"" His father knew that Stephen did not have the physical domination that he longed for his son to have. Since Stephen was a young boy, he was able to see in his father's gaze the life and ideals that he wished for his son to live by. Nowlan shows the struggles of Stephen trying to overcome these harsh surroundings. When he is "shiver[ing]- from the "howling winter wind,"" and the cold "forced watery mucus from his nostrils- he is left feeling more alone and secluded. By Stephen having problems overcoming his "cold- surroundings, it indicates that he will encounter more troubles when he tries to overcome the ties of his father's ideals and replace them with those of his own.
"He knew his father despised the Polack."" As the days go by Stephen becomes aware that Leka and himself have become quit good friends, despite the fact that Stephen's father clearly does not approve of the "Polack."" "Them Polacks has gotta lotta funny ideas."" By Stephen making his own choice whether or not to accept Leka as an equal shows that he is starting to value his own ideals, and not those of his father. Unable to live up to the work ethic his father so dearly wants out of his son, Stephen is paired with Leka, because he believes that they have been "consigned together as the crew's clumsiest and weakest members."" Stephen is feeling dejected and is questioning whether or not he is ever going to be the "man- his father requests of him. Comfort comes to Stephen as the friendship between Leka and Stephen begins to prosper. "You try to hard, kid."" While in the woods Leka tells Stephen the he "act[s] as if the saw were the most important thing in the world."" Stephen longs for nothing more then show his father that his ideals live up to the standards of his father's and that he is a man that can conquer any task the "foreman- may ask of him. Leka begins to tell Stephen about his past and of the beauty the world has to offer.