In the Distance

Håkan’s physical growth serves as a motif for the theme of The Wilderness as a Source of Transformation and Growth. Over the course of his journey in the West, his stature grows to larger-than-life proportions, much like his reputation. The prologue quickly establishes that Håkan is a giant among men: “Only then did his colossal proportions [...] become apparent. The rifle seemed no larger than a toy carbine in his hand, and although he was holding it by the muzzle, the butt did not touch the ground” (2). Like the wilderness itself, the towering Håkan appears vast, rugged, and at once dangerous and awe-inspiring. People often assume that he will use his size and strength for violence. In actuality, Håkan’s body, like the West itself, is exploited for others’ gain over and over. For example, the amber-haired woman imprisons and abuses him in the town of Clangston, which springs up because of the Gold Rush.

Over the course of the novel, Håkan goes from a hopeful Swedish boy to a traumatized and misunderstood legend of the American West, and his physical growth is as dramatic as this transformation. The phenomenon begins on the ship that takes the teenage protagonist to San Francisco, but John Lorimer is the first to recognize how extraordinary it is. As a naturalist, Lorimer sees Håkan’s growth as part of the process of human evolution: “After studying his notes and making a few calculations, he told Håkan he had never seen or even read anything like it. [....] Was Håkan, reaching up beyond the rest of us, an example of what humans might become?” (78). Lorimer’s theory about Håkan’s growth is a reminder that humans are a part of nature, ever-changing along with their environment. Håkan’s growth is also remarkable because it continues his entire life: “[E]ven though he did not know how old he was, it was clear to him that he had reached the age at which the human body has matured and starts its decline. Still, he had never stopped growing” (208). Like his infamous reputation, Håkan’s physical proportions only become greater and greater with time. The novel does not explain the reason for his growth, which suggests that the bond between humans and nature transcends empirical knowledge. Diaz uses the protagonist’s extraordinary physical growth to underscore the novel’s themes and influence Håkan’s relationships with nature and the other characters.