Old Yeller

In these chapters, Travis’s harrowing experience marking the hogs and the mature way he copes with Old Yeller’s injury evidence his further strides towards adulthood. Travis does not shirk his man-of-the family responsibility to brand and castrate the shoats, even though he knows that wild hogs are among the most dangerous animals in Texas. While the boyish part of Travis finds the job exciting, he does not let his guard down. Travis again strives to be like his Papa, acknowledging fear, but training his mind not to let it “stampede” him (95). Travis asserts adult authority when he defies Mama’s instructions to stay home and rest. Travis makes a promise to Yeller, and, man-like, will honor his word. Mama, unused to Travis taking a dominant role, looks “a little flustered” at his new authority (111).

The ordeal that Travis and Old Yeller suffer together strengthens their bond. Travis and Yeller work the hogs seamlessly as a team, both apparently enjoying the “blood-chilling game” (93). Their bond is so strong that after Travis binds his own wound, he returns for Yeller regardless of potential consequences to himself. Travis is profoundly impacted by Yeller’s selflessness and sacrifice: Yeller takes the “punishment” Travis knows was meant for him. Travis recognizes that Old Yeller saved his life, as he did that of Little Arliss. Travis loves and trusts Yeller completely, and similarly, Yeller knows he can rely on Travis, sighing upon Travis’s return “like he’d just had a big load taken off his mind” (114). This is one reason Travis resents Lisbeth’s gift of the puppy, much the same way he resented his father’s offer of another dog after Bell’s death: Travis has bonded completely with Yeller and no other dog can take his place.

The episodes with the wild hogs show the constant struggle of the Coates family, and all the settlers, to survive in a dangerous environment, illustrating the pervasive theme of character against nature. Although humans are at the top of the natural hierarchy, their position is precarious: they still must fight to assert dominance and carve a sustainable niche for themselves. Despite the danger from the hogs, they must be marked and castrated for them to be identified as the Coates’ property and utilized as a viable meat source. Frontier life is unpredictable and can quickly turn deadly. Even Travis and Papa’s method of marking hogs is only—as Travis discovers— “nearly” fool-proof (90). Like humans, other animals fight to establish dominance over weaker creatures and establish a food source. Starving hogs become hunters: As a baby, Papa was caught and almost eaten by a wild hog, showing again how quickly the balance of power can change.

Travis immediately thinks that if anyone can help Old Yeller, it would be Mama, who “always knew what to do when somebody got hurt” (107). Mama again fulfills the role of nurturer and caretaker. While this can be considered a stereotypical female gender role, Gipson shows that Travis values Mama’s knowledge and skills. Mama possesses expertise that Travis does not: she knows that horsehair is best to sew up a wound, which prickly pear roots make the best poultice, and how to disinfect a wound using turpentine. She also uses psychology to deftly manipulate Little Arliss into staying out of the way and being gentle with Old Yeller. Gipson shows that the female role complements and balances out the male role of providing and protecting—neither is necessarily superior. Conflict arises only when Travis refuses to follow his follow his mother’s healing directive. His manly responsibility and bond of friendship to Old Yeller takes precedence over her instructions. Travis also strives to project a masculine, if false, sense of bravado in front of Lisbeth, refusing to admit to “a girl” that he is in pain (124), showing again the differences in roles, and Travis’s belief that a “man” must appear strong.