He gives clear reasons why his new life in civilization is not what he wants. He explains how he is tired of pretending to understand the norms of the white society. He feels defeated by stating, “Then again, maybe I am not tired. Maybe I 'm licked. Maybe I am just not smart enough to grasp these things that go to make up civilization. Maybe I am just too lazy to think hard enough to keep up” (Whitecloud). He felt that the civilized white men wanted all to be like them, wanting all to be dissatisfied. He gives an example of them working just enough to get a hill but wishing for a mountain. He was tired of trying to be civilized; It wasn’t working with who he is as a person. He states, “Being civilized means trying to do everything you don 't want to, never doing everything you want to. It means dancing to the strings of custom and tradition” (Whitecloud). He mentions that some of the white traditions were taken by his people. However, he still feels inferior to the white society and it is terrible feeling he exclaims. Back home in Wisconsin the author states, “That land which is my home! Beautiful, calm—where there is no hurry to get anywhere, no driving to keep up in a race that knows no ending and no goal” (Whitecloud). He makes clear that his society is not judgmental, not a care in the world and not too busy wanting for things they will never have. He lets the reader know by example of his father’s reaction when he returns home. Stating, “Father looks at me, and I know he has many questions, but he seems to know why I have come (Whitecloud), this is a normal gesture of what his people are
He gives clear reasons why his new life in civilization is not what he wants. He explains how he is tired of pretending to understand the norms of the white society. He feels defeated by stating, “Then again, maybe I am not tired. Maybe I 'm licked. Maybe I am just not smart enough to grasp these things that go to make up civilization. Maybe I am just too lazy to think hard enough to keep up” (Whitecloud). He felt that the civilized white men wanted all to be like them, wanting all to be dissatisfied. He gives an example of them working just enough to get a hill but wishing for a mountain. He was tired of trying to be civilized; It wasn’t working with who he is as a person. He states, “Being civilized means trying to do everything you don 't want to, never doing everything you want to. It means dancing to the strings of custom and tradition” (Whitecloud). He mentions that some of the white traditions were taken by his people. However, he still feels inferior to the white society and it is terrible feeling he exclaims. Back home in Wisconsin the author states, “That land which is my home! Beautiful, calm—where there is no hurry to get anywhere, no driving to keep up in a race that knows no ending and no goal” (Whitecloud). He makes clear that his society is not judgmental, not a care in the world and not too busy wanting for things they will never have. He lets the reader know by example of his father’s reaction when he returns home. Stating, “Father looks at me, and I know he has many questions, but he seems to know why I have come (Whitecloud), this is a normal gesture of what his people are