The Light in the Forest

Infobox Book
name = The Light in the Forest


author = Conrad Richter
country = USA
language = English, Marathi
genre = Adventure, Historic, Young Adult, Coming of age
publisher = Vintage Books
release_date = 1953
pages = 180
isbn = 1-4000-7788-5

"The Light in the Forest" is a novel first published in 1953 by U.S. author Conrad Richter. Though it is a work of fiction and primarily features characters, the novel incorporates several real people and facts from U.S. history.

Walt Disney Productions made a 1958 film adaptation under the same title, starring Fess Parker, Joanne Dru, James MacArthur and Wendell Corey.

Synopsis

The Light in the Forest is about the struggles of a white boy, True Son, taken from his parents by Indians while young, to find out where his true family lies.

The story begins with True Son learning that the Indians and whites have formed a peace treaty, and that he would have to be released to the whites. This devastates True Son, for he had come to think of himself as Indian in the eleven years he had been with them. He even considers killing himself in order to be free of the whites, but his Indian friends, Half Arrow and Little Crane, convince him not to.

When he gets to white civilization, he refuses to recognize his blood father, continues to wear his Indian clothes, and pretends to not understand English while his blood mother is talking. However, his younger brother, Gordie, seems to think his Indian ways are cool, and Gordie becomes the one white person that True Son does not hate.

Later, True son gets into a heated argument with his Uncle Wilse. Uncle Wilse accuses the Indians of scalping children, which True Son denies; eventually Uncle Wilse gets so upset he slaps True Son. As time goes on, True Son begins to adapt to the white way of life, until Half Arrow comes to “rescue” him. However, he brings with him some shocking news: some white men had shot and scalped Little Crane. In revenge, they scalp Uncle Wilse, and then escape back into the wilderness to find their tribe. However, they find the Indians angry over the murder of Little Crane, and eventually the whole tribe declares war on the whites. They attack some small villages and scalp the whites. During this time, True Son finds some children scalps among the rest, and is very disturbed by the fact that the Indians fought against children as well as adults.

Later, he is used as bait to lure a band of whites into a vulnerable spot to be ambushed, but intentionally gives away the plan when he sees a child, not unlike Gordie, among the whites. This treachery makes the Indians wish to burn him, but instead, his Indian father convinces them to banish him instead. He tells True Son that he would be received as a white enemy if ever seen again in Indian territory and that he no longer is True Son’s father. In response, True Son asks “Then who is my father?” which is basically asking “Where do I belong, if not with you?” In the end, True Son leaves the forest, and walks back along a white road, wondering where he can go. As it states in the book, it is a companion to "A Country of Strangers".

Characters

The major characters in "The Light in the Forest" are as follows: True Son, Cuyloga, Del Hardy, True Son's actual parents, and his Uncle Wilse.

True Son

True Son (or John Cameron Butler) is the main character of The Light in the Forest. He had been kidnapped by a tribe in Pennsylvania when he was four. True Son was then raised by his adopted Indian father, Cuyloga. For eleven years, True Son idolized his father who has told him that he was a full blooded Indian. Cuyloga trained True Son for almost his entire life with lessons of strength and patience. However, True Son had never been trained for the ordeal that he would soon face. Near True Son's fifteenth birthday, his tribe signed a treaty that would agree to let their captives free. At this point, True Son thought his life was over and considered suicide by eating the roots of a May apple tree. Although he was a good example of his father, being the teenager that he was, his rebellious and stubborn attitude led people to think wrongly of him. True Son was not a trouble maker; he was just opinionated and proud of what he believed to be his real home and family. True Son's name is actually an antonym of what he is, he was named True Son by his adoptive father, Cuyloga, who had lost his first son to the yellow vommit.

Cuyloga

Cuyloga adopted True Son eleven years before, and firmly believed that he had transformed True Son into an Indian. Cuyloga is described as a wise father figure, but also as a primitive, savage person, according to True Son's real family.

Del Hardy

Del Hardy originally helped True Son by translating English in Delaware, so that True Son could communicate with other white people. He also protected the Butlers from an attack during a time when True Son was anything but stable. Del stayed with the Butlers for a period of time, then left. True Son missed his brother, Gordie, not Del, when he left. True Son really didn't like him, but he enjoyed his company. Overall, Del isn't a bad person.

Half Arrow

Half Arrow is True Son's most favorite Indian cousin. He accompanies him to the white settlement. He also run away with True Son later in the book.

Uncle Wilse

Uncle Wilse is True Son's white uncle, who was part of the Paxton Boys(Pestank men) which massacred the Conestogo indian tribe. He and True Son hate each other at first sight.