The Hunters in the Snow

Pecking Order

The story "The Hunters in the Snow" is a story of an unhealthy, uncaring relationship among three men. There is a pecking order to the relationship. Tub, who is greatly abused in the story, is at the bottom of the hierarchy. Kenny and Frank both compete for the top spot with different means of wielding power, but it is Frank who wins at the end and ascends to the top of the pecking order.

Tub is the least powerful character in the story. He is overweight, self-conscious, immature, a complainer and someone easily demeaned by others. Wolff's use of the nickname Tub is the reader's first indication that he was overweight and usually a target of humiliation. Tub, Tubs, or Tubby are nicknames usually given to an overweight person as a child. According to Dr. Robert Needlman, "One reason nicknames tend to stick is that, unlike names given at birth, they convey specific information about a person". Dr. Needlman also writes: "Children who are less assertive will often suffer in silence because it's uncomfortable to correct a grown-up or risk getting teased by a peer" (Nicknames). The use of Tub, as the character's name in the story, gives the reader a clear idea of who he is and how the others relate to him. Throughout the story Tub suffers the humiliation from both Kenny and Frank. Wolff writes: "Tub had trouble getting through the fences. Frank and Kenny could have helped him...but they didn't" (118). Tub had a better relationship with Frank, but Tub was downright afraid of Kenny. Kenny's shear meanness towards Tub, coupled with fear, ultimately led to Kenny's downfall.

Kenny's character is the stereotypical bully; the type of person who would label an overweight person as Tub. According Drs. Gary and Ruth Namie, a bully is defined as a person who "controls through fear & intimidation", is "emotionally out of control", and "is very worried about being detected as an imposter" (30). Kenny reflects all these traits. He continually intimidates Tub with statements like: "'He looks just like a beach ball with a hat on'" (119) and "'if it hadn't been for dimples here'" (121). Kenny thought it was funny when he almost runs him over or drives off just as he is getting to the truck. However, being the stereotypical bully, after every joke he pulls on Tub he looks to Frank for approval. He says several times: "'Doesn't he, Frank'" ((117) or "'Isn't he, Frank'" (119). Kenny's need for Frank's approval establishes Frank as his superior.

Wolff portrays Frank as the most passive of the three; however he is very much in charge of everything that has happened. Frank allows Kenny to treat Tub the way he does without stopping him because it keeps Tub at the bottom of the pecking order. Frank was also in control of Kenny as well. When Kenny wanted to hunt on the posted land, Frank said, "no