Looking at The Theme of Adapting to Harsh Conditions as Depicted in Farley Mowat's Never Cry Wolf

Never Cry Wolf, by Farley Mowart, describes a scientist's adaptation to the wilderness as he is in search of wolves. Tyler, who is the main character, learns to respect the rights of the animals in the wilderness throughout the movie. Before his adventure begins Tyler runs into a drunk at the bar who tells him to avoid nature, as he would be the only meat to eat there. Rosie, a bush pilot, flies Tyler into the wilderness, and has no feelings towards nature whatsoever in the beginning, but finds that there is a use later on, and becomes rich off of its resources and its inhabitants. Ootek, an Indian that looks at wolves in a deep particular way, is a big influence on Tyler's development of respect for nature. Mike, Ootek's nephew, understands Tyler and follows his uncle at first, but ends up losing respect for the wolves and nature.

When Rosie dropped Tyler off on the lake, Tyler didn't know what to think about his adventure or the wilderness. As he began his adventure, he learned quickly to respect nature and its inhabitants. Upon meeting Ootek, Tyler began to discover what nature was really like. Mike gave him the same impression as Ootek. When Rosie dropped Tyler off he made it a point that he had no idea where they were or what they were there for. He was extremely unsure of nature and what it consists of, and felt that he had no need for it. When Tyler went exploring around towards the end of the movie, he found Rosie and a couple other guys camping out and playing football by a lake. Once confronted, Rosie said that he hit the jackpot and planned to turn the acreage into something fabulous. In the end Rosie had no respect for the wilderness or its inhabitants, but was satisfied with it because it was making him rich. The drunk at the bar obviously did not care for nature at all, as he did tell Tyler that if he went out there he was sure to be killed and eaten by the wild animals. When Tyler met Mike he had found a friend. Mike was an English speaking Indian that served as a translator between Tyler and Ootek, and provided Tyler with someone to talk to. Mike respected nature as much as Ootek at first, but towards the end he lost all respect that he ever had. He wanted out and to have nothing to do with it; able to leave nature behind and move on without thinking twice.

What we have seen in trying to compare and contrast these feelings towards nature and the wilderness is that many people feel many different ways; yet certain incidents and time can change anything and everything. Tyler went from being unsure to having the utmost respect for the wolves and their environment. Rosie went from having no use for it all to appreciating it greatly for making him extremely wealthy. Ootek and the drunk maintained their feelings towards nature throughout the entire movie, even though they were complete opposites. Mike on the other hand lost all the respect he had for nature, wolves, and those who did respect it. He ended up not caring about it at all, wishing he did not have to deal with it. Each character had different views on nature as well as different uses. It is hard to determine what is right, but we are all able to make our own opinions.