We're all chasing our fish. We are all desperately trying to grasp something that is just out of our reach. Santiago, the main character of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, is literally chasing a fish. He shows exceptional patience towards this fish - as one must when pursuing an important goal - spending eighty-four calm days at sea in the hope of finally catching the monster. Santiago sacrifices his physical and mental stability in pursuit of his ultimate goal, and if you look at the bigger picture, Kicking Bird of Dances with Wolves does the same. But, to compare the main characters' ultimate goals, we must first deduce what Kicking Bird's "fish" is. What is it that keeps slipping into its clutches? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why” Should Violent Video Games Not Be Banned? Get an Original Essay Some might argue that the metaphorical “fish” in Kicking Bird is the white man, who constantly desires to understand their customs and way of life. This would explain his curiosity and interest in Lieutenant Dunbar throughout the book. While this is valid reasoning, I would argue that if Kicking Bird's "fish" was the white man, then he would have caught him a long time ago when he adopted Stands With A Fist into his family he had the opportunity to examine at first person the ways of the whites - limited as they were - from Stands With A Fist when he was younger and not yet fully assimilated into Sioux culture, Kicking Bird not only wanted to understand the white man's way of life and customs, but also the his motivations. He wants to fully understand why the white man is pioneering Sioux lands and what they hope to accomplish by doing so. Analyzing the book and Kicking Bird's actions in every part, one might come to the conclusion that the "fish" of Kicking Bird is the understanding of the white man's incentive. When compared side by side, Santiago and Kicking Bird's behavior towards their respective "fish" are almost identical. Just as Santiago tolerates the marlin's antics, regardless of how frustrating they may be, Kicking Bird is incredibly patient with Lieutenant Dunbar's antics. Towards the beginning of Dances with Wolves, Kicking Bird observes a much more patient attitude towards Dunbar than the other members of the tribe. An example of such behavior appears when the lieutenant tries to convey the word "buffalo" despite the language barrier. Instead of deeming Dunbar crazy for rolling in the dirt and trying to walk away like the wind in your hair, Kicking Bird sits quietly and tries to decipher the meaning behind Dunbar's impromptu skit. Kicking Bird also takes on the responsibility of helping the other tribe members teach Dunbar the Sioux language, a monotonous task that requires a lot of patience. Why would Kicking Bird take on such a tedious task if not to get what he is looking for, if not to catch his "fish?" Kicking Bird believes that being civil to Dunbar will help him build trust with the Lieutenant, and forging that trust would finally allow Kicking Bird to ask himself what it is that the white man wants so badly from Sioux land. Later in the book, Kicking Bird comes very close to broaching the subject with Dunbar. He asks the lieutenant how many white men will pass through Sioux country, and the answer Dunbar gives is a very disturbing "like the stars." Although Kicking Bird's long-standing question of how many white men are coming is partly answered, he is not yet at.