflict with the Spirit Bear the reader learns:
 It is arrogant and self-centered of people to think they
can dominate nature and others. The reader learns this
when Cole is mauled by the Spirit Bear.
 People need to realize that they need to be
compassionate, a stronger being should not hurt a
weaker one just because he can; he is also hurting
himself. The reader learns this when Mikaelson puts
Cole in Peter’s shoes.
 A person’s word is only as good as the person who gives
it. The reader learns this when Cole finally decides not
to lie anymore but instead to become a person worth
believing.