We all chase our own fish. We are all desperately trying to grasp something that is beyond our reach. For Santiago, the main character in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, he literally chases a fish. He shows exceptional patience with this fish - as one must when pursuing an important goal - spending eighty-four days at sea without incident in the hope of finally catching the monster. Santiago sacrifices his physical and mental stability while pursuing his ultimate goal, and looking at the bigger picture, Kicking Bird of Dances with Wolves does the same. But, in order to compare the main characters' ultimate goals, we must first deduce what the "fish" in Kicking Bird is. What is he constantly missing? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why” Some might argue that the metaphorical “fish” of Kicking Bird is the white man, that he constantly longs to understand their customs and way of life. This would explain his curiosity and his interest in the lieutenant. Dunbar throughout the book. Although this reasoning is sound, I would object to it. If Kicking Bird's "fish" was the white man, then he would have caught it a long time ago when he adopted Stands With A Fist into his family. had the opportunity to examine first-hand the white customs - limited as they were - of Stands With A Fist when she was younger and not yet fully assimilated into Sioux culture. Kicking Bird doesn't just want to understand the white man's way. of life and customs, but also his motivations. He wants to fully understand why the white man is pioneering the Sioux Lands and what he hopes to accomplish by doing so. By analyzing the book and Kicking Bird's actions throughout, one might come to the conclusion that the "fish" of Kicking Bird is the white man's understanding of motivation. 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 – as frustrating as they are – 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 attempts to convey the word "buffalo" despite the language barrier. Instead of considering Dunbar crazy for rolling in the dirt and trying to leave like Wind In His Hair, Kicking Bird sits quietly and tries to decipher the meaning of Dunbar's makeshift skit. Kicking Bird also takes it upon himself to help the other members of the tribe teach Dunbar the Sioux language, a monotonous task that requires a lot of patience. Why would Kicking Bird undertake 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 such trust would finally allow Kicking Bird to ask what the white man wants so badly from the Sioux country. Later in the book, Kicking Bird is about to broach the subject with Dunbar. He asks the lieutenant how many white men will pass through the Sioux country, and the answer Dunbar gives is a very ominous "like the stars." Although Kicking Bird's long-standing question is partially answered regarding the number of white men coming, he still ignores the reason behind the white man's actions..